GARY WATSON
(Wirt County)
Gary Watson graduated from Wirt County High School in 1976. He was a three-sport standout during his days for the Tigers, starring in football, basketball and baseball.
As a senior in the football season of 1975, Watson finished third in voting for the Kennedy Award, which goes to the top high school player in West Virginia. That year he rushed for 1,695 and scored 172 points in helping the Tigers reach the Class A state championship game. It marked the third straight year in which Watson rushed for over 1,000 yards.
He was second state-wide during the season in touchdowns scored with 27. On the defensive side of the ball, Watson collected 87 solo tackles, which also ranked No. 2 in the Mountain State.
Watson was a Class A First Team All-State pick in 1975 as a running back and was a Second Team selection at linebacker in 1974. He was a three-time First Team All-Little Kanawha Conference football performer during his career.
During his football days, he started on two undefeated teams. He was a freshman starter on the unbeaten 1972 team that featured 22 seniors. He was one of nine seniors on the 1975 squad that was perfect in the regular season.
He was selected to be a member of the North Bears in the 1976 North-South All-Star Football Classic, played on July 3 in Charleston. This marked the first year for the game (that is still going strong) after it was stopped in 1955.
In baseball, he was an outstanding catcher and earned All-LKC Second Team honors in 1974. On the basketball court, he was chosen to the Sectional All-Tournament team in 1974.
In 2025, he was inducted into the Wirt County Sports Hall of Fame.
Mid-Ohio Valley Sports Hall of Fame 