The Dawson Community College Athletic Department will be honoring its first Hall of Fame Class on Sunday between basketball games. Basketball player Brad Pauley; Rodeo Coach Tom Ree; long-time coach, athletic director, and administrator Donald Kettner; and the 1981 National Championship Men’s Rodeo team will be inducted into the newly established Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame is a part of DCC’s mission to foster a culture of excellence. Athletics have been a critical part of the college for over 60 years and the college plans to induct new members every year.
The Lady Bucs will be taking on the Lady Royals from Lake Region State College at 2:00 pm and the Bucs will play the Royals around 4:00 pm on Sunday at the Toepke Center on the campus of DCC. Both Dawson teams are looking for revenge after being swept in Devils Lake back on January 13th. The special ceremony to honor the first four inductees will take place between games.
Brad Pauley scored over 1,000 points and collected over 1,000 rebounds in his two seasons at the college. He set numerous records during his time at Dawson including points in a season and rebounds in a season and led his team to a 28-8 record in his sophomore year. Don Kettner spent 37 years serving at Dawson including time as coach, athletic director and eventually president. He helped to start the Cross-Country, Track and Women’s Basketball programs and won 8 regional championships and five conference championships. Tom Ree was an integral part of the rodeo program for 33 years and helped Dawson finish in the Top 10 at Nationals nine different times. Coach Ree led the 1981 Men’s Rodeo Team to a National Championship and they are still the only team in college history to win a national championship. That team is the 4th inductee into the inaugural Athletic Hall of Fame.
The ceremony will take place between games on Sunday at approximately 4:00 pm. Game tickets are only $5 for adults and children are free.