T ermite,” a book that tells the story of Maurice “Termite” Watkins, a pest control operator and former professional boxer (his record was 58-5-2), recently has been published. Watkins, of Deer Park, Texas, grew up in the pest control business and served as the Iraqi boxing coach in the ’04 Olympics.
Termite works with his dad, Bill Watkins, at Champion Exterminating in Houston. However, today much of Termite’s time is spent on the motivational speaking circuit and working with a screenwriter on a movie based on his life.
Watkins went to Iraq as a pest professional with Kellogg Brown & Root, a division of Halliburton in Houston. In an unlikely series of events, he became the country’s Olympic boxing coach. The book “Termite” (see excerpt on page 60) provides the basis for a movie produced by Fred Kuehnert, known for the Academy-award winning The Buddy Holly Story.
Watkins said he felt a calling to travel to Iraq and serve his country. Once in Iraq, a chance encounter with a British officer revealed Watkins’ boxing past, including his tenure as a national Golden Gloves Champ and title bout contender. Asked what the chances were of getting an Olympic team together in time for Athens, he said, “One chance in a million.”
Watkins took that one chance and made it happen. He traveled to a Baghdad soccer field with armed soldiers to meet Iraq’s best boxers. Watkins was stunned to find them fighting without headgear, mouthpieces or shoes. He took these 24 men to Hilla in southern Iraq and built a training camp for his new team. Overcoming tremendous obstacles, Watkins took the team to three Olympic trials and coached their one qualifier, Najah Ali, in the Athens games.
In recognition of his accomplishments with the Iraqi boxing team under the most trying of conditions, Watkins received the Arete Award for overcoming obstacles in sports and an honorary award from the Boxing Writers Association of America.
“Termite” Author Suzy Pepper is originally from Houston, Texas, and grew up only a few houses from Watkins. The book is available at Barnes & Noble, www.termitewatkins.com, Amazon.com and other stores.
For a chance to win a copy of “Termite,” visit www.pctonline.com. For additional information about Watkins, visit www.termitewatkins.com.
Termite works with his dad, Bill Watkins, at Champion Exterminating in Houston. However, today much of Termite’s time is spent on the motivational speaking circuit and working with a screenwriter on a movie based on his life.
Watkins went to Iraq as a pest professional with Kellogg Brown & Root, a division of Halliburton in Houston. In an unlikely series of events, he became the country’s Olympic boxing coach. The book “Termite” (see excerpt on page 60) provides the basis for a movie produced by Fred Kuehnert, known for the Academy-award winning The Buddy Holly Story.
Watkins said he felt a calling to travel to Iraq and serve his country. Once in Iraq, a chance encounter with a British officer revealed Watkins’ boxing past, including his tenure as a national Golden Gloves Champ and title bout contender. Asked what the chances were of getting an Olympic team together in time for Athens, he said, “One chance in a million.”
Watkins took that one chance and made it happen. He traveled to a Baghdad soccer field with armed soldiers to meet Iraq’s best boxers. Watkins was stunned to find them fighting without headgear, mouthpieces or shoes. He took these 24 men to Hilla in southern Iraq and built a training camp for his new team. Overcoming tremendous obstacles, Watkins took the team to three Olympic trials and coached their one qualifier, Najah Ali, in the Athens games.
In recognition of his accomplishments with the Iraqi boxing team under the most trying of conditions, Watkins received the Arete Award for overcoming obstacles in sports and an honorary award from the Boxing Writers Association of America.
“Termite” Author Suzy Pepper is originally from Houston, Texas, and grew up only a few houses from Watkins. The book is available at Barnes & Noble, www.termitewatkins.com, Amazon.com and other stores.
For a chance to win a copy of “Termite,” visit www.pctonline.com. For additional information about Watkins, visit www.termitewatkins.com.
Explore the January 2006 Issue
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