The Neutron Man

The Neutron Man (March 30, 1942 – October 7, 2004 ), real name Orlas King, was a popular Ohio State Buckeyes fan for over thirty years. Always seated by the marching band, King would burst into his original dances whenever the Ohio State University Marching Band would play the “Neutron Dance”.

Early life King grew up in Kettering, Ohio where his father was a tool and die maker. Every year he and his father would travel to Columbus, Ohio, to Ohio Stadium to watch a Buckeyes home football game. King attended Kettering Fairmont High School and played football. Later, King went on to play football on a scholarship at the University of Dayton.

Football games King started dancing at Ohio State home football games in 1972. At that time he was known as the B Deck Dancer. He remained the B Deck Dancer until the mid-1980s when the Ohio State Marching Band introduced its rendition of the Pointer Sisters’ “Neutron Dance”. A portion of the money generated from sales went to a cheerleading scholarship.

The Neutron Man Memorial Fund The Neutron Man Memorial Fund was established by his widow, Debbi L. McComb, to benefit the Ohio State Marching Band and the Ohio State Cheerleading programs.