~Hall of Famer
LIBERTY -- Former Sikeston Football Bulldog Ted Watkins, Sr. was inducted to the William Jewell College Athletic Hall of Fame as a member of the 1973 William Jewell College football team during Homecoming ceremonies at the college Oct. 13.
Watkins attended Sikeston High School and played football and baseball for the Bulldogs, graduating in 1970. The 1973 football Cardinals were the first William Jewell College football team to win 11 games. Watkins played defensive back during his football career at William Jewell.
The 1973 Cardinals were 7-0 in conference play winning the Heart of America Conference championship and also defeated non-conference rivals Northwest Missouri State, Simpson College of Iowa, Washburn University of Topeka, Kansas, and St. Mary's of the Plains of Kansas achieving a perfect 11-0 regular season record.
The Cardinals were rated as high as No. 3 among NAIA Division II colleges at season end in 1973 and were selected to play in the NAIA championship playoffs against the Northwestern College Red Raiders of Orange City, Iowa. The Red Raiders defeated the Cardinals on their way to winning the NAIA Division II championship that season.
After graduating from William Jewell College in January of 1975, Watkins served as an officer in the United States Marine Corps. He now resides in Washington, Mo., with his wife, Lori, daughter Elizabeth, and sons Teddy, Jr. and Mikey.