Watson, former Rebels standout, loses battle with cancer at age 64
If Curtis Watson had played in a more recent era, he would be remembered as one of the elite stars in UNLV basketball history.
That's how Bruce Chapman, a close friend and former teammate, will think of him anyway. Watson, 64, died of complications from pancreatic cancer around 2 a.m. Monday at Nathan Adelson Hospice.
A State Farm Insurance agent in Las Vegas for 37 years, Watson retired in September after being diagnosed with cancer. At the time, Chapman said, some doctors gave Watson only six weeks to live because the cancer was in its late stages.
"He has been battling it for a year," Chapman said. "This is a great man, and one of the nicest people to ever come out of UNLV. He was an absolute sweetheart person. He never had a bad word to say.
"Curtis was a real inspiration to me. He talked me into staying here instead of quitting or transferring."
Watson played for the Rebels from 1967 to 1969 and scored 963 points. He was voted No. 58 last year when the Las Vegas Review-Journal ranked the program's top 100 players.
"I thought Curtis should have been ranked a lot higher," Chapman said. "He could really play. He had the softest touch as a shooter."
Watson 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.
Xavien Hood, a State Farm agent from Watson's former office, said Watson was "loved" by colleagues and clients.
"He was always positive, just really open and welcoming," Hood said. "He was a truly unique individual."
Watson is survived by his wife, Wilma, a son, Bryan, and a daughter, Tamara. Services are pending.
Contact reporter Matt Youmans at myoumans@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2907.
