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Oliver C. Dawson
Biographical details
Born(1910-09-07)September 7, 1910
Hampton, Georgia, U.S.
DiedFebruary 9, 1989(1989-02-09) (aged 78)
Orangeburg, South Carolina, U.S.
Playing career
Football
1931–1933John Carroll
Basketball
1931–1934John Carroll
Tennis
1932/3–1934John Carroll
Position(s)
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Football
1935–1936South Carolina State (backfield)
1937–1950[a]South Carolina State
Basketball
1936–1947South Carolina State
Track
UnknownSouth Carolina State
Tennis
Unknown[b]South Carolina State
Golf
Unknown[c]South Carolina State
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
1937–?[d]South Carolina State
Head coaching record
Overall42–40–10 (football)
Bowls2–0
Accomplishments and honors
Awards

Oliver Cromwell Dawson (September 7, 1910 – February 9, 1989) was an American athlete and sports coach. After playing several sports at John Carroll University, he served as a coach and athletic director for the South Carolina State Bulldogs from 1935 to 1976. The Bulldogs' Oliver C. Dawson Stadium is named in his honor.

Early life and education

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Dawson was born on September 7, 1910.[1] He grew up in Ohio[2] and attended Collinwood High School in Cleveland, where he played several sports.[3] He played at fullback in football for three seasons, at guard in basketball as a starter for three years, and participated in several track and field events.[3] He led his basketball teams to undefeated records in all three seasons and in track and field set a state record in the 440-yard dash.[3] Dawson also participated in 100-yard dash events as well as the 220.[3] He also was a boxer during this time, and once held the heavyweight championship of Cleveland.[3]

Dawson later attended John Carroll University, where he played three years of football, two or three years of tennis,[e] and three years of basketball.[4] He has been called "perhaps John Carroll's most versatile star athlete of all time."[4] Playing fullback in football, he finished with a career average of 5.5 yards-per-carry,[3] and led the team in scoring as a junior and senior.[4] Dawson played his last football game in November 1933.[5]

In basketball, Dawson played guard for the 1931–32, 1932–33, and 1933–34 teams,[4] serving as their team captain in the last.[3] As a tennis player, he began with singles before moving on to doubles;[3] while playing singles he ranked number one at the school.[4] Dawson was inducted into the John Carroll University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1984, the first African-American ever to earn the honor.[4]

Coaching career

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Dawson transferred to South Carolina State College following his time at John Carroll and graduated in 1936.[3] It was here where he coached five different sports and served as athletic director across a period that spanned from 1935 to 1976, winning championships in all but one of those sports.[6] Dawson served as head coach for the men's basketball team, football team, golf team, track team, and tennis team, and for 16 years was director of athletics.[3] He succeeded Robert A. Brooks as athletic director in 1937.[7]

In football, Dawson served as the backfield coach from 1935 until his graduation.[8] He was promoted to head football coach in 1937, and served in the position through 1950. The 1943 through 1945 seasons were cancelled due to World War II.[3] His 1947 team played for the black college national championship.[3] Among notable football players he coached or recruited included Marion Motley and Deacon Jones, both of whom went on to be Pro Football Hall of Famers.[3][8]

Described as being one of the most "versatile" coaches,[9] Dawson also served as the head basketball coach from 1936 to 1947, winning the school's first ever SIAC title in 1943 in any sport.[3] For seven years, he coached tennis, leading the team to four conference championships; among the players he coached was George Stewart, a national champion in the American Tennis Association (ATA).[3] Dawson also coached the golf team for six seasons and led them to four conference titles.[3] He was head athletic director for 16 years and also served as a professor at the school, initiating in 1947 the health and physical education program while serving as its chairman for 30 years.[2] He retired from South Carolina State in 1976.[6]

Honors, personal life and death

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Dawson was inducted into the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame in 1974, the first black person ever to receive the honor.[6][10] He was inducted into the South Carolina State Athletic Hall of Fame in 1983, as a charter member.[11][6] Oliver C. Dawson Stadium, South Carolina State's home football venue, was renamed in his honor in 1984.[6] Dawson attended St. Luke Presbyterian Church, where he was an elder, and was a member of the Hillcrest Recreational Facility Commission for 17 years.[12] Dawson died on February 9, 1989, at the age of 78.[2]

Head coaching record

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Football

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Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
South Carolina State Bulldogs (Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) (1937–1950)
1937 South Carolina State 5–3–1
1938 South Carolina State 3–5
1939 South Carolina State 4–3–1
1940 South Carolina State 3–6 1–5 11th
1941 South Carolina State 4–3–2 2–2–2
1942 South Carolina State 3–2–1
1943 No team—World War II
1944 No team—World War II
1945 No team—World War II
1946 South Carolina State 5–3–1 2–3–1 W Pecan
1947 South Carolina State 7–1–2 5–0–2 2nd W Pecan
1948 South Carolina State 4–3–1
1949 South Carolina State 3–4–1
1950 South Carolina State 1–7
South Carolina State: 42–40–10
Total: 42–40–10

References

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Notes

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  1. ^ Football was not played from 1943 to 1945 due to World War II.
  2. ^ Dawson coached tennis for seven years, but the dates are unknown.
  3. ^ Dawson coached golf for six years, but the dates are unknown.
  4. ^ Dawson served as athletic director for 16 years, but the dates are unknown.
  5. ^ The John Carroll Blue Streaks website and an article from The Times and Democrat conflict.[3][4]

Citations

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  1. ^ Ancestry.com. U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2014.
  2. ^ a b c "Coach Oliver Dawson". The Times and Democrat. February 11, 1989. p. 4 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q "Ollie Dawson Selected For S. C. Hall Of Fame". The Times and Democrat. Associated Press. May 9, 1974. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  4. ^ a b c d e f g "Ollie Dawson (1984)". John Carroll Blue Streaks.
  5. ^ "Dawson Hurt In Last Game". Dayton Daily News. Associated Press. December 1, 1933. p. 32 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  6. ^ a b c d e "100 Objects/Day 92: SCSU stadium named for legendary coach Oliver C. Dawson". The Times and Democrat. September 14, 2014.
  7. ^ "State College Opens Session". The State. Columbia, South Carolina. September 13, 1937. p. 3. Retrieved November 4, 2024 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  8. ^ a b Helms, Herman (February 13, 1972). "Thanks For The Memory". The State. p. 32, 38 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  9. ^ Helms, Herman (May 9, 1974). "Ollie Makes The Hall Of Fame". The State. p. 13, 14 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  10. ^ McGee, Marty (May 21, 1974). "He Wants Lifetime Sports". The Times and Democrat. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  11. ^ "Oliver C. Dawson". South Carolina State University. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  12. ^ "Oilver Dawson, former coach, dead at 78". The Greenville News. February 12, 1989. p. 30 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
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