News

Senior Olympian prepares for national stage

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Chad Padgett
  • 436th AW Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del --  Bill Dawkins is a man who has not slowed down with age. A former gymnast, auctioneer and Marine, 80-year-old Dawkins can now add gold and silver medalist to his already impressive list of accomplishments.

Dawkins won 6 gold and 3 silver medals at the Dover Senior Olympics in categories like high jump and discus, but the medal Dawkins is most proud of is in racquetball.

"I play racquetball (at Dover) about three or four times a week," said Dawkins. "I could be good at the other events, but racquetball is the one I really like. I got into racquetball when I was 45 years old and I fell in love."

Unfortunately there was no one in Dawkins' age bracket for Racquetball at the Senior Olympics, so Dawkins played and defeated someone 10 years younger than himself.

"It's hard to find 80-year-old people who play racquetball," said Dawkins. "I even stopped at a bar and offered to buy the whole house a drink if anyone over fifty signed up for the Senior Olympics. At the Nationals, I'll actually be the young guy in my 80 - 85 age bracket and at this age just a year or two can be a big difference."

Dawkins believes much of his success falls onto the people who supported him, including his wife who passed away seven years ago and Col. Steven Harrison, 436th Airlift Wing commander, who he credits with giving him a place to practice.

"Every time I had a meet, my wife was there," said Dawkins. "We went to every state except Hawaii playing racquetball and she was always there to support me."

"(Col. Harrison) knows my goal is to go California for the National Senior Olympics," he added. "He wrote me a personal letter saying I was an inspiration to his younger troops. That really meant a lot to me, I took that letter and have it framed on my wall."

While he is scheduled to undergo cataract surgery and suffered a minor sports injury during the high jump portion of the Dover Senior Olympics, Dawkins is confident he will be bringing the gold back from the National Senior Olympics taking place in California in 2009.