Jimmy Lee Dodd (1979) - Hall of Fame

Jimmy Lee Dodd

Induction:
1979
Class:
1957

Jimmy Lee Dodd was a three-year letterman for the for Mississippi State from 1955-57, playing center and linebacker.

Dodd defined toughness on the field. After being named to the All-SEC Sophomore Team in 1955, he would play through a knee injury throughout the duration of his junior year en route to being named to the Honorable Mention All-SEC Team. His junior season, he hauled in two interceptions, including one that he took back 50 yards in the Battle for the Golden Egg.

He ultimately missed spring ball going into his senior year at State to undergo an operation for his previously mentioned knee. Dodd had a broken wrist in his senior year. After missing a pair of games, it is said that head coach Wade Walker called a physician saying “something had to be done to allow Dodd to play the rest of the season. The reason? Dodd is killing the rest of the team during practice in his frustration of not being allowed to play.” Dodd then was given a cast that allowed him to play. He then won All-SEC Third Team Honors that season. Dodd went on to play in the Blue-Gray Game that year, as well as the 1958 Senior Bowl.

Dodd also excelled in the classroom. He was named a President Scholar every year and graduate with Special Honors in Electrical Engineering. Dodd was one of five to be awarded graduate fellowships through 1958-59 from the National Engineering Honor Society, Tau Beta Pi.