Friends of Basketball

Dorothy Dawson

Year Inducted: 2003

Category: Friends of Basketball

Schools / Organizations:  Chicago Dunbar High School

Chicago Public League

Biography: 

A high school All-American player at Baton Rouge, La., Dawson coached Webster High School of Minden (La.) to a state championship. Before arriving in Chicago, Dawson coached swimming at Grambling State University for two years.

Dawson also coached track, volleyball and basketball at (Chicago) Dunbar High School. She won numerous awards for her outstanding work as a teacher and coach and was the girls’ track coordinator for the Chicago Public School system. 

Dawson received the IHSA Service Award in 2001, the USA Track & Field President’s Award in 1998 and had a meet named after her at Hillside Proviso West in 2009.

Dawson played basketball during the 1950’s when the schools were segregated and girls’ sports were not held in the same esteem as boys’ sports. During high school and college her teams were made up of six members on each side.

Dorothy Dawson died on November 17, 2021 at the age of 91.