Service Award Winner 2020 - Jon Dawson's passion for track and field began quite by accident in 1969 at the age of 12. He and a friend were riding their bikes on UNL city campus when they saw a long line of people waiting to get into the old "mushroom gardens" track. Jon watched his first track and field meet that day and was hooked! Through the years Jon attended many UNL meets and became a season ticket holder. In 1980, Jon started distance running himself. He competed in many road races, 10 K's, etc. He completed 12 marathons. Jon ran for 23 years until arthritis no longer allowed him to participate. Jon was the director for the marathon training clinic, sponsored by the YWCA for 5 years.

Jon earned a Bachelor of Science in education and a Master of Science in history. He started his teaching career at the UNL Independent Study High School, later transferring to Lincoln Public Schools. He received the Who's Who Among American Teachers Award for school year 2005-06. It was at LPS that he became interested in coaching track and field. His first coaching position was at Lefler Jr. High starting in 1982. Jon was a teacher for 36 years. Jon accepted the position of Assistant Cross Country coach at Lincoln High in the fall of 1999. He became an Assistant Track Coach in 2001 and the Head Cross Country coach in 2004. Jon loved MOST everything about coaching at Lincoln High School. He is still an avid supporter of Lincoln High athletics. He was honored with the Lincoln High Coach of the Year Award in 2007. During his tenure as Cross Country coach, the girls team were Heartland Conference Champions in 2015. He helped coach the boys team to two City Championships and two District Championships. Jon was on the coaching staff in 2018 when the Lincoln High Boys Track team were State Champions. Jon held coaching positions at Lincoln High for 20 years. He retired after the 2016 school year. He now serves as a volunteer coach in both sports at Lincoln High. He truly bleeds black & red! Jon became a United States Track & Field Official in 2005 and began volunteering at the UNL Track & Field meets as a clerk. He enjoys the camaraderie among the Husker Track Officials and also is happy to see some of his former runners compete at the college level. He looks forward to working the Husker meets.