Fr. Edwin Watson (1927-1999)

Father Edwin Watson passed away October 22, 1999.

Paul Watson, a Maur Hill alumnus who became Father Edwin Watson on May 22, 1952, became the father of the new Maur Hill as well.  He was a dedicated, tireless servant of all who came into his life.  He was a worker in every way and tried to make his work his prayer as well.  He served the community as abbey infirmarian, college registrar, high school teacher, graduate student, and later, principal and developer of Maur Hill Prep School.  He served the people of God in various parishes, notably at Holy Angels, Basehor, Kan.

Father Edwin spent approximately 40 years at Maur Hill, beginning in 1957 as principal, headmaster, and president.   In these roles he was truly a phenomenon.  The community took up the challenge of rebuilding Maur Hill under the threat of losing accreditation.  Father Edwin was asked to lead this effort and lead he did. The monk faculty took on the responsibility of attaining master’s degrees largely through summer school, worked around campus moving dirt and building curbs among other things.  Father Edwin, with the help of the business wise and generous friends, built a fundraising effort that was a sight to behold. The school had a strong bond with friends in Chicago and Kansas City, and Father Edwin encouraged Father Martin Taylor to expand the English as a Second Language Program, while building two new dormitories and a refectory.  The main academic building bears his name.

It can be truly said that he did not ask any of his fellow monks or lay faculty to do a task he would not do himself.  When he left Maur Hill he built the same kind of bond with the parishioners Basehor.  He was a friend and caretaker of the Benedictine Guadalupanas Missionary Sisters, who managed the dining room and laundry at Maur Hill.