Lawson, junior guard from Detroit, was living out a big-city kid’s dream, playing ball for Oklahoma State University and pursuing a degree that would advance his career, friends said. His love of life and zest for basketball was apparent.
“He had those eyes that twinkled,” said Marilyn Middlebrook, assistant athletic director and director of student academic affairs. “And he had a smile that could melt your heart.”
Middlebrook said she could still picture Lawson standing in her doorway — even though his physical smile has been missing since a chartered plane carrying him and nine others associated with the men’s basketball program at OSU crashed Saturday.
“You couldn’t help but love him,” Middlebrook said. “Dan was a big-city kid who was determined.”
Rising to stardom at Mott Community College in Detroit, Lawson was a second-team NJCAA Division II All-American and averaged 15.7 points, 7.1 rebounds, 4 assists and 3.4 steals a game. While at MCC, Lawson earned Michigan community college player-of-the-year honors.
Steve Schmidt, men’s head basketball coach at MCC, said it wasn’t Lawson’s athletic ability that first attracted him to the cross-country and basketball high school star.
“I saw a skinny kid that had some skills — it was his personality that attracted me to him,” Schmidt said.
Schmidt credited Lawson’s strong family upbringing for his “constant, upbeat nature” both on and off the court.
“He was as well-rounded a person off the court as he was on it,” he said. “I know that sounds cliche, but it’s so true.
“I’m hoping I just get the chance to coach another Dan Lawson again.”
To commemorate the memorial service in Gallagher-Iba Arena this afternoon, MCC plans to retire the jersey number Lawson wore while playing for the college on Feb. 10. And, beginning with the team’s Jan. 31 game vs. Oakland Community College and for the remainder of the season, Mott players plan to wear a memorial patch on their jerseys with the letters “DL” and the number three.
Tom Healey, athletic director at MCC, remembered the first time he saw Lawson play, and said he knew he would go on to great things in life.
“It was a close game all the way through and, with no time left, Lawson hits a three-point shot to win the game,” Healey said. “He had such a great talent for keeping things in perspective.”
Appearing before members of the media Tuesday, a visibly-shaken Andre Williams, who roomed with both Lawson and Nate Fleming, the freshman guard from Edmond who also was killed in the crash, reflected on Lawson’s death and attempted to explain how to heal the wounds of grief.
“I know what it’s like and I know how hard it is,” Williams said.
“The biggest thing is the families — they will always be a part of our family.”
Lawson was also remembered by those off-court — by the many friends he made speaking to children’s athletic camps and joking with students on his Bennett Residence Hall floor.
“This was a guy with genuine character,” said Kyle Clark, psychology senior and resident assistant on Lawson’s floor. “You could tell that he was just a very content person.
“Dan was very quiet, but he could get very jovial and funny at a moment’s notice — you wouldn’t expect it.”
The Lawson family announced that a memorial service will take place Friday at 11 a.m. at the Evangel Ministries, 13660 Stansbury, Detroit.
Directions are available at the MCC athletic office at (810) 762-0417.
To the many friends, teammates, coaches and students who knew Lawson, the big-city kid is still living out the dream of a lifetime.
“God chose a good one to take back home,” Middlebrook said.
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