OUTSTANDING AMERICAN Dr. Wayne Watson was born in Chicago on September 1, 1945. His caring parents sacrificed financially to send him to private Catholic schools. Although an average student at Chicago's Mt. Carmel High School, Dr. Watson excelled in the wrestling program. Following his graduation in 1964 Dr. Watson was invited to try out for the United States Olympic Wrestling Team. Dr. Watson continued his education by enrolling in Joliet Junior College. While at Joliet he went on to win two National Junior College Wrestling Championships "” and at the same time earned his Associate's Degree. Dr. Watson's pursuit of higher learning took him next to Northwestern University where he eventually acquired three degrees: a Bachelor of Arts in Education in 1968; a Master of Arts in Education and Sociology in 1970 and a Ph.D. in Educational Administration in 1972. After earning his Doctorate, Dr. Watson served as Associate Professor of Education at Shaw University from 1972 to 1975. Flight lessons and pilot training led to two years as General Manager of Wheeler Airlines, the first African American company offering regularly scheduled flights. In 1977 and 1978, Dr. Watson served as Headmaster of Boggs Academy. In 1978 he returned to Chicago, accepting a position at Malcolm X College. There, Dr. Watson was appointed Vice President of Instructional Services where he served from 1980 to 1983. Leaving Malcolm X, he was named Vice President of the City Colleges of Chicago, where he remained until 1986. Dr. Watson went on to become President of both Harold Washington College and Kennedy-King College in the 1990s. As the current Chancellor of the City Colleges of Chicago, Dr. Wayne Watson is responsible for the programs at the nation's largest community college system. The seven City Colleges of Chicago (and WYCC-TV) with its more than 9500 employees and an annual operating budget of $260 million serve an average of 170,000 students each year. Dr. Watson, as Chief Educational Officer, has pledged to provide instruction and services of the highest quality to Chicago's citizens. Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley appointed Dr. Watson to the seven member Bronzeville Committee and the Chicago Fire Department Committee for Promotion and Rank. Dr. Watson also serves as a member of the Fantus Health Center Advisory Board and is Co-Chairman of the Capital Development Board for the Chicago Public Schools. Recently honored as a Distinguished Alumnus by Northwestern University, Dr. Watson, in 2003, was selected to serve on the Northwestern Board of Trustees. Strongly committed to community service, Dr. Watson serves as an advocate of the "Beat the Streets" program which encourages the development of youth wrestling opportunities. At Wright Junior College in April of 2004, Dr. Watson teamed up once again with his former training partner and olympian "” Bobby Douglas. In a "Beat the Streets" sponsored wrestling clinic Dr. Watson and Bobby Douglas shared some of the skills they had developed over their careers.