Watrous Pioneer Award
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Each year, the Brush Rodeo Association awards a community member in Morgan County the Watrous Pioneer Award. This award was established in 1975 to honor those who helped build the Morgan County community and have shown the true ‘Pioneer’ spirit. These recipients have made the area a welcome spot for thousands of rodeo fans each year! Thank you to all of the Pioneer recipients throughout the last 47 years!
The 2023 Watrous Pioneer Award recipient will be announced during the July 3rd rodeo performance.
2022 Donald ‘Chic’ & Donna Ruhl
2021 Dr. Jack Collins
2019 Steve Treadway
2018 Larry Chartier
2017 Gary Hodgson
2016 Phil Mortensen
2015 Art & Bernice Crosthwait
2014 Conrad Bostron Family
2013 Marvin & Beverly Kembel
2012 Homer Wickham
2011 Joy Kjeldgaard
2010 Louis J. Lorenzini
2009 John Woodward
2008 Lloyd Hansen
2007 Ron Edwards Family
2006 John Glenn Family
2005 Etheldean Bell
2004 Harry Mohrlang
2003 Ruth Scott
2002 Elton & Laura Ingmire
Ray & Bev Ingmire
2001 Carl & Lucille Schlothauer
2000 Mary Mohrlang
1999 Phil & Betty Vondy
1998 Jim & Anna Marie Hutcheson
1997 Sylva Kula
1996 Scott Wolever
1995 Don & Margaret Queen
1994 Howard & Idessa Mann
1993 Calvin ‘Cal’ Leach
Eileen Wahlert
1992 Frank & Kathy Mercer
1991 Elizabeth Church
1990 Reverend Reinhold Opp
1989 Warren M. ‘Doc’ & Helen Watrous
1988 Ruth Powell
1987 Joe Bowman
1986 Harvey Reinert
1985 Pat Kastler
1984 Ruth Henderson
1983 Guidotta Bates
1982 Ted Rediess
1981 Harold Gray
1980 Grace Eakins
1979 N.C. ‘Jack’ Wagers
1978 Charley Starr
1977 William ‘Bill’ Luers
1976 John Amen
1975 Chris Danielsen
Dr. Jack Collins, affectionately known as Doc, was presented with a plaque during the July 3 rodeo naming him the winner of the 2021 Watrous Outstanding Pioneer Award. As the plaque explains, the award is given on behalf of the Brush Rodeo Association to individuals or families who have demonstrated “spirit, perseverance and dedication to Morgan County and its citizens,” and in turn, have made Brush a welcoming location for rodeo visitors each year.
Collins was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, but moved to Morgan County in 1978 after accepting a job offer, his first after graduation.
He completed his surgery training at the University of Colorado and worked to receive his master’s degree from Stanford University. Collins followed in his father’s footsteps as a second generation surgeon.
In 1979 — just one year after relocating — Collins became a member of the Brush Rodeo Association board and has only missed one year of rodeo festivities since that time. (He was unable to make it to the rodeo in 2005 because he was recovering from cancer surgery.)
Collins decided to buy a local farm in 1981 and has continued to serve the Brush and Morgan County communities as both a practicing surgeon and a rodeo volunteer. Collins’ father was a practicing surgeon until the age of 99, so it’s unlikely that Doc will retire any time soon.
Collins’ friend Keith Bath stood alongside him as he received the award on Saturday evening.
Source: Fort Morgan Times