Wally Watkins
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Pirate Alma Mater and Fight Song
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Mrs. Wally Watkins
Honoring Athletic Achievement, Scholarship, Community Service and Character
Wally W. Watkins was born January 28, 1937 to Wayne and Irene Watkins in Lavon, Texas. Known for his intellect and athletic prowess, Mr. Watkins was encouraged by R.F. Hartman to attend school in Wylie where he not only earned all-district honors in baseball, basketball and football, but graduated third in his class. He also received the Birmingham Scholarship as a senior in 1955.
Mr. Watkins graduated from Sam Houston State University in 1959 with a Bachelor of Science and immediately began teaching for Navasota ISD. He spent 13 years in Industrial ISD teaching, coaching raising four children and found the time to earn his Master's Degree from Texas A&M.
In 1975, Mr. Watkins was hired by Superintendent Don Whit to be the principal at Hartman Elementary School and later, Birmingham Elementary School. He became Wylie ISD's first assistant superintendent in 1986 where he was tasked to not only oversee the planning for the rapidly growing school district, but managed both the curriculum and personnel departments. Mr. Watkins was instrumental in developing technology programs in Wylie ISD including its first computer lab. In addition, he helped start the dyslexia program for Wylie students and hired the necessary personnel to oversee it.
Outside of his educational responsibilities, Mr. Watkins was an active member in the community, serving in many leadership roles including President of the Wylie Lions Club, President of the Collin County Welfare Board and a Master Mason. He was the first administrator from a small school district to be elected President of the North Texas Schoolmasters Club. He is an inductee of the Wylie Sports Hall of Honor, has served on its nominating committee and remains active in the Wylie ISD and Community ISD Education Foundations.
Mr. Watkins retired from education in 1992 to the same farm he grew up on in Lavon. He and his wife, Nita, have four children, Lisa, Staci, Jan and Scott, all graduates of Wylie High School. They have nine grandchildren and a number of great-grandchildren
