Oscar H. Dodson

Oscar Henry Dodson (January 3, 1905–January 22, 1996) was a rear admiral in the United States Navy, who served during World War II. After retiring from the Navy, Dodson was appointed Assistant Professor of History at the University of Illinois. He was also a noted numismatist and served as president of the American Numismatic Association (ANA) from 1957 to 1961.

Academics

Oscar Henry Dodson received a Bachelor of Science from the United States Naval Academy in 1927.

In 1953, he graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign with a M.A. in Russian History. From 1957 to 1959 he served as Assistant Professor of History and in 1966 he was appointed Director of the Classical and European Culture Museum at the university. His account includes quotes from the ship's Commanding Officer, Captain Marc Mitscher, and Jimmy Doolittle:

USS Thomas Jefferson

He was commanding officer of the 1949 to 1950 when it was assigned to the Military Sea Transportation Service. In the Centennial History of the American Numismatic Association, author Q. David Bowers wrote, "More than any other ANA president since August G. Heaton . . . Oscar Dodson was a philosopher."

He joined the ANA in 1933, and became life member number 78 in 1950 - the same year he received the ANA Medal of Merit. He served on the United States Assay Commission in 1948 and the Hobbies Committee of the U.S. State Department's "People-to-People" program.

In 1962 he authored the book Money Tells the Story published by Whitman Publishing. He also served as a contributing editor to COINage magazine from 1973 to 1987.

Two years after retiring from the Navy, he established The Money Museum at the National Bank of Detroit, serving as its director for six years. He also was honorary assistant curator of the ANA Money Museum. Through his generosity, many important ancient Greek coins and other items were donated to the Association. Oscar Dodson received the Association's highest honor, the Farran Zerbe Memorial Award, in 1968, and the ANA's Lifetime Achievement Award in 1995.

Personal life

He married Pauline “Polly” Wellbrock Dodson on December 17, 1932. During World War II, she volunteered for the American Red Cross Gray Ladies. She was appointed to the United States Assay Commission to the Mint by President John F. Kennedy.