Cornell community mourns the loss of late head football coach Ed Dawson

CORAOPOLIS — Just two days after Cornell High School football head coach Ed Dawson’s unexpected death, hundreds gathered at Frank Letteri Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 25 to honor the life of not only a coach, but a husband, father and friend to many. Dawson’s impact stretched far beyond the sidelines, with the coach being a mentor to so many students at Cornell, whether that be giving them words of encouragement, being a fatherly figure in their lives, or just lending a helping hand. Dawson's death leaves a void within the Coraopolis community. “Ed had a huge impact not just on his players, but on the community at large,” Cornell superintendent Dr. Aaron Thomas said. “When you get into the field of education, you join it to make an impact on kids and he was the perfect person to mentor young students. Having this happen is reeling, but tonight we can all be together and start moving forward.”Those traits that Dawson possessed as a leader traced back to when he was a kid growing up on 6th Avenue in Aliquippa, where as an athlete, shined on the Quips’ 1992 WPIAL and PIAA state championship teams which was the first program from the county that won a state championship. Aliquippa mayor Dwan Walker was a close friend of Dawson’s, growing up right down the street and remembers the bond that the pair shared as kids up until his death. “Ed was a big brother to us. He was always looking out, gravitated towards and protected you,” Walker said. “Growing up on 6th Avenue together, there was a group of kids that we grew up with and he protected everyone; you always felt safe when you were around him. Anything the man touched, he could do. On this side of heaven, you couldn’t find anyone better than Ed.”Cornell football coach Ed Dawson dies after in-game medical emergencyDawson touched the lives of many, from his family, his assistants, opposing coaches, media members, students and his colleagues at Cornell. Cornell principal Abby Longwell, director of pupil services Carla Antoniades, Corapolis mayor Michael Dixon, assistant coach Kenneth Rainey and former player MJ Smith encapsulated Dawson as someone who always put a smile on your face and lightened up a room whenever his presence was felt. “From the day you were born until the day you die, you fill the dash and Ed certainly filled his,” Walker said. “Look at how many people that he has touched in his life, not only at Cornell, but also at Aliquippa, everyone loved him. He didn’t care who you were, as long as you treated him with respect, he treated you the same.”As Cornell continues to mourn the loss of Dawson, it shows the wide reach and impact he had on individuals from a multitude of different ages. “The world lost a giant on this side, but I know that heaven gained an angel,” Walker said.Ethan Morrison is the sports reporter for the Beaver County Times. Contact him at emorrison@usatodayco.com and follow him at EthanMorrison26 on X.This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Cornell community mourns the loss of late head football coach Ed Dawson