Bruce Ernest "Ernie" Watkins, Jr.


Year Inducted: 1985
Nominated By: Nancy Foster (daughter)
Sports Competed In: Football, Track
Athlete, Coach or Contributor: Athlete, Coach, Contributor

Walt Pickard

High School:
Attended Pueblo Centennial H.S., graduating in 1927.

Achievements:
High School: 
Two year member of the Bulldogs football team (1925-26) and the track squad (1925-27) as a hurdler where he set school records.

College:
Went Colorado State College of Education (University of Northern Colorado) for two years 1939-1940, graduating in 1940.

Coaching Career:
Football:
● Freshman Coach: Pueblo Centennial H.S. (1936)
● Freshman Coach: Pueblo Central H.S. (1937-38)
Track
● Asst. Coach: Pueblo Centennial H.S. (1937)
● Asst. Coach: Pueblo Central H.S. (1938-39)
Softball:
● City Director: Greeley, CO (1939-40)
● Head of Intramurals: Greeley, CO (1939-40)
Returned to Pueblo in 1940 
● Worked for four years at Hindsdale Elementary School (1940-44).
● Taught physical education while coaching basketball, softball and track.
● Coached in the junior high league for one season.
Moved to Craig, Colorado (1944)
● Coached football, basketball and track (1944)
● Coached Two Years at Steamboat Springs, CO (1946-47): Won the Yampa Valley League Championship basketball (1946) and track (1947)
Returned to Pueblo
● Coached the first Football Team at Lakeside-Vineland H.S.
● Also coached basketball and baseball,

Honors:
● Elected President of the Pueblo Board of Realtors in 1965.
● Awarded the "Realtor-of-the-Year" Trophy and the Fank Holloran Exchanger of the Year Plaque (1967).

Professional Affiliations:
● Served a three year term as a director on the Colorado Board of Realtors.
● Worked for 20 years as a member of the Advisory Board of the Salvation Army.
● Past volunteer driver for the “Meals on Wheels” Program. 

Contributions:
Basketball official who worked approximately 900 total games - three game per night, five nights a week.

Occupation:
Teacher and coach, Youth Director and owner of Watkins Real Estate.

Personal:
Lived in Pueblo, CO with his wife, Wilma J., who died in 1992...Watkins passed away on November 2, 2001 at age 93.


GPSA "W" By The Numbers

LEGEND: p = awarded posthumously; ^= attended first meeting; * = deceased;+ = charter member (placed after year inducted)

 1

Administrator/Contributor
George Williams, Sr. (1980)

Athlete/Contributor
Lou Henry Willschau (2018*p)

Athlete/Coach
John Wristen (2015)

Athlete/Coach/Contrbutor
Bruce Ernest Watkins (1985*)

Attended H.S. Outside Colorado
Ethel Wentworth (1974*)
Tama H.S., Tama, IA

Attended Pueblo Central H.S.
Rodney A. Wallace (1978*)

Attended Pueblo County H.S.
Nikole Marie Whitaker (2016)

Attended Pueblo South H.S.
John Wristen (2015)

Big Game Hunter
Mahlon Thatcher White (1981)

Car Racing
Lou Henry Willschau (2018*p)

Contributor
Wilbur Wayne Wright (1991*)

Honorees Awarded Posthumously
Lou Henry Willschau (2018*p)

Rifle
Ethel Wentworth (1974*)

Swimming
Travis J. Wolther (2014)

Won a National Championship
John Wristen (2015)

Wrestling
Rick Wayne Willits (2005)

2
Attended H.S. Inside Colorado
Larry G. Wagner (2000)
Fort Morgan H.S., Fort Morgan, CO
George Williams, Sr. (1980)
Fountain H.S., Fountain, CO

Attended Pueblo East H.S.
Rick Wayne Willits (2005)
Thomas Michael Waters (2004)

Softball
Nikole Marie Whitaker (2016)
Thomas Michael Waters (2004)

Track
Thomas Michael Waters (2004)
Bruce Ernest Watkins (1985*)

 

3
Attended Pueblo Centennial H.S.
Travis J. Wolther (2014)
Bruce Ernest Watkins (1985*)
Mahlon Thatcher White (1981)

Coach
Thomas Michael Waters (2004)
Larry G. Wagner (2000)
Ethel Wentworth (1974*)

 

 

 

4
Athlete
Nikole Marie Whitaker (2016)
Travis J. Wolther (2014)
Rick Wayne Willits (2005)
Rodney A. Wallace (1978*)

Football
John Wristen (2015)
Thomas Michael Waters (2004)
Bruce Ernest Watkins (1985*)
Rodney A. Wallace (1978*)

 

5
Honorees Deceased
Lou Henry Willschau (2018*p)
Wilbur Wayne Wright (1991*)
Bruce Ernest Watkins (1985*)
Rodney A. Wallace (1978*)
Ethel Wentworth (1974*)

 

13
Honorees in "W" Section

 

REMEMBERING OUR FALLEN GPSA INDUCTEES

The Greater Pueblo Sports Association (GPSA) has announced a list of honorees that have passed since the 2023 induction ceremony on Nov. 15.

 

 

Daniel RosalesDaniel
Rosales

12/13/2023
Class of 2002

Everett C. ThalhamerEverett C.
Thalhamer

12/23/2023
Class of 2014

Bob GrahamBobby Max
Graham

02/26/2024
Class of 1990

Joe BonaquistaJoe
Bonaquista

07/16/2024
Class of 1977