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
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]
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
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]
