Coaches

Dawson Hawkins

Year Inducted: 1973

Category: Coaches

Schools / Organizations: (Peoria) Central High School
Pekin High School

Biography: Dawson “Dawdy” Hawkins was one of the premier defensive coaches in the nation.  His teams won 580 games and 3 State Championships—1 in Nebraska (1949) and 2 in Illinois with Pekin HS in 1964 and 1967.  His teams have finished 2^nd in State twice—1948 in Nebraska and in 1953 at Peoria Central.  8 times his teams have gone to the State finals.  1953-54-56 with Peoria Central and 1964-65-66-67-73 with Pekin.  Coach Hawkins is also a member of the Nebraska Wesleyan Hall of Fame.  Coach Hawkins passed away on June 15, 1997.