.jpg) Watkins in 1938 | |||||||||
| No. 41, 39 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Positions | Quarterback Halfback | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born | (1917-11-17)November 17, 1917 Memphis, Texas, U.S. | ||||||||
| Died | December 29, 2002(2002-12-29) (aged 85) Wichita Falls, Texas, U.S. | ||||||||
| Listed height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | ||||||||
| Listed weight | 163 lb (74 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school | Dumas (Dumas, Texas) | ||||||||
| College | West Texas A&M | ||||||||
| NFL draft | 1939: 15th round, 134th overall pick | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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Foster Forrest "Flippin' Foster"[1][2] Watkins (November 17, 1917 – December 29, 2002) was an American professionalfootballquarterback in theNational Football League (NFL). He played for thePhiladelphia Eagles from 1940 to 1941. He playedcollege football for theWest Texas A&M Buffaloes. He served inWorld War II for theUnited States Navy.
Watkins was born in 1917 inMemphis, Tennessee. He attended Dumas High School inDumas, Texas.[3]
Watkins attended West Texas Teachers College. He played quarterback for the school's football teamfrom 1936 to 1939 and was selected as the most valuable player in the conference in both 1938 and 1939. He received honorable mention on the1939 Little All-America college football team.[4] He also played safety on defense,[5] and played for the school's basketball team.
Watkins was selected by thePhiladelphia Eagles in the 15th round, 134th overall pick, of the 1940 NFL draft.[6] He played for the Eagles in 1940 and 1941. Despite playing as a backup toDavey O'Brien, who started all 11 games in 1940, Wakins ranked among the NFL leaders in 1940 with 565 passing yards (seventh) and 85 pass attempts (tenth).[3] Watkins also played baseball for the Memphis Spudders in 1941.[7]
Watkins served in the Navy duringWorld War II.[1][8][9] He held the rank of lieutenant and was released from active duty in 1946.[2] In May 1947, Watkins left a position as a high school teacher and coach to engage in farming inMemphis, Tennessee.[10] He returned to coaching for a time, then entering private business in 1954.[11] He was inducted into the West Texas State University Hall of Champions in 1987 and the Texas Panhandle Sports Hall of Fame in 1995.[11]
Watkins and his wife, Patricia Ann, had two sons. Watkins died in December 2002 at age 86 inWichita Falls, Texas.[3][11]