Pete Dawkins
Encyclopedia
Peter Miller Dawkins is a Heisman Trophy
winner, Rhodes Scholar, U.S. Army
Brigadier General
, and Republican
candidate for Senate
. He is the former vice chairman of Citigroup Private Bank
.
. After earning a scholarship, Dawkins entered Cranbrook School
in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. There he was an all-league quarterback
, and captain of the baseball
team. He graduated from Cranbrook in the class of 1955 and was accepted for admission by two major institutions of higher learning.
Accepted by Yale University
, Dawkins chose instead to attend the United States Military Academy
at West Point
. He won high honors, serving as Brigade Commander, President of his Class, Captain of the football
team, and a "Star Man" in the top five percent of his class academically. A cadet is considered outstanding if he attains one of these positions. Dawkins was the only cadet in history to hold all four at once. He was featured in Life Magazine and Reader's Digest
. Even before his graduation, many predicted the bright young man would make General and perhaps even be Army Chief of Staff. Dawkins was selected for the Heisman Trophy
and the Maxwell Award
as a halfback
for Army in 1958, and an All American under coach Earl Blaik
. He was also an Assistant Captain for the hockey
team. At Oxford, he won three Blues in rugby and is credited with popularizing the overarm throw (originally called the "Yankee torpedo pass") into the lineout.
Dawkins graduated from the Military Academy in 1959 with a very high class-standing, and was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship. He earned a degree at Oxford University
in 1962 in Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE)
and later earned a M.P.A. and Ph.D.
from Princeton
.
s for Valor for his service in Vietnam, and held commands in the 7th Infantry Division and 101st Airborne
. From 1971-1972, Dawkins, while a Lieutenant Colonel
, was the commander of the 1st Battalion 23rd Infantry
, 2nd Infantry Division, Camp Hovey
Korea. In addition to being an instructor at the academy, he was a White House Fellow in the 1973-1974 class. During that time, he was chosen to work on a task force, charged with changing the US Army into an all-volunteer force. In the late-70's he was 3rd (War Eagle Brigade which included the 1/503, 2/503, and 3/187 Infantry Battalions) Brigade Commander of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) at Fort Campbell, KY with the rank of Colonel. After serving as the Brigade Commander he became the Chief of Staff for the 101st Airborne Division and was subsequently promoted to Brigadier General.
At the conclusion of his 24-year career in the Army, Dawkins retired with the rank of Brigadier General in 1983. Following his retirement from the Army, Dawkins took up a position as a partner in the Wall Street
firm Lehman Brothers
, later becoming vice-chairman of Bain and Company. In 1991, he moved on to become chairman and CEO of Primerica Financial Services, Inc..
for his seat in the United States Senate
from New Jersey
. The race was notable for the negative tone that emerged from both sides and Lautenberg's criticism of Dawkins's lack of roots in the state. Dawkins lost by an 8 percent margin.
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
winner, Rhodes Scholar, U.S. Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
Brigadier General
Brigadier general (United States)
A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed...
, and Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
candidate for Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
. He is the former vice chairman of Citigroup Private Bank
Citigroup Private Bank
Citi Private Bank provides personalized wealth management services for ultra-high-net-worth clients who include many entrepreneurs and senior corporate executives. It has 60 offices in 23 countries. To be eligible for an Citi Private Bank account, the minimum net worth is $25 million USD...
.
Early life, education and athletic career
At age 11, he was successfully treated for polio with aggressive physical therapyPhysical therapy
Physical therapy , often abbreviated PT, is a health care profession. Physical therapy is concerned with identifying and maximizing quality of life and movement potential within the spheres of promotion, prevention, diagnosis, treatment/intervention,and rehabilitation...
. After earning a scholarship, Dawkins entered Cranbrook School
Cranbrook Schools
Cranbrook Schools is a private, PK–12 school located on a campus in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. The schools comprise a co-educational elementary school, a middle school with separate schools for boys and girls, and a co-educational high school with boarding facilities...
in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. There he was an all-league quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
, and captain of the baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
team. He graduated from Cranbrook in the class of 1955 and was accepted for admission by two major institutions of higher learning.
Accepted by Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
, Dawkins chose instead to attend the United States Military Academy
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
at West Point
West Point, New York
West Point is a federal military reservation established by President of the United States Thomas Jefferson in 1802. It is a census-designated place located in Town of Highlands in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 7,138 at the 2000 census...
. He won high honors, serving as Brigade Commander, President of his Class, Captain of the football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
team, and a "Star Man" in the top five percent of his class academically. A cadet is considered outstanding if he attains one of these positions. Dawkins was the only cadet in history to hold all four at once. He was featured in Life Magazine and Reader's Digest
Reader's Digest
Reader's Digest is a general interest family magazine, published ten times annually. Formerly based in Chappaqua, New York, its headquarters is now in New York City. It was founded in 1922, by DeWitt Wallace and Lila Bell Wallace...
. Even before his graduation, many predicted the bright young man would make General and perhaps even be Army Chief of Staff. Dawkins was selected for the Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
and the Maxwell Award
Maxwell Award
The Maxwell Award is presented annually to the collegiate American football player judged by a panel of sportscasters, sportswriters, and National Collegiate Athletic Association head coaches and the membership of the Maxwell Football Club to be the best football player in the United States. The...
as a halfback
Halfback (American football)
A halfback, sometimes referred to as a tailback, is an offensive position in American football, which lines up in the backfield and generally is responsible for carrying the ball on run plays. Historically, from the 1870s through the 1950s, the halfback position was both an offensive and defensive...
for Army in 1958, and an All American under coach Earl Blaik
Earl Blaik
Earl Henry "Red" Blaik was an American football player, coach, college athletics administrator, and United States Army officer. He served as the head football coach at Dartmouth College from 1934 to 1940 and at the United States Military Academy from 1941 to 1958, compiling a career college...
. He was also an Assistant Captain for the hockey
Hockey
Hockey is a family of sports in which two teams play against each other by trying to maneuver a ball or a puck into the opponent's goal using a hockey stick.-Etymology:...
team. At Oxford, he won three Blues in rugby and is credited with popularizing the overarm throw (originally called the "Yankee torpedo pass") into the lineout.
Dawkins graduated from the Military Academy in 1959 with a very high class-standing, and was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship. He earned a degree at Oxford University
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
in 1962 in Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE)
Philosophy, Politics, and Economics
Philosophy, politics, and economics is a popular interdisciplinary undergraduate/graduate degree which combines study from the three disciplines...
and later earned a M.P.A. and Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
from Princeton
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
.
Military career
After being commissioned from the academy and completing his tenure as a Rhodes Scholar, Dawkins finished Infantry School and Ranger School before being posted for duty in the 82nd Airborne Division. Furthermore, he received two Bronze StarBronze Star Medal
The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the...
s for Valor for his service in Vietnam, and held commands in the 7th Infantry Division and 101st Airborne
101st Airborne Division (United States)
The 101st Airborne Division—the "Screaming Eagles"—is a U.S. Army modular light infantry division trained for air assault operations. During World War II, it was renowned for its role in Operation Overlord, the D-Day landings on 6 June 1944, in Normandy, France, Operation Market Garden, the...
. From 1971-1972, Dawkins, while a Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of major and just below the rank of colonel. It is equivalent to the naval rank of commander in the other uniformed services.The pay...
, was the commander of the 1st Battalion 23rd Infantry
23rd Infantry Regiment (United States)
The 23rd Infantry Regiment is an infantry regiment in the United States Army originally formed on June 26th 1812. The 23rd saw action in 14 battles during the War of 1812...
, 2nd Infantry Division, Camp Hovey
Camp Hovey
Camp Hovey is a United States Army military base in South Korea. It was named after Master Sergeant Howard Hovey who was killed in action at Pork Chop Hill during the Korean War. The camp is adjacent to the larger Camp Casey, connected by a road known as "Hovey Cut". It is part of an area...
Korea. In addition to being an instructor at the academy, he was a White House Fellow in the 1973-1974 class. During that time, he was chosen to work on a task force, charged with changing the US Army into an all-volunteer force. In the late-70's he was 3rd (War Eagle Brigade which included the 1/503, 2/503, and 3/187 Infantry Battalions) Brigade Commander of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) at Fort Campbell, KY with the rank of Colonel. After serving as the Brigade Commander he became the Chief of Staff for the 101st Airborne Division and was subsequently promoted to Brigadier General.
At the conclusion of his 24-year career in the Army, Dawkins retired with the rank of Brigadier General in 1983. Following his retirement from the Army, Dawkins took up a position as a partner in the Wall Street
Wall Street
Wall Street refers to the financial district of New York City, named after and centered on the eight-block-long street running from Broadway to South Street on the East River in Lower Manhattan. Over time, the term has become a metonym for the financial markets of the United States as a whole, or...
firm Lehman Brothers
Lehman Brothers
Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. was a global financial services firm. Before declaring bankruptcy in 2008, Lehman was the fourth largest investment bank in the USA , doing business in investment banking, equity and fixed-income sales and trading Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. (former NYSE ticker...
, later becoming vice-chairman of Bain and Company. In 1991, he moved on to become chairman and CEO of Primerica Financial Services, Inc..
Political career
In 1988, he unsuccessfully challenged United States Senator Frank LautenbergFrank Lautenberg
Frank Raleigh Lautenberg is the senior United States Senator from New Jersey and a member of the Democratic Party. Previously, he was the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Automatic Data Processing, Inc.-Early life, career, and family:...
for his seat in the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
from New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. The race was notable for the negative tone that emerged from both sides and Lautenberg's criticism of Dawkins's lack of roots in the state. Dawkins lost by an 8 percent margin.
Electoral history
- 1988 Race for U.S. Senate
- Frank LautenbergFrank LautenbergFrank Raleigh Lautenberg is the senior United States Senator from New Jersey and a member of the Democratic Party. Previously, he was the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Automatic Data Processing, Inc.-Early life, career, and family:...
(D) (inc.), 54% - Pete Dawkins (R), 46%
- Frank Lautenberg