The Dixons: Champion Brothers

The Dixons — Champion Brothers By Prof. H. R. Merrill -L/! V_ '^J* "Cv w HEN people from far- off California, tropical Florida, and tree-cov- ered Maine gathered last spring in Boston to watch the contests in the national tennis tourna- ment in which the champions from many districts were to par- ticipate, they beheld two broth- ers, easily distinguished as such on account of their sandy hair and ruddy faces, take their place among the contestants. Few people there, however, could have known that they were sons of a widow, working their own way, not only through college, but to the top of the tennis world, or that they came from a comparatively small town in the very heart of the Rocky Moun- tains. Those two young men were Fred W. ("Buck") Dixon and his younger brother, Donald ("Sanky") Dixon, well known athletes of Brigham Young University. The story of the rise of those two young men reads like a yarn by Horatio Alger, Jr. No; not quite. More like a story from the Bible, for behind those boys was a father who believed in them and in the particular philosophy of life to which he had given his heart. They were like young Davids who had come from their hill country to shoulder up with the famous Golaiths of the world. Of course, the most recent story of the two boys is simple. They had entered and had won their city tournament, their state tourna- ment in Salt Lake City, their district tournament in Denver against the best racqueteers of the Rocky Mountain region, and had been given the opportunity of participating in the national tournament by reason of those victories. Behind that simple account, however, is a longer and a more interesting story — a story of loyalty to a father and to his ideals, a story of self-sacrifice and brilliant achievement. Ten years ago Walter Dixon, the father of these two boys, was DONALD DIXON, LEFT: FRED W. DIXON. RIGHT

100 IMPROVEMENT ERA one of the most highly respected of the youngish middle-aged men in central Utah. He was a baseball fan and a baseball player; he was an outdoor enthusiast as well. He enjoyed all manner of sports, partly because he liked sports and partly because he believed the right kind made men of boys and better men of men. He was a clean liver, believing firmly in the statement that a clean body goes far towards making a clean mind. Then illness came. An operation loomed, and this man believed that his day with his boys on earth were few. Then it was that he made what in effect was a will. He had little property to leave them, but he had some ideals which he desired to pass on. These he set down in a poem, not great on account of its poetic form but on ac- count of its depth of meaning. That was not all. Along with the poem he left memories which had been planted in the minds of his lads while he was yet with them. They knew pretty well what father would do in certain situations. In 1 92 1 , he passed on, leaving the boys to make their own way, with the help of a truly great mother, through school and through life. Fred Dixon was then a senior and his brother was just entering high school. Since that day the boys have both been diligent, remem- bering always that Walter Dixon liked a clean sport, a clean liver, one who could lose as well as win, a person who could sacrifice himself for a cause. Here is their athletic achievement, and in other ways they have done equally well: Fred W. ("Buck") Dixon began playing in competitive ath- letics in his second year, yet he won eleven letters: football, two; basketball, three; track, three; and tennis three. During that period, too, he won the McAdam medal, given for the best all-round athlete; the tennis singles and doubles two years and assisted in pulling his basketball team into the state tournament twice. After graduation from the high school, he entered Brigham Young University, where he won fifteen varsity letters, and one fresh- man letter in four sports: football, basketball, track, and tennis. During his four years at the university, he won the Andeberg medal for the best all-round athlete, was chosen all-state forward in basket- ball three times, all-Rocky Mountain conference fullback in football, won the Rocky Mountain conference singles twice, played baseball with the Provo Timps, won letters in the high jump and pole vault, and then in open tennis tournaments won junior inter-mountain sin- gles and doubles championships two years, senior intermountain sin- gles championship twice, has been runner-up three additional times, and has been a member of the inter-mountain championship doubles team once and runner-up three times, state singles championship

THE DIXONS— CHAMPION BROTHERS 101 once and runner-up twice, and has been, in company with his brother, Donald, a member of the championship doubles team of the state three consecutive years. Last spring, for the first time after years of struggle, these two boys won the district championship from all comers at Denver and were sent to Boston to represent this region in the national tourna- ment, where they won the first round and were eliminated by Wash- burn and Williams after winning one set. The story of Donald's success reads as well. In high school Donald won seven letters: one in football, three in basketball, and one in tennis. During that time he was selected as all-state forward, won the high school singles championship and assisted in winning the doubles championship one year. After finishing at Provo high, Donald also entered Brigham Young University, where he won twelve letters in three sports. He does not participate in track or field events. He won his freshman football letter and three others from the varsity, four letters in basket- ball if he gets one this year, and four in tennis. During that period he has won, in company with Lee Buttle, the Rocky Mountain Conference doubles tennis championship, the Andeberg medal, and has played baseball with Provo Timps as a left-handed pitcher. Last spring, in company with "Buck," he won the state and district doubles championship and then went to Boston where it required national champions to beat him. Donald ("Sanky") Dixon is still a member of the football team of Brigham Young University and has one more year of partici- pation in basketball and tennis. Now, how do they do it? That question has been asked by hundreds and is still asked. They just do it because in each is a sacred memory and the will to do. While to the father and the boys goes much of the credit, some little ought to go to good friends of both. Eugene L. Roberts, John McAdam, President T. N. Taylor, H. A. Dixon, and a number of other good men and great, deserve some little praise for their interest and encouragement, but after all most of it should go to the boys. "I'm always in condition," was one of the stock phrases of "Buck" Dixon during his entire career. "Fit the year round," was his motto, one which has been followed rather carefully also by his brother. "I've never seemed to need coffee, tea, or tobacco," "Buck" has said modestly many times. "Those things have never come into my life, chiefly because they and my ambitions couldn't very well live together." Many an opponent has despaired over this man's steadiness. "He's not unusually brilliant in his best game," I've heard many

102 IMPROVEMENT ERA wail, "but he's so steady! You know that whatever you send over is coming back, until you just give in to his determination." That voices one reason why he was not only selected as all- Rocky Mountain Conference fullback, but was also named the most valuable man to his team in the entire Rocky Mountain Conference. When I first came to Provo several years ago "Buck" said to me one day: "I'm eager for 'Sank' to get ready to play with me. I want to partner with him in tennis for the championship of the state and, perhaps, for greater stakes." I could see a wistfulness in his eyes that was only explained when Coach Eugene L. Roberts told me of "Buck's" father and his love of athletics and of fair play. It was with no little interest, therefore, that I watched the two red-heads drilling at the game, entering the tournaments and fighting on and on. One of the great triumphs came last spring when they took the state and the district and then had their way paid to Boston to fight for national honors. If departed men can see their sons, and I believe they can, then Walter Dixon must have been a nervous and a proud father there in the great city, watching his youthful Davids from the hills of home meet the Goliaths of the world. I think he must have been proud, too, when he found that only champions could defeat them and that they took their defeat like men. On scores of fields of battle defeated and victorious men have all paid high tribute to these men who know how to fight fair, to fight square and to win — and lose. Good Morrow I welcome each approaching year As time rolls on and on, Nor mourn one hour of happiness In days now past and gone. Each hour, each day, each memory dear, I carry through the years, Companions of a busy past Of sunshine and of tears. Why should I fear the flight of time Or dread the days unborn? The hours I cherish and revere Were once the morrow's morn. I rise to greet the coming days, The joy or grief they give; With each new sun I strive the more To work, to learn, to live. Orson Rega Card