The Steve Everette Watson Endowed Scholarship has been established at Northwest Mississippi Community College by the Rodeo Alumni Association. Announcement of the endowment came on the final night of competition of the Ozark Region National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association event held at the college's Multipurpose Livestock Arena April 22.

Watson was a student at Northwest in the 1978-79 academic year at the time of his death. "We had been to a college rodeo in Springfield, Mo., and Stevie stopped at an open rodeo in Arkansas on the way back and was killed in a bull riding accident," recalls Northwest Rodeo Coach Lawrence "Bud" Young.

Watson began showing horses at the age of 10 and later developed a passion for rodeo competition with bull riding being his favorite event. Present for the announcement of the scholarship endowment was Watson's mother, Mary Harmon of Water Valley.

"Stevie Watson was one of the happiest people I have ever known. He was always smiling, but he was happiest when he was riding bulls. He was an inspiration to everyone who knew him," said Young.

The endowment would not have been possible without the proceeds from this year's rodeo, according to Sybil Canon, director of Development for Northwest. "Rodeo Coach Bud Young and Northwest Alumni Affairs Manager Dolores Wooten are to be commended for their hard work for the past two years in organizing and conducting the Ozark Region Intercollegiate Rodeo," said Canon. "In addition to sponsoring a great rodeo for college and university athletes, they have chosen to use the funds raised in a way that will benefit our students for as long as Northwest exists."

Preference for the scholarship will be given to students majoring in Agriculture. For more information on other Northwest Foundation scholarships, contact Canon at (662) 560-1103.