WALLY DAWSON
Football, 1962-65
Inducted February 10, 1990

A four-year football letterman for SMSU from 1962 to 1965, St. Louis native Wally Dawson was a starter at offensive center for the Bears for each of his last three seasons at SMSU.  Dawson gained a starting berth as sophomore for the 1963 grid squad of Coach Orville Pottenger which marched through the league schedule with a perfect 5-0 record and finished the regular season undefeated at 9-0.  The Bears then went on to the post-season Mineral Water Bowl where they were beaten by Northern Illinois.  Jim Mentis took over the Bears’ coaching reins for Dawson’s final two seasons and the Bears finished third and second in the MIAA, with Dawson a team co-captain his senior season.  After going 9-1 in ’63, the Bears were 6-4 in 1964 and 7-3 in 1965.  A two-way performer, Dawson was named to the all-league team at offensive center in 1963 and 1964 and made the MIAA honor squad at a defensive guard spot during his senior season.