David "Big Dave" Watkins Bio

Supervisor with Eaton Electrical

Family Members:
Billie Jo (Wife)
Lisa (deceased)

Heather (son in law Russell)

Darian and Claire (granddaughters)

Jim (son-in-law) and Kathy plus the kids  Meredith, Zach, Colin, Garret and Hannah

 
Hometown:
Waterloo, SC

Favorite Outdoor Activity:
Deer Hunting

Favorite Places to go:
Myrtle Beach - love the waves and the food

All-time Outdoor Highlight:
Being with young men when they kill their first deer. The excitement they have brings back the memories of my first kill which was a long, long time ago.

Best Fishing Memory:
Teaching my wife how to bass fish. She was a quick learner once she felt that first one.

Favorite Fishing Technique:
Floating worm around sea walls and rip-rap

Favorite Place to shop for Outdoor gear:
Bass Pro Shops, Hunters Headquarters and Sportsman's Friend 

Favorite Equipment (Guns, Boats, Reels, Tents, Atvs, Clothing, etc…):
You just can not beat the ride of a Champion with a 200 hp that has been "juiced up". For hunting I can not leave Ole Killer out. Nothing like a Remington model 742 Wood Master 30-06 to get the job done except on drives when (Maggie) my 3" magnum 12 gauge Browning is needed to bring 'em down on the run.

Favorite Wild Game Food:
Fried deer cube steak cooked country style with onions and gravy. My granddaughter calls it "Papa's famous cube steak".

Item in First Aid Kit you use most:
Advil, Tums and Band Aids. I keep a sharp knife when skinning and I have stuck many a rookie that got in the way trying to help.

Person most responsible for cultivating your love for the outdoors:
Actually my Cousin William taught me how to shoot my first 410 that Santa brought me when I was 10 years old and my Mother took me into the woods to hunt squirrels. In my late teens I had 3 men, Bud, Sam and Ray who took me deer hunting on man drives and I killed my first 6 pt. buck. The rest is history, 40 years later I am still hooked.

Favorite Scripture:
John 3:16 - That God loved me enough to send Jesus and that He loved me enough to die for me and Romans 8:38 tells me that NOTHING can separate me from The Love of God.

Any spiritual lessons you have learned on outdoor events:
I continue to be amazed at what The Lord does on these retreats. To know from a personal experience when The Holy Spirit melted my cold, hard heart while on a Hog Hunt in Lugoff, SC to being a part of so many retreats where The Lord just took over and ministered to men that were hurting and struggling with problems. Seeing men come to know Christ for the first time through the efforts of the men in Ironman is what Men's Ministry is all about.  I am truly Blessed beyond my expectations on each retreat.