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Eudell Watts and Ronald Reagan remember old times at the dedication of Eureka
College's Library.
 Reagan
and Watts were teammates on the Eureka college football team in 1928. Ronald Reagan is wearing a white uniform
in the second row. Eudell Watts is at the right end of the first row. These pictures were submitted by Eudell's
daughter, Marie Grigsby.
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On June 8, 2004 the Rock Island Argus and Daily Dispatch published a wonderful
story about the lifelong friendship of Eudell Watts of Rock Island and former President Ronald Reagan. The story
gave a local, Rock Island connection and tribute to Reagan shortly after his death. I posted the story and requested
permission to use it at the same time, but found that it would violate the newspapers' copyright law. So, Marie,
Eudell's daughter, and I have reworked the story in our own words since she gave the story to the paper in the
first place.
Upon Ronald Reagan's death, Eudell Watts' daughter, Marie Grigsby, shared the
following stories about the lifelong friendship of two football players at Eureka College. When Reagan was a movie
star, Eudell would tell his family how Mr. Reagan was just an "ordinary joe, just one of the guys." Whenever
the two friends had occasion to meet, such as the dedication of the Eureka College Library, Mr. Reagan never forgot
his old friend, "Lump," who was known for the lumps he gave to the opposing team.
When Mr. Reagan spoke to the Davenport Chamber of Commerce between his movie and
political careers, Lump tried to slip into the back door to hear him speak. Mr. Reagan saw him and waved him to
come up front. He never forgot his old football buddies.
When Ronald Reagan wrote his autobiography, "Where's the Rest of Me?"
he recalled his old friend, Eudell Watts. He told about a drop kick field goal that won the game and also the fact
that Eudell had to leave Eureka College because of the Depression. In spite of that he still created a successful
trucking company in Rock Island.
"We delight in the friendship between our dad and Ronald Reagan." Mrs.
Grigsby said. "Because the future president chose to remember dad in the pages of his 1965 autobiography,
he put a glimpse of Eudell Watts Jr. on bookshelves across the nation and carried his name into history forever."
In 1980, Eudell was ill and received a get-well card from the future President.
Later he was invited to the inauguration. In 1990, Eudell Watts died, but President Reagan sent a heart-felt note
to his family:
"I'll always be grateful for Lump's friendship and hope that Our Lord will comfort you with many warm memories
of him."
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