DONALD “Squats” WATSON

Date of Birth

June 3, 1932

Date of Death

October 13, 2021

Donald “SQUATS” Watson, age 89, fought his final battle with Parkinson’s Disease on Wednesday, October 13, 2021. Released from his earthly struggles, Don joins the ranks of legendary coaches with whistles at the ready, getting the angels into shape for game day.

He was born June 3, 1932 in Reading, OH, the son of Jerry and Jewel Watson.

Don was afflicted with Rheumatic Fever at age 7 and kept him from participating in sports at an early age. That may have kept others in the stands, but not Don. He lived for the sidelines, managing the Reading High School football and basketball teams, planting seeds of leadership, vision and determination that he would reap with inspiring results and Hall of Fame credentials in later years.

Upon graduation from Reading High School, he enrolled at Olivet Nazarene university where he played and coached men’s softball and basketball, while also keeping an eye on his wife to be, Jacqueline La Jean Spencer. By graduation, he had a diploma and a fiancée, the latter of which he would take down the aisle on June 11, 1955.

Don and Jackie continued their new life together by moving to Ft. Wayne, IN, in 1960 where Jackie taught locally. They welcomed their first son, Jay before following her teaching job to South Elgin, IL in 1962 where they were blessed with their second son, James.

In 1968, Don started his first restaurant named Click ‘n Chicken. Inspired by his success, Don opened his second business, Village Pizza in Malta in 1980. The restaurant, which still exists today, was passed on to his son Jay until his tragic passing in 2011. Don’s entrepreneurial spirit led him to the Elburn Herald in 1974, when he ultimately convinced them to create a sports page that was more than just a paragraph. Don was instrumental in growing that paragraph to coverage that spanned two to three pages of coverage. Although Don wasn’t a trained journalist, he continued to celebrate area sports accomplishments for 30 years as a part-time writer. His dedication was honored in 2002 when the Elburn Herald established the Donald L. Watson Scribe Scholarship for Kaneland High school students.  Don began getting involved in collegiate sports, becoming Waubonsee Community College’s first volleyball coach in 1977 and their first softball coach in 1979. He prowled the courtside for thirteen years as a volleyball coach and led the softball team to a Skyway Conference title in 1980. . Although his reign on the diamond was short lived, only lasting from 1979-1980, Don returned to the dugout once more in 1991. He then began coaching club volleyball for the Pazazz but returned to the high school level as the varsity coach at Hinkley-Big Rock High School from 1999-2012, leading the team to Sweet 16 finishes in 2009 and 2010. In 2010, Don was inducted into the Waubonsee Athletic Hall of Fame, and into the Kaneland hall of Fame in the “Friend of Kaneland” category in 2013, in honor of his coverage of Kaneland’s athletic success in the Elburn Herald.  

Don finally got to leave his coach’s whistle behind and actually compete at the age of 50 when he began playing volleyball and basketball on the Illinois USA Senior National teams, dominating in 9 straight Senior Nationals from 2001-2010. Don’s life touched generations of student athletes and imparted decades of wisdom. He believed that he was “more of a teacher of skills than a coach”, but either way his mark has been as indelible as it has been long lasting. A friend to many, Don loved his scholastic community, but his family was first in his heart, always, and he will be missed dearly. 

He is remembered with love by his son James, and many cousins including Shannon and Shane Patterson.

He joins his wife Jackie, his parents, Jerry and Jewel; one son Jay, a brother Lawrence and one sister, Rosemary. 

Visitation will be at Conley Funeral Home, 116 W. Pierce St., Elburn, IL 60119, on Wednesday, October 27, 2021 from 3-7:30 p.m., followed by an informal sharing of stories at 7:30. Interment will follow after a graveside service at Kaneville Cemetery on Thursday, October 28, at 11 a.m. All are welcome to attend and celebrate a great man and an even greater legacy.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established in Don’s name. Checks may be made to the “Donald Watson Memorial” and mailed in care of P.O. Box 66, Elburn, 60119. Tributes may also be forwarded to the same address, the Conley Funeral Home Facebook Page, or at www.conleycare.com.

Visitation will be at Conley Funeral Home, 116 W. Pierce St., Elburn, IL 60119, on Wednesday, October 27, 2021 from 3-7:30 p.m., followed by an informal sharing of stories at 7:30. Interment will follow after a graveside service at Kaneville Cemetery on Thursday, October 28, at 11 a.m. All are welcome to attend and celebrate a great man and an even greater legacy.

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