Alabama State University officially dedicated the Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex Friday afternoon.
The new facility on the ASU campus is named in honor of the two former head baseball coaches, the late Herbert Wheeler and
Larry Watkins.
An overcast sky gave way to sunshine as Wheeler seemingly looked down from above with joy as he, along with Watkins, share the name of the ASU baseball complex, which opened in March, 2011.
“We are here today to honor two legendary baseball coaches in highly public manner,” former Hornet baseball player Dan Lewis told the assembled attendees, which included more than 20 baseball alumni. Lewis played under Wheeler in the early 1960's and coached Watkins in high school during the late 1960's. “We both know how deserving they both are. I'm certain that if I asked Coach Wheeler and Coach Watkins about their lifelong contributions, they would have told you, 'This is not anything special. We just did our jobs'. This is the type of person they each were. It's their humility and that sense of self humbleness when working for others that endear them to us.”
Wheeler, a native of Clarksdale, Ark., earned both his undergraduate (1937) and graduate (1967) degrees from Alabama State. He played several sports, and his athletic abilities earned him the nickname “Hot Dog.”
After playing under G.W. “Pop” Lockhart, who started the program in 1926 and for whom Lockhart Gymnasium is named, Wheeler became head coach of the baseball team in the 1960s and led the Hornets until 1981. Wheeler coached the only Hornets baseball team to participate in the NCAA Tournament while a member of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) in 1974.
“My dad loved Alabama State University,” said Herbert Wheeler Jr., son of the legendary coach. “He loved going to school here, working here, and most of all, he loved baseball at Alabama State. It is indeed an honor to see my dad recognized by having this beautiful complex named after him and Coach Watkins…While we cannot see him, I feel his spirit is here and he has one of the biggest smiles on his face I've ever seen.”
Watkins, a native of Thomasville, Ala., also earned both his undergraduate (1973) and graduate (1975) degrees from ASU. He played for Coach Wheeler as a student, and joined his coaching staff after graduating. As a player and coach, Watkins has served the University for 40 years.
Watkins took over as head coach in 1982, a position he held for 30 years. His teams earned more than 500 wins, making him the all-time leader in wins in ASU baseball history.
“I want to give honor to God for allowing me to keep my health and strength for so long and allowing me the ability to be able to go to work day in and day out and giving my all to Alabama State University baseball,” an emotional Watkins said. “To President Harris, Board of Trustees, former players, family and friends, at this time, this is the biggest moment for me. As I stand here today before this great administration…I want to say I am truly grateful for this honor, but I'm humbled as well. As I stand here on this great historic day, I know I'm standing on the shoulders of many who've helped lift me up to this honor.”
