Royal "Roy" Dotson
Seattle Ramblers
Halfback
1957-1962
Following a standout career at Seattle's Garfield High and
Everett Junior College, a 20-year old 5'10" 185lb
speedster made his way to a Seattle Ramblers club fresh off a
disappointing 5-4 season. Roy would help spark a Rambler resurgence,
as the team would go 42-7 from 1957-1961, including a
20-game winning streak facing off primarily against college and
military competition.
Each week it seemed, the Ramblers found a new way to utilize their new
weapon, who by day, worked as a mechanic at Boeing and
attended Edison Technical School. Starting his Rambler
career as a
defensive playmaker and pass catching halfback, Roy recorded
his first touchdown in his first game as a Rambler on a
59-yard reception, dusting defenders in his wake. The
next week, he logged an interception and a punt return, and
by Game 5 was a dual-threat runner/receiver. Two-weeks
later he added a third threat as a kickoff return man,
logging a 90-yard TD return against the Canadian Surrey
Rams. By the end of 1957 Roy produced 9 touchdowns and
led the Ramblers in scrimmage yards. Roy Dotson would
become one of the most dangerous open field runners of his
era and once in the clear, very few could catch up to his
speed.
Not missing a beat, Dotson opened the 1958 season with a
then-record, 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, and
added a 90-yarder the following week. He would have
three 80+ yard kickoff returns for scores in 1958 to go with
his 8 touchdowns rushing and receiving. Facing the
College of Puget Sound, Dotson rushed for 108 first half
yards on 8 carries, including his 34-yard touchdown romp
where he was "hit no fewer than four times, only to spin
from the grasp of Logger defenders". Royal was
named Ramblers Offensive MVP of the 1958 season.
The 1959 season again had Royal setting records for the
Ramblers as he logged his first 3-TD game, in a
Canadian-rules outing against the Victoria Drakes, once
again leading the Ramblers to 9 touchdowns on the season,
this time adding a 71-yard punt return score to his resume
in a two-TD outing against Olympic College where he also had
three TD returns scrubbed due to penalty. Had they
stood, he would have had a record 5 return TD's in a single
game.
Royal had gone three consecutive years scoring 9 or more
TD's for the Ramblers while pulling triple duty on defense
and special teams.
Starting the 1960 season, the Ramblers hosted the Hamilton
Air Force Defenders in the first "Kiddie Bowl" sponsored by
the Renton Elks. Hamilton had crushed the Ramblers in
three previous meetings, but Dotson took the game over,
rushing for 110 yards and a TD on 20 carries to lead Seattle
to victory earning Kiddie Bowl MVP honors. Injuries
limited his offensive production the remainder of the year,
but he still played outstanding defense and when the chips
were down, Dotson was called on to save the day. Roy
ripped off one of his famous long runs against the Spokane
Valley Olympics, this a 63-yarder to give the Ramblers a 7-0
win keeping the Ramblers undefeated and riding a 15-game
winning streak.
Winding down his offensive football career during the 1960-1962 seasons, Royal
downsized his role to primarily a defensive specialist and
part-time reserve halfback, setting the stage for fellow halfbacks John
Whitney and Dan Wheatley for their breakout seasons.
Whitney, filling Royal's shoes, was named the Ramblers
Offensive Player of the Year in 1960 and earned the 1962 "Team Man"
Award.
All told, Royal accounted for 32 Rambler touchdowns running,
catching, returning punts and kickoffs in his 6 seasons,
leading the team in yards from scrimmage and 50+ yard plays,
while also being one of the feared defensive backs in the
region. His production was outstanding for an offense
that employed three backs behind the quarterback, and a team
that valued "spreading the wealth" in an era where "feature
backs" were not yet a thing in amateur football.
Royal was honored by his Rambler teammates in 1998 with
induction into
The Pacific Northwest Football Hall of Fame. He
passed away a few months later at the age of 62.
1958 Seattle Ramblers Offensive MVP
1959 North Pacific League Champions
1960 Kiddie Bowl MVP
1960 North Pacific League Champions (9-0)
1961 North Pacific League Champions
1998 Pacific Northwest Football Hall of Fame
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