Thad Watters ('78) has been honored as the Boys & Girls Clubs' National Board Volunteer of the Year for his long-standing service to the Northwest Georgia region’s board of directors. The award was presented in May at the 109th Annual Boys & Girls Clubs of America National Conference in Chicago.
"Thad epitomizes what every organization wants in a board member,” said Anne Paige Wilson, Darlington’s director of stewardship and immediate past board president of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northwest Georgia. “He is passionate and hardworking—the first to arrive and the last to leave.”
Watters currently serves as the chairman of the Georgia Alliance of the Boys & Girls Clubs and on the executive committee of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northwest Georgia. During his 29 years on the regional chapter’s board of directors, the Rome native has served on many committees and in a variety of roles including president and vice president. He has also served as chairman of the Georgia Area Council and the Georgia Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs.
Watters has been honored many times for his community involvement, receiving the Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s “From the Heart,” National Medallion and Career Achievement awards, and was named the Georgia Area Council’s Board Member of the Year for 2012. Last fall, Watters was inducted into the Georgia Area Council of Boys & Girls Clubs' Hall of Fame.
After graduating from Darlington, Watters received his Bachelor of Science in Textile Management from the Georgia Institute of Technology. In 1990, he cofounded Syntec Industries, Inc., where he served as vice president of sales. Since 2001, he has been self-employed as an industry consultant. Watters is also the owner/artist behind Earthprints, a passion born of his interest in the outdoors. His handcrafted jewelry features different elements found in nature.
In addition to his work with the Boys & Girls Clubs, Watters also serves on the board of directors for Heritage First Bank, Heritage First Bancshares, Inc. and Cancer Navigators, and as the president of the Northwest Georgia Council of Boy Scouts of America. He is also a member of Rome First United Methodist Church and is the assistant scoutmaster for Boy Scout Troop 113.
“Thad sets an example not only for fellow Darlington alumni, but for our current students as well,” said Vicki Vincent, director of alumni relations. “He is the kind of person that does things anonymously, and gives of his time not expecting anything in return. That is at the heart of servant leadership, and what we try to instill in our students.”
In 2005, Watters was honored for his volunteer efforts alongside brothers Tom ('72), Bill ('75), Joe ('80) and Ed ('83) as recipients of a Heart of the Community award.
“Whether serving the Boys & Girls Clubs on the state level, working the concession stand during a Unified Football game or leading a group of Boy Scouts on a hike over Philmont, I can think of no one that gives of their time and talent so willingly," added Wilson. “Having served alongside Thad on several boards, I have come to value him as a team member and a friend."
Thad and his wife, Leigh, reside in Rome, and are the parents of Mary Kate (Watters) Boston ('05) and West ('07). He is the son of the late Tom ('44) and Helen Watters.
