J.C. Watts

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Julius Caesar "J.C." Watts (born November 18, 1957) is a former Representative from Oklahoma in the U.S. Congress.

He was born in Eufaula, Oklahoma. After graduating from high school in 1976, Watts attended the University of Oklahoma. As quarterback, he led the Sooners to consecutive Big Eight Conference titles and Orange Bowl championships. He graduated in 1981 with a BA in journalism.

He served as a Southern Baptist youth minister and associate pastor in Del City, Oklahoma from 1987 to 1994.

He was elected to the Oklahoma State Corporation Commission in 1990.

Watts was elected to the United States Congress in 1994. He was the first black Republican elected in a Southern state to a federal office in 120 years. He garnered attention soon after his election by declining to join the Congressional Black Caucus, saying it is "infested" with "Democratic liberals who betray black people in America." In 1996 he admitted to fathering two children out of wedlock twenty years before, and denied defaulting on a large bank loan.

He was selected in 1997 to deliver the Republican response to President Bill Clinton's State of the Union Address. Later that year, Watts stirred up controversy when he branded some unnamed black Democrats and civil rights leaders "race-hustling poverty pimps." [1]. In 1998, he was chosen as the chairman of the House Republican Conference.

Although elected on a pledge to serve no more than three terms, Watts sought and won a fourth term in 2000. In 2002 he decided not to run for re-election, publicly citing a desire to spend more time with his family. Privately he has hinted that he has grown tired of being put on public display by his fellow conservatives while in private his concerns for African-Americans are routinely ignored.

He is chairman of the J.C. Watts Companies, which works with clients on strategies for business development, communications and public affairs. He serves on the boards of the Boy Scouts of America, the United States Military Academy, Africare, BNSF Railway, Clear Channel Communications, Dillard's and Terex Corporation. He writes a monthly column for The Sporting News and is a commentator on The Tavis Smiley Show.

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Canadian Football League Career

Between 1981 to 1986, J.C. Watts played in the Canadian Football League for the Ottawa Rough Riders, receiving the Most Valuable Player award of the Grey Cup during his rookie season in a Grey Cup loss to Warren Moon and the Edmonton Eskimos. J.C. Watts played at quarterback. After his retirement, J.C. Watts was replaced ultimately, several years later, by Damon Allen as quarterback for the eastern Riders. J.C. Watts played against such quarterbacks as Damon Allen, Matt Dunigan, Tom Clements, Condredge Holloway, Dieter Brock, Joe Paopao, Danny Barrett, and Vince Ferragamo during his sojourn in the CFL.

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Quotes

"...they said that I had sold out and Uncle Tom. And I said well, they deserve to have that view. But I have my thoughts. And I think they're race-hustling poverty pimps."

J.C. Watts, Jr. speaking on Hannity and Colmes about his refusal to join the Caucus.

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