 A native of Alba, Texas, Dawson played collegiate basketball at Paris Junior College, where he attained the nickname, "Big Orange" and at Baylor University, during the late 1950s and early 1960s.In 1960, the 6'5" center earned All-Southwest Conference honors, after averaging 16.4 points per game for the Baylor Bears.After his college career, he was drafted into the Army, and stationed at Fort Knox, as a tank commander.