Stolen Sugar Bowl Watches!!!

If you don't know, last week I bought three bowl watches (65 Sugar, 68 Sugar, and 63 Bluebonnet). I was hoping to sell two of them and make enough money to where I got the third one free.

Last night I was determined to figure out who owned at least one of the watches, hoping to increase the value.

I got my jeweler's loop (thats right, I am a serious collector) and determined the first letter on the back of the 65 watch was a "C.". There was a gap and then I could tell the next capital letter was a "M". First thing that popped into my head was "Charlie Mac's" watch. Then after another gap, it looked like a capital "S", so this threw me for a loop.

I pulled a '65 program (I don't have a '64) to see if any player met this criteria, but there was none.

I posted here asking for help and another member determined it was most likely Clarence M "Pop" Strange's watch.

I was ecstatic knowing I may have just increased the value of these watches from $300-$400 each to maybe $1000+ each because of to whom they belonged. This made sense that they were his because at the estate sale I bought them at, there were also a pair of LSU cufflinks with "D Strange" (David) on the back. He played in 64-66 and is "Pop" Strange's son.

I was getting ready to end my two auctions and relist them with Strange's name in the auction and then I wanted to make sure they were not stolen and/or make 100% sure they were Strange's. I had a feeling they may have been stolen because the name was buffed off the backs of the watches.

I called Dr David Strange who lives here in Baton Rouge, and found out his dad's watches (plus other stuff) were stolen in the 70's. We talked for quite some time and he was very grateful I called him to tell him I found them.

Just tonight, I was actually supposed to go to the lady who hired the estate sale company and buy the cuff links from her. I learned they were also a gift from the Sugar Bowl committee given to all the players. They are VERY nice.

I looked at the back of another watch and determined the first letter is a "P" and has a open quotation mark in front of it. They are plain as day. He of course went by "Pop" Strange (with the quotation marks).


The watches and cuff links are now en route back to him through the estate company.