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Meg

EVAN "SLATS" WATHEN A LEGEND AMONG ROSARIANS
Affectionately known as "Slats", no doubt due to his tall and lanky frame, Evan Wathen is a "legend" among rosarians everywhere. He joined the American Rose Society in 1961, the year he won his first queen with 'Tropicana'. That was the beginning of his long, productive and rewarding life with roses.
He was instrumental in organizing the Golden Triangle Rose Society of Texas in 1963, the same year he captured his first District McFarland. He served as vice president and editor, a position he held for a number of years. Subsequently, he has held almost every office within the society, and he held most of the jobs more than once. He is again currently serving his society as editor. "Slats" also worked to fulfill his dream of a public rose garden for his city. Today, the Municipal Rose Garden is supported and maintained in part by the society, and serves as a great tribute to the Rose and an inspiration for the public.
From its inception, the Golden Triangle Rose Society has held two rose shows per year, and "Slats" has been a major contributor and mover to insure that the roses being presented to the public were of the highest quality. As an exhibitor, he is among the best, having won many Queens, District McFarlands, most of the other district trophies, two ARS Nicholson Awards, and four ARS New Zealand Kiwi Awards. He has always used his knowledge and expertise to encourage newer members. He instilled the thrill of exhibiting not only in many members of his own society, but also in those with whom he came in contact. His exhibiting skills and his generous attitude toward his fellow exhibitors, in his own society and throughout the country, have served as a standard for all exhibitors. From that philosophy, largely brought about by "Slats" Wathen, came the society's famous motto: "Grow 'em, Show 'em, Share "em".
"Slats" not only shares his knowledge in the exhibitors' preparation room. He has been a great contributor to the culture of growing beautiful, healthy roses, and encouraging others to do so. He has written numerous rose culture articles for national, district and local publications, and lectured extensively on the subject throughout the South, especially during the 70's and 80's. Back home, he instilled a love for growing roses and a love for the organization in his fellow society members. It is awe-inspiring to those who have observed the camaraderie of the Golden Triangle Rose Society, and who have witnessed the rewards for the Rose and the Rose Society which have been the result of those relationships. Even from his wheelchair today, "Slats" is still spreading the love of the rose among society members and the public.
If there is one area where "Slats'" service has surpassed all others, it is in the area of judging roses. In 1964, in the first year he was eligible, then American Rose Society President Dr. Ayers encouraged "Slats" to enter the judging program. He contributed to the 1969 revision of the Guidelines for Judging Roses edited by Don Ballin, and to this day has continued to observe with a watchful eye, and has contributed to the evolution of the judging program. He was appointed by ARS President Dr. Eldon Lyie to serve as chairman of the ARS Horticulture Judging Committee. During his term as chairman, he wrote a monthly column for the American Rose magazine entitled "The Judges Corner". He continued to serve on the national judging committee for 20 years. He also served as South Central District Chairman of Judges until the early 90's. "Slats" has chaired numerous district judging schools, and has lectured extensively on the art and ethics of judging roses.
"Slats" was instrumental in the re-location of the American Rose Society to Shreveport. He and F.O. Dollinger underwrote the cost of the preliminary landscape design for the gardens. Later, Dollinger and "Slats" co-chaired a drive to raise the funds for the installation of the Golden Triangle Rose Garden at the American Rose Center. Members of the society came up with a plan to travel to Shreveport each spring to prune "their" garden and to help with the other gardens. That tradition evolved into the annual "Pruning Party" at the Rose Center. The Golden Triangle still provides some of the most active participants at that event. "Slats" has also performed auditing and accounting duties for the national organization. Another tremendous long-term contribution to the national organization: "Slats" has compiled the five-and ten-year rose show results for the top exhibition roses in the country and published them every year in the American Rose Annual.
"Slats" Wathen has been honored by the Golden Triangle Rose Society with the Bronze Honor Medal; and he has received all the awards, which can be given by the South Central District: the Outstanding Judge Award, the District's Outstanding Consulting Rosarian Award, and the district's most prestigious award, the Silver Honor Medal; and in 2001, for his long and meritorious service to the Rose and to the American Rose Society, Evan "Slats" Wathen received the highest award of our national organization, the ARS Gold Honor Medal.

Truly a great rosarian. I had the pleasure of talking with him on a few occasions and even though he was not in good health, he always had time to help with problems.
He will be missed. May he rest in peace.

Linda A in New Orleans