THE ISSUE: Lamar W. Dawkins Sr.

OUR OPINION: Businessman leaves legacy of support for university, community

Lamar W. Dawkins Sr. will be remembered as a man who contributed much to his community with time, energy and money. He will be remembered for six decades of successes as a businessman, for active support of efforts to build better race relations in Orangeburg, for devotion to his family and its legacy.

But nowhere will the memory of Mr. Dawkins, who died Aug. 29, be stronger than on the campus of South Carolina State University and among those who call themselves loyal Bulldogs.

Mr. Dawkins’ funeral on Wednesday comes during Historically Black Colleges and Universities Week, an observance that marks the impact of schools such as The T&D Region’s S.C. State, Claflin, Voorhees and Denmark Tech. At S.C. State, the impact of Mr. Dawkins has been significant.

His association began in the 1940s as a student, receiving a bachelor of science degree in mechanical arts in 1944. He never forgot what it meant to continue giving back to the school that provided him an education, allowing the institution to share in his business successes.

In 1974, for example, he contributed personal funds to assist in the down payment on the National Alumni House. And earlier this decade, he was instrumental in renovations to the Lorry H. Dawkins Track and Field Facility named for his late brother.

Mr. Dawkins was a life member of the S.C. State National Alumni Association, holding local and national positions. He was a charter member of the Bulldog Booster Club, now known as the STATE Club, and a member of its executive committee.

He was honored by the university with awards such as National Alumnus of the Year in 1982, Athletic Hall of Fame membership in 2000 and Stellar Alumnus in 2007.

Yet positions and awards don’t tell the whole story of his association with S.C. State. The restaurant he established between the S.C. State and Claflin campuses, Lamar’s, served to provide jobs to a host of students over the years. Memories of Lamar’s are many among alumni.

He was such an avid supporter of the Bulldog football team that he and several of his close friends and alumni became affectionately known as “The Bulldog Swingers,” following the team on the road, previously by bus, for 27 years.

Himself a loyal Bulldog and S.C. State legend, Frank Staley Sr. was a longtime member of “The Bulldog Swingers.” He says there was no greater supporter of the university and its many endeavors than Mr. Dawkins.

But he was passionate about the community, too. “Lamar was just a generous man,” Staley said. “He made contributions to just about everything under the sun.”

Orangeburg Mayor Paul Miller will be among speakers at Mr. Dawkins’ funeral. On Tuesday, he said people are unaware of all Mr. Dawkins did, whether it was building stronger community relations through the meetings of business owners or being a driving force behind the multiracial annual C.W. Green Hunt Club suppers. He worked diligently behind the scenes with great influence, and his advice and counsel were sought by many, Miller said.

Support for S.C. State is a higher profile example of the impact he had in Orangeburg. And it is an excellent example of what loyalty, commitment and generosity mean in a world that seems to feature less and less of such traits so admirably exhibited by Lamar W. Dawkins Sr.

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