Home Local News ‘Iceman’ scholarship established at RichmondCC

‘Iceman’ scholarship established at RichmondCC

The Lee "Iceman" Watson Scholarship is officially established at Richmond Community College. Pictured from left (bottom) Mechelle Preslar, Ginger Watson, Dr. Dale McInnis; (top) Chris Carpenter, Beth Bryant. Photos by William R. Toler - Richmond Observer

HAMLET — The legacy left behind by the late Lee “Iceman” Watson will be remembered at Richmond Community College.

The RichmondCC Foundation held a small ceremony Wednesday morning in the banquet room at Cole Auditorium to officially establish a memorial scholarship named in Watson’s honor.

Watson, who passed away in September of 2023, was a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps and National Guard, and was a master carpenter following his military service.

He was also a runner and member of the Mangum Track Club.

The creation of the scholarship was first announced during the Seaboard Festival 5K in October, with a $2,000 donation from REV Federal Credit Union.

Watson had run in every Seaboard 5K from 1985 until 2019, when his health took a downward turn with a diagnosis of a rare blood cancer which resulted in losing his left leg below the knee. He had been fitted with a running blade and had planned to participate in the 2023 race, but died less than two months before.

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“He was kind and generous to all,” Chris Carpenter, president of the Seaboard Festival board and fellow runner, said about Watson.

Carpenter, who is also executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Scotland County, said Watson would carefully remove cabinets when remodeling to donate them for use by the nonprofit.

“He was careful because he wanted to make sure someone else got use out of it,” Carpenter said.

Chris Carpenter holds up a postcard before making a donation to the Lee “Iceman” Watson Memorial Scholarship.

Carpenter also said that, as a runner, Watson was “an inspiration to all of us — with all he went through, the way he fought back…”

Watson’s widow, Ginger, and Mechelle Preslar, director of community engagement for the city of Hamlet and member of the Seaboard Festival board, are credited for helping establish the scholarship.

Carpenter scanned the QR code on a small postcard about the scholarship and made a donation, encouraging everyone who reads the story to do the same.

“It takes seconds,” said Preslar, who has made a donation.

Donations can also be made through the college’s website, richmondcc.edu.

The goal, according to Carpenter, is to raise enough funds to have the scholarship endowed at $20,000. The total is currently up to “around” $2,500.

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To qualify for the Lee “Iceman” Watson Memorial Scholarship, applicants must be:

  • accepted for enrollment or enrolled in a curriculum program at Richmond Community College
  • have at least a 2.5 GPA (high school, RCC or college transfer)

Students who are runners will be given preference.

“We’re going to make sure we do our best to keep his memory alive, and his legacy alive with this scholarship and it will touch a lot of lives moving forward,” said Dr. Dale McInnis, president of Richmond Community College.

“We always appreciate it when we can take someone’s memory and use it to help further the lives and careers of our students,” McInnis continued.

RichmondCC President Dr. Dale McInnis says Lee Watson’s legacy will live on through a namesake memorial scholarship, which will make a difference in the lives of students.

The college president said he didn’t know Watson, but feels like he does now and said “a lot of other folks are going to get to know him through this (scholarship).”

According to Dr. Hal Shuler, associate vice president for development for RichmondCC, the first $500 scholarship is expected to be awarded in the fall.

“He would be just so honored,” Ginger Watson said about her late husband’s expected reaction to the scholarship. “I am too.”

Both McInnis and Shuler said they hope this scholarship serves as an inspiration for others to be established.

“Don’t wait too late to buy the roses, do it while they’re still here to enjoy it,” McInnis said. “You don’t have to wait until somebody’s passed to celebrate their history, their legacy — do it while they’re still here.”