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20th Anniversary Gala: Dan Reeves Introduction

A full six months before the allies invaded Normandy, Dan Reeves invaded Georgia. Depending on your political affiliation, Dan is Sumter County, Georgia’s most beloved resident. Mr. Reeves was born on January 19, 1944 in Rome, Georgia, and moved with his family to Americus, Georgia at the age of six weeks.

During high school in Americus, Dan lettered for four years in football and three years each in baseball and basketball. During his senior year, he was named MVP of the Georgia High School All-Star Football game, played on the State Champion Basketball team, and started at left field on the State Champion Baseball team.

As a college student at the University of South Carolina, Mr. Reeves played Quarterback from 1962-1964, and was named 2nd team All-ACC under Coach Marvin Bass. During his tenure at South Carolina he set 10 school records, passed for 2,561 yards on 221-441 with 16 touchdowns, he had three 100-yard rushing games for 3,376 total yards, and was inducted into the USC Hall of Fame.

Dan joined the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent and played there from 1965-1972. In 1967 he was the first Dallas Cowboy to ever score four touchdowns in one game and held the franchise record for most touchdowns in a season (16) during the 1966 season until Emmitt Smith broke it in 1992. He rushed 535 times for 1,990 yards and 25 touchdowns. He caught 129 passes for 1,693 yards and 17 touchdowns. Showing great signs of leadership and motivation, he became a player-coach and then a coach with the Cowboys where he held various positions until 1981.

In 1981, at the age of 37, Dan was named head coach of the fabled Denver Broncos where he stayed unti1 1992. In 1993 he took over as head coach of the New York Giants, where he coached until he took over as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons in 1997.

He is only the 7th head coach to ever reach 200 career victories with a career record of 201-174-2. He was an active participant in an NFL-record, nine Super Bowls, including four as a head coach. Including the 4 Super Bowls, as head coach Dan has reached 4 AFC Championship Games, an NFC Title Game, one NFC West Title and 5 AFC West Titles.

He compiled 12 winning seasons, participated in 50 playoff games (20 as head coach, 16 as an assistant coach, 6 as a player-coach and 8 as a player.)

He was named the NFL coach of the year five times-1984, 1989, 1991, 1993 and 1998.

On a personal note, Dan has been married 47 years to his high school sweetheart, Pam. They three grown children; Dana, Laura and son Lee. And they are the proud grandparents of 6 beautiful grandchildren.

Ladies and Gentlemen, please extend a warm welcome to one of Georgia’s most sincere, accomplished and humble native sons, Mr. Dan Reeves.