DICKERSON BROTHERS WWII
FRED-LT.COMM. NAVY HERMAN-MAJ. ARMY
PHY FITNESS INSTR ABN TNG INSTR
FRED-LT.COMM. NAVY HERMAN-MAJ. ARMY
PHY FITNESS INSTR ABN TNG INSTR
Section: Bench
Row:
Service Branch, Rank
Navy
LT CDR
Theater(s) / Campaign(s) / Operations(s)
WW II
Period of Service
unavailable
Biography
Fred Irvin Dickerson, a Greensboro native, was born May 6, 1911. He was a graduate of Reidsville High School.
Dickerson was the head football coach and athletic director for Lees-McRae College in Banner Elk, NC from 1933 to 1935 and from 1946 to 1961. While at Lees-McRae, he quickly made his mark in the athletics history books. He played basketball, track and football. He quarterbacked the first Lees-McRae football team and scored the first touchdown ever by a player with an 83-yard kickoff return. Following Lees-McRae, Dickerson went on to receive his bachelor’s degree from Davidson College and his master’s degree from Louisiana State University. During that time, he continued to excel in athletics by competing in football, basketball and track.
He was also the head football coach for Davis & Elkins College in West Viginia in 1941 before enlisting in the Navy.
His 43-year career also included positions at Mars Hill Junior College and Elkins College.
He was a member of the Presbyterian Church. He enjoyed music, and many sports such as tennis, track, football, basketball, and golf. He was a member of the Disabled American Veterans Commanders Club, the National Arbor Day Foundation, United States Tennis Association, AARP, and was a Special Olympics Partner. He loved all children.
In October of 1979, the Fred I. Dickerson Athletic Complex at Lees-McRae College was named after him, and years later in October of 2000, the Fred I. Dickerson Athletics Hall of Fame was dedicated to the life-long athlete, mentor, and coach.
Fred Irvin "Silent Fred" Dickerson, died in Asheville, NC in 2017 at the age of 106.
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