Bobby Dodd Visual Materials Collection (VAM380)

Abstract

The photographs in this collection include images taken at various times during Bobby Dodd's life. The majority of the images were taken during Dodd's career as head football coach for Georgia Tech.

Biography of Robert Lee Dodd (1908-1988)

Robert Lee "Bobby" Dodd was born on November 11, 1908, in Galax, Virginia, the son of Edwin Dodd and Susan Viola Nuckolls Dodd. The family moved to Kingsport, Tennessee when Bobby was eleven years old. After graduating from high school in Kingsport, he attended the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

While at the University of Tennessee, Dodd played several sports, including basketball, baseball, track, and football; however, he was well known for his football abilities. Playing for Tennessee, he was a quarterback and a punter, as well as an All-American tailback.

After college graduation, Dodd came to Georgia Tech in 1931 to serve as assistant football coach under William Alexander. He was named head football coach in 1945, after the retirement of Alexander. Dodd led the Yellow Jackets football team to national prominence as Tech's winningest football coach. His record was 165-64-8 with nine wins in thirteen bowl games.

After his retirement from coaching in 1966, Dodd continued as Tech's Athletic Director, a position he held from 1950 until 1976. In 1988, the Georgia's Board of Regents voted to add the name of Bobby Dodd Stadium to Tech's historic Grant Field.

Dodd married Alice Davis in 1933, in Atlanta. The Dodds had two children, Linda Dodd Thompson and Robert Lee Dodd, Jr. Robert Lee "Bobby" Dodd died in June 1988.

Description

All photographs in this collection are gelatin silver prints. Most of the photographs are in good condition with only limited deterioration, such as silver mirroring and fading.