Robert Graham Dawson

He was born on July 26, 1938, in East Liverpool, OH, the son of the late Claude and Kathleen (Fisher) Dawson.

He was a 1956 graduate of East Liverpool High School and a 1962 graduate of Bowling Green State University. At East Liverpool, he was a two-time All-Ohio athlete in basketball. While at Bowling Green, he was a three-year starter and captain his senior year, leading the team to the NCAA Tournament in 1962, alongside NBA greats Howard ‘Butch’ Komives and Nate Thurmond.

Upon graduation from Bowling Green, he enjoyed a long and celebrated career as a highly successful high school basketball coach for both Wellsville and East Liverpool High Schools, with an overall coaching record of 264-98.

At Wellsville, his teams compiled a 237-60 mark with four undefeated seasons. They were ranked in the AP poll eight times and won three state poll championships. Under his leadership, Wellsville won three OVAC championships (1975, '76 and '77), 10 sectional titles, three district crowns and one regional championship, appearing in the OHSAA "Final Four" in 1976 where they finished with a 22-1 record. The exciting teams from this era helped shine a national spotlight on the school, students, and community of Wellsville.

He was a three-time Ohio Coach of the Year (1972, '74 and '76); was a finalist for the OVAC Coach of the Year Award in 1975; received a total of 28 Coach of the Year awards; and was a three-time honoree by the Dapper Dan Club of the Upper Ohio Valley. He served as head coach of the U.S. All-Stars for Sonny Vaccaro's 1976 Roundball Classic in Pittsburgh (now known as the McDonald's All-American Game) and coached in the OHSBCA North-South All-Star Basketball Classic. He was a tri-founder of the OVAC All-Star Basketball Classic and the OVAC Basketball Referee Award is named in his honor.

After retiring at Wellsville, he became head coach at East Liverpool, taking over a team which had a 1-20 record. By the end of his third and final year, the Potters won 16 games, were state-ranked, and won their first sectional title in 18 seasons. In 1983, he was named High School Coach of the Year by the Varsity BG Club at Bowling Green State University.

He was inducted into the East Liverpool Athletic Hall of Fame (1997), the Wellsville Athletic Hall of Fame (charter class), the District 5 Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame (2002), the Columbiana County Coaches Association Hall of Fame (2023), and the Ohio Valley Athletic Conference Hall of Fame (2023).

He also served as a teacher and administrator in the Pemberville, East Liverpool, and Wellsville City School Districts for 40 years.

Upon retirement, he enjoyed many years in Palm Beach Shores, FL, with his loving wife, many dear friends, Rotarians, and his beloved ROMEO (Retired Old Men Eating Out) lunch club, as well as being close to his loving family and grandchildren in Ohio.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Eileen (Sullivan) Dawson; sons Timothy (Shelly) Dawson of West Chester, OH; Robert (Kerrie) Dawson of Westerville, OH; grandson Robert Dawson; granddaughters Kathleen Dawson, Beatrice Dawson, and Nora Dawson; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by infant daughter Patricia Eileen; parents Claude and Kathleen; brother Allen and sister-in-law Thelma (Tice) Dawson; nephew Stephen Allen “Bubs” Dawson; and Uncle Bertram and Aunt Ruby (Wickline) Dawson.

Private arrangements were completed by the Howard-Quattlebaum Funeral Home in North Palm Beach, FL. A celebration of life is currently being planned for a later date. Memorial contributions may be made in his name to the Rotary Club of Singer Island Scholarship Foundation, 332 Sandal Lane, Palm Beach Shores, FL 33404.