Cecil K. Watkins
December 1929 - October 2009

Cecil Kenneth Watkins passed away on Saturday, October 10, 2009, due to complications from pancreatic cancer.  He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Valerie Morgan Watkins, daughters Kara Watkins Tillman and Keri Watkins, sisters Caroline Townes and Ruth Ross, aunt Mae Punter, sisters-in-law Dorothy Watkins, Shirley Mack and Ruby Rolle, brothers-in-law John Mack, Anthony Rolle and John Townes, son-in-law Emmanuel Tillman, granddaughters Amadia Tillman and Elysia Tillman, and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews and friends who will miss him greatly.  He was preceded in death by his brother, LeRoy Watkins, Sr., sister, Henrietta "Mazie" Smith, and nephew, Michael Velazquez.

Cecil was the President and CEO of the National Pro-Am City Leagues Association, Inc., a national organization that develops both players and referees for the National Basketball Association (NBA), the Governor and Boys Basketball Chairman of the New York Metropolitan Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) and an active board member for several organizations.  During his 18 years with the NBA, he served as Director of Community and Special Programs and as an Assistant Supervisor of Officials.  He was also a co-founder and former executive director of ELMCOR Youth & Adult Activities, Inc., a community service organization serving East Elmhurst, Corona and Jamaica. 

He was respected nationwide for his knowledge and leadership in sports and community recreation. His efforts were largely responsible for providing countless inner city youth with positive outlets to express themselves and grow through their participation in sports.  In recent years, Cecil was awarded an honorary doctor of laws degree from Adelphi University and selected as a finalist for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame's Mannie Jackson-Basketball's Human Spirit Award.  He was inducted into the Hall of Fame for NYS Basketball, NYC Basketball, ELMCOR and Adelphi University.

Most importantly, he made a difference in the lives of so many people.  Cecil was a gentle giant who transformed communities with his uncanny genius and touched the hearts of those who knew him with his candor, his humor and his generosity.

A memorial service will be held on Sunday, November 1, 2009 at 3:00 in Adelphi University's Center for Recreation & Sports. 

Directions:  http://www.adelphi.edu/visitors/directions.php

Campus Map:  http://www.adelphi.edu/visitors/campusmap_2009.pdf

Don't forget to "fall back"!  Daylight Savings Time ends on Sunday, November 1.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Cecil K. and LeRoy J. Watkins National ProAm Foundation, 7001 Brush Hollow Road, Suite 214, Westbury, NY 11590.

If you need more information, please send an email to keriwatkins@aol.com or call 516-333-0810, 718-638-3919 or 404-918-1297.

 Big turnout for Cecil Watkins Memorial (page 44): http://www.amsterdamnews.com/shared-content/e-edition/display.php?pubdate=2009-11-05&page=44&pub=

Continued (page 43): http://www.amsterdamnews.com/shared-content/e-edition/display.php?pubdate=2009-11-05&page=43&pub=

Adelphi Mourns the Loss of Cecil Watkins '75 M.A. '86, '07 (Hon.): http://www.aupanthers.com/genrel/102009aab.html

New York Post, Peter Vecsey:  http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/knicks/tribute_for_watkins_sunday_LOdsJ3ZfxcjdU2VvlSipsK

Cecil Watkins: A Great Friend of the Game: http://terrylyons.blogspot.com/2009/10/cecil-watkins-great-friend-of-game.html

New York Post, Peter Vecsey: http://cdn.nypost.com/p/sports/more_sports/don_warriors_are_big_mess_JH3aQIF0hbgKigkUFr4C2O

A Legend Passes: Cecil K. Watkins: http://nychoops.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1000108

Community Basketball Loses Legend Cecil K. Watkins: http://philanthropyscores.com/blog/?p=71

Deep House Page Forum:  http://www.deephousepage.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1206527

LFBall on Hoops:  http://lfballonhoops.blogspot.com/

The History of New York City Basketball: http://nycbball.tripod.com/NYCHoops/id1.html