Curtis Lee Watson

Curtis Lee Watson, 64, of Las Vegas, passed away July 11, 2011. He was born April 23, 1947, in El Centro, Calif., and was a 44-year resident of Nevada. In 1967, Curtis received a basketball scholarship at Nevada Southern University, which is now the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). During his first year at UNLV, Curtis was named to the NCAA College Division Regional All-Tournament Team and was voted the Most Valuable Player during the tournament. In 1968-69, Curtis was named to The Associated Press All-American Team and was voted the best defensive player at UNLV. For his two years of playing at UNLV, Curtis received a career reward for the all-time highest free-throw percentage which was .746. Curtis appeared in the 1969 Edition of the "Outstanding College Athletes of America". Curtis was the team's leading scorer with a 21.0 average in 1968-69, when the Rebels went 21-7 and scored more than 100 points in 12 games. He scored a career-high 39 points in a 118-105 victory over Albuquerque on March 2, 1969. In May 1970, Curtis graduated from UNLV with a bachelor of science degree in the field of business administration. Curtis opened his own insurance agency with State Farm Insurance as the first African American insurance agent in Southern Nevada in January 1973. Curtis recently retired from his State Farm agency after 37 1/2 years. Curtis started his agency with only his immediate family members of four policyholders and grew his agency to serve more than 2000 customers in the community. Curtis was a successful business owner/insurance agent and a true pioneer for the agents who came after him. Curtis was inducted to the Imperial Valley Junior College Hall of Fame in 1988. Additionally, Curtis was inducted to the UNLV Hall of Fame in 1992 and on June 20, 2010, Curtis was voted 58 of the Top 100 Players in UNLV Basketball History. Curtis leaves to cherish his loving memory, wife, Wilma; daughter, Tamara Watson-Dove; and son, Bryan Watson of Altadena, Calif.; brothers, Marshall (Martha) Watson Sr. and James Watson of El Centro, Calif., and Roy (Sharon) Watson of Las Vegas; three grandchildren, Rachel Watson, Halle Watson and Jalen Dove; and a host of relatives and friends. A celebration of life service will be at 11 a.m. Friday, July 22, at Palm Mortuary-Eastern, 7600 S. Eastern Ave., Las Vegas, NV 89123. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Curtis' name to Nathan Adelson Hospice, 4141 Swenson St., Las Vegas, NV 89119.

Arrangements under the direction of Palm Eastern Mortuary, Las Vegas, NV.