Rev. William J. Watters, S.J., founder and president emeritus of The Loyola School (TLS), was recently inducted into M&T and The Baltimore Sun’s Business and Civic Hall of Fame.
Watters joined 10 other Marylanders recognized for their contributions to the “transformation and growth of Maryland” during induction ceremonies June 6 at The Center Club, according to the Sun. In addition to TLS, Watters founded St. Ignatius Loyola Academy, a middle school for boys in grades 5-8, in Federal Hill and Christo Rey Jesuit High School in East Baltimore.
In his remarks at the induction ceremony, Watters cited the community committed to these Jesuit schools over more than 30 years to provide quality education from preschool through 12th grade. “These three exceptional, private schools, supported by countless benefactors, dedicated staffs and faculties provide a time-honored education in the Jesuit tradition to . . . students from Baltimore families of modest means,” Watters said, noting that all students are on scholarships.
By 2027, Watters anticipates the three schools will be educating 680 students “to be men and women for others who are deeply grounded in intellectual excellence, social and moral values and religious and spiritual convictions.”
“With God’s grace, it is the collective vision and mission of these three schools to continue to educate and produce exceptional citizens and highly educated leaders for our city and nation in the challenging years ahead,” he concluded.
This latest honor caps quite a spring for Watters, who turned 90 in March and stepped down as president of TLS after establishing the school in 2017 as The Loyola Early Learning Center and overseeing its operation and growth since then. He was honored with a 90th birthday weekend, celebrating special Masses on both Saturday and Sunday. The Saturday Mass was followed by a reception – with three birthday cakes – at Engineers Club in Mount Vernon. On Sunday, a reception for all parishioners and friends of St. Ignatius Church was held at Baltimore Center Stage.
The Hall of Fame inductees were chosen from readers’ nominations and votes of a select committee. This is the ninth year for the induction.
