Coach Truman Dixon celebrated turning 98 on Dec. 10 surrounded by his loved ones. Some were surprised when he blew out his 98 blazing candles with one puff. Some were not because they knew how tough he was. When asked how he had lived so long he said two things: family and staying busy.

According to his fam- ily, Dixon still plants his own garden, hunts deer and tries to fix anything he can around the house. He also still loves to attend all the home games he can and go to as many community events as he can get to.

Truman was the 10th child born to Mary Jane White and Thomas Dixon, and was the first in his family to attend college.

After graduating from Checotah High School in 1944, he went on to graduate from college then he taught and coached from 1959 to 1990 only in McIntosh County – first at Central High and then at Checotah. While coaching Dixon led the Checotah Wildcats boys and girls basketball teams to a combined 699-248 record. His girls won 498 games in 27 seasons, while his boys won 201 games in 10 seasons. In 1969 his boys won the Class A gold ball.

Dixon was a memorable coach and was the Oklahoma Coaches Association (OCA) Basketball Coach of the Year in 1968, 1969 and 1973. In 1996, Dixon was inducted into the OCA Hall of Fame and in 2022 he was inducted into the Checotah Athletic Hall of Fame.

Of course, behind every successful man, there is a woman and Truman chased his sweetheart, Colleen Dixon, then married her on March 13, 1948. In March of this year they celebrated their 75th anniversary. For over 73 years, the Dixons have lived in the same house on the same street in Checotah and have always welcomed friends, family and lots of students, often feeding them before their ball games.

Together the Dixons have three children, 11 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren.

The McIntosh County Democrat congratulates Truman Dixon on all his accomplishments, which includes turning 98! Happy Birthday Coach!