MageeNews.com

Former Magee resident, Roland Dale, died Monday evening at the age of 84. Local resident Tommy Everett and Roland Dale were best friends "all their lives." Roland and Tommy attended Magee schools together as well as remaining close friends throughout their lives.

Roland was born October 30, 1927 in Magee. He is a former American football end in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins. He played college football at the University of Mississippi.

Roland was the last living assistant coach from Ole Miss' 1962 undefeated season. He played at Ole Miss in 1945 and then again from 1947-49. In 1960, Roland joined the Ole Miss coaching staff and remained at Ole Miss as an assistant coach for 11 years.

For two years, Dale was the head coach at Southeastern Louisiana before becoming the athletic director at USM in 1974. During the mid 1950's, Roland was assistant football coach at USM.

While Athletic Director at USM, Roland promoted USM's membership into the Metro Conference that eventually lead to the school joining the Conference-USA.

Roland Dale is a member of the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame, Southern Miss M-Club Hall of Fame and Ole Miss Sports Hall of Fame.

Arrangements are incomplete at this time, but I was told by Tommy Everett's daughter Susan, tentatively visitation will be at First Baptist Church in Jackson Thursday morning, service to follow, with burial in Magee Cemetery.

Pictured: Roland Dale (71) , Coach Johnny Vaught, and Jimmy Crawford

Relatives and friends are invited to visitation in the sanctuary at the First Baptist Church, Jackson from 10:00 to 11:00 prior to the service at 11:00 AM, Thursday, April 26 followed by a graveside service in Magee, Mississippi at 2:00 PM. The family is honored to have Warner Alford, Billy Brewer,Lindy Callahan, Bobby Collins, Eddie Crawford, Tommy Everett, Aubrey Lucas, Louis Mapp, M. K. Turk, and Sid Weatherford serve as pall bearers. Also serving in an honorary pall bearer role will beMarshall Bell, Jim Carmody,Hill Denson, Richard Johnston, Earl Marshall, Jimmy McDowell, Ken Shearer,James Trussell,Bob Tyler andP. W. Underwood as well as the Fishers of Men Sunday school class, the University of Mississippi M Club and the Southern Mississippi M Club. 