The Gray Arrow District, Boy Scouts of America, will honor Jim and Vicky Watson of Redlands as the district’s 2024 Distinguished Citizens at a program April 27 at the Redlands Country Club.
The black-tie-optional event, which includes dinner, begins at 6 p.m.
The Gray Arrow District’s Distinguished Citizen recipients are honored for their significant contributions to their communities and as role models for young people.
Previous recipients include Sandie and Mick Gallagher, Martha Green, Ellen and Stan Weisser, the Braswell family, Joyce and Neal Waner, Geniel and Terry Vines and Julia and Kasey Haws, according to a news release.
Tickets for the Distinguished Citizens dinner are $125, available at iescouts.org. Click on “donate” and then “scouting heroes.” Proceeds will help fund Scouting in the Inland Empire.
For information about the event, call district executive Lonni Estrada at 909-793-2463 or 909-904-6881.
About the honorees
Vicky Watson, a lifelong resident of the Inland Empire, can trace her family history in the area to her grandfather’s arrival in Redlands in 1908.
Her career in the medical field began with receiving a degree in micro and molecular biology and then becoming a clinical laboratory scientist and specialist in transfusion medicine. She has worked at Redlands Community Hospital, where she supervised the blood bank and transfusion medicine department and was the laboratory information systems analyst and transfusion coordinator, according to the news release.
Her volunteer service in the community has included serving on the boards of Family Service Association of Redlands, the Redlands YMCA and YWCA and Children’s Fund. She has also served as president of the Bonnes Meres Auxiliary of Children’s Fund.
Jim Watson, who was born in Ohio and grew up in Pennsylvania, began Scouting as a Cub Scout and eventually earned the rank of Eagle Scout.
After serving two years in the U.S. Air Force, he came to Redlands to begin a 40-year career in orthopedic surgery, working at various times as medical director of the Inland Surgery Center and chief of staff at Redlands Community Hospital, according to the news release.
He has also been on the board of the Redlands Community Hospital Foundation, the Children’s Fund, YMCA of the East Valley, Beaver Medical Group, Epic Management and the Redlands-Yucaipa Guidance Clinic.
Jim and Vicky Watson’s six children are all graduates of Redlands high schools. They also have 11 grandchildren.
