Hall of Fame
Ben attended South Charleston High School (SCHS) where he graduated in 1963 before he continued his education at the WV Tech. Watson went on to earn a Bachelor of Science Degree from Tech in Electrical Engineering in 1969.
Ben married Jean Ann Holbrook on August 23, 1968, and after graduating from college, he moved to Bridgeport, WV, where he worked for Union Carbide Corporation. He and Jean Ann were blessed with two children: Brian Lynn (December 15, 1970) and Erin Renee (November 19, 1973). In 1995, Ben began work on international projects in China, Malaysia, Netherlands, Italy, and Kuwait.
Jean Ann, his wife of 39 years, became ill in 2007, and passed away the following year. Before she died, she and Ben were blessed with two grandsons: Bennett Moses Watson (born November 19, 2006), and Eli Samuel Tillinghast (born May 26, 2007) and a granddaughter, Morgan Jean Watson, was born on November 3, 2009.
Ben played and lettered in golf in high school before he competed in his first golf tournament - the Kanawha County Junior Chamber of Commerce Tournament at the Kanawha CC in 1963. Ben shot a 74 to tie for second place after winning a playoff on the second hole with a birdie that made him eligible to play in a two day state JC tournament at the Greenbrier, in White Sulfur Springs.
After his experience at the Kanawha County Junior Chamber of Commerce Tournament, Ben went on to compete on the golf course as a Golden Bear for 3 years (’64, ’65 and ’67) and was named captain of the ’64 and ’65 teams. He was 2nd medalist in the WV Conference Tournament in 1967, and was later selected to the WV All-Conference Golf Team that same year. In 1970, Ben was elected to the WV Conference’s “All-Time Spring Sports Team”.
In June, 2008 Ben Retired from Union carbide and in 2009 moved to Daniels, WV, where he is currently enjoying what all retirees would like to do: play golf, fish, and spoils his grandchildren.
