Donald “Dice” Dawson: Bookmaker

Donald “Dice” Dawson (1921-2012) was one of the top bookmakers and most-connected mob associates in the United States.

Early Life

Dawson was born on May 04, 1921, in Detroit. Dawson was the son of a wealthy and respected Detroit Chevrolet car dealer. When young Dawson was thirteen, he was the water boy for the Detroit Lions, then owned by gambler Dick Richards. Dawson began gambling at an early age and in high school earned his nickname, Dice, because of his crap-shooting abilities. He attended Holy Cross, through which he became acquainted with other alumni, including attorney Edward Bennett Williams who would later become president of the Washington Redskins. Dawson also was in the Marine Corps and served in the South Pacific during World War II. Upon his release from military service, Dawson went to work for his father, selling Chevrolets.

Trouble With The Law

By the late 1950s, law enforcement tabbed Dawson one of Metro Detroit’s top bookies and a high-level Mafia associate. FBI and Michigan State Police reports from the 1950s and ’60s show that informants were telling authorities of Dawson’s frequent time spent at the Fox and Hounds, described as his headquarters, cavorting with notorious local mobsters such as the brothers Giacalone (Anthony and Vito) and Corrado (Dominic and Anthony), along with some of the city’s most popular professional athletes, such as Lions’ All-Pros Alex Karras and Bobby Layne.

Later Life and death

Dawson is one of the names underworld figures that the NFL cited Karras was linked to when suspending him due to his gambling and unsavory social companions for the entire 1963 season. His name was tied to other NFL stars, according to FBI documents from the era, including the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Len Dawson (unrelated). When he was arrested, the FBI hailed the bust as taking down “one of the biggest and most influential bookies in the country” In an interview with author Dan Moldea for Moldea’s book “Interference — How Organized Crime Influences Pro Football” — published in 1989 — Dawson admitted to coordinating point-shaving schemes in more than 30 NFL games, asserting that Layne, a Lions’ all-time great under center at quarterback, was one of the players he used to manipulate outcomes. Layne denied the accusations before he died in 1986. Dawson died on May 10, 2012, and is laid to rest at the Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery located in Boulder City, Clark County, Nevada.

Source:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/90803857/donald-james-dawson