John D. Watkins

The Oscar Frazier Scholarship was established in 1965 by Mr. John D. Watkins of Luling, Texas, a close personal friend of Oscar Frazier, upon his retirement from Tarleton State University. Mr. Frazier came to Tarleton in 1924 as an instructor in the Agriculture Department and college track coach. He quickly became an outstanding faculty member, becoming full professor in 1935 and the head of the Department of Agricultural Engineering and Animal Husbandry in 1940. After serving in the armed forces for four years, he returned to Tarleton as a professor in the Mathematics Department and track coach. Of all his accomplishments, Frazier is perhaps best remembered for his achievements as Tarleton’s track coach. Between 1925 and 1961,
Frazier’s track team won nineteen conference championships. The Tarleton Alumni Association selected Frazier as “Distinguished Faculty Member” in 1975. He passed away the next year. On August 25, 1977 Tarleton renamed the track at Memorial Stadium the “Oscar H. Frazier Memorial Track” to honor his immense contributions.