Tommy Earl Dawkins

First-Generation College Grad with Admirable Football Career

Tommy Earl Dawkins was born in Lexington, NC on May 8th, 1965 to John Henry Dawkins and Eula P Moore. He was raised alongside his two older brothers, Johnny Leroy Dawkins and James Dawkins, as well as his younger sister, Beverly Dawkins.

Tommy was inspired by his older brothers, James "Funk" Dawkins and Johnny Leroy Dawkins, to play football at the young age of 5 years old. Both of his brothers were exceptional football players.

Tommy's football journey began in the pee-wee league, known as Pop Warner, where he played for the Broncos team. Transitioning to little league, Tommy joined the Steelers team, foreshadowing his future in football. Throughout middle school and high school, Tommy continued to showcase his talent and dedication to the sport.

Tommy reminisces about a time when things were different. His educational journey took him to various schools: from K-2nd grade at South Lexington elementary school, 3rd-4th grade at Holt School, 5th-6th grade at Dunbar, 7th-8th grade at Lexington Middle School, and finally, 9th-12th grade at Lexington High School. He vividly recalls living near the black pool in Lexington before relocating to a duplex on Poplar St. The family's routine involved walking to and from school, as well as to the Holt Moffitt field for practice and games. During this period, Tommy faced challenges related to racism. He recounts how, every Halloween evening after football practice, he and his friends were targeted by a group of white individuals who would throw eggs at them and yell out, “Niggers!”. This became a recurring occurrence every Halloween. To avoid this harassment, Tommy and his friends developed a strategy – they would sprint as fast as they could towards the train tracks on their way home. Once they reached the tracks, they felt safe from the abuse and mistreatment by those individuals.

Despite facing challenges, Tommy persevered, honing his football skills throughout his high school years. Initially, he had no plans to pursue a football career beyond high school. He states, “At this time in Lexington, after you graduated, you went on to work at the furniture factory”. He expected to do the same. However, during his junior year, Coach Charles England, a legendary local hero, recognized Tommy's potential and encouraged him to aim for the next level. Coach England supported Tommy by providing a tutor to help improve his SAT scores. Thanks to this assistance and his exceptional football abilities, Tommy received offers to play at various institutions like Western Carolina, Wake Forest, and various historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) such as A&T State University.

He made the decision to begin his postsecondary education at a junior college, Lees-McCrae College, in Banner Elk, NC, along with a few classmates. Due to the rigorous football practices and the notably different climate – extremely cold weather and unfamiliar food – Tommy was the only one from his group who stayed. At that time, Appalachian State University had a JV football team. Tommy would travel on Thursday nights to compete against the JV team. His exceptional performances caught the attention of App State, along with offers from other schools. This led him on a journey to choose a four-year university. During this process, he embarked on a journey taking his first plane ride on private planes for visits to schools such as NC Central, University of South Carolina and Georgia Southern to name a few. The small private planes provided interesting experiences, including a turbulent flight back to Banner Elk due to heavy rain and storms. Unable to land in Banner Elk, they touched down in Johnson City and drove to Boone, NC, where Tommy enjoyed spending time. Recruiters visited his mother's duplex in Lexington, NC, on Poplar St., and after deliberation, Tommy decided to attend App State.

Tommy completed three academic years there and, in his senior year, he decided to pursue a professional football career. Starting in a training camp with the 49ers, he was later picked up by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Despite his coach's advice to sign his contract promptly, Tommy trusted his agent, a choice he would regret later. His coach at the time gave him some words of advice, “You don’t work for your agent, your agent works for you”. However, without having the appropriate mentorship to help him through the process, he relied on his agent. After an injury sidelined him, he worked diligently to recover and prepare for the draft. However, upon his return, he discovered all draft spots had been filled, leaving him disheartened. This led to bitterness and a temporary disinterest in watching football for Tommy.

After facing that setback, Tommy decided to prioritize his education. He returned to App State and joined the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity in Spring '86, becoming an Omega-Man. Tommy achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first college graduate in his family with a degree in business administration.

Expressing his ambition to be the first college graduate in his family, Tommy not only realized this goal but also paved the way for several family members, including his niece Dia Nyarko, to attend and graduate from App State. Additionally, he established a legacy that influenced each of his sons – Tommy Dawkins, Jr, Timothy Dawkins, and Terrell Dawkins – all of whom went on to play college football. In 2018, Tommy was honored with induction into the Lexington Senior High School Hall of Fame.

During Black History Month, let's celebrate Tommy for his remarkable contributions to history.