Scholarships Honor Barry Dodson’s Children
Friends and colleagues of Barry Dodson, a Mooresville resident and a familiar figure in NASCAR, have given more than $40,000 to establish athletic scholarships at Wake Forest University in honor of his children, Trey and Tia, who were killed in 1994.
“Losing a son and daughter is like a free fall; you never get settled back,” Dodson said. “I don’t think you ever learn to deal with it. But this has made it easier when I thought nothing ever would. It has put life back into the entire family.”
Trey, Tia and one of their high school friends were killed in a car accident near Darlington, S.C., where they lived with their mother, Jan. Trey was 17 and Tia was 16.
Dodson has supported Wake Forest’s athletic program for years and attended many events with his children.
The scholarship named for Trey, a former high school pitcher, is designated for baseball or men’s basketball.
The scholarship honoring Tia is the first cheerleading scholarship ever established at Wake Forest. Tia was a high school cheerleader.
Contributions toward the scholarships came from various racetrack owners, drivers, crew members, race car owners and others who know Dodson, a former mechanic and crew chief for drivers such as Richard and Kyle Petty, Darrell Waltrip and Rusty Wallace. Dodson is now a crew chief in NASCAR’s Craftsman Truck Series with Team ASE/Ultra Wheels, Inc.
Companies contributing to the scholarships include Ford Motor Company, Team ASE, Ultra Wheels, Valvoline and Wagner Brakes.
“I never knew how many people cared about the children and the family until this,” Dodson said about the donations. “It tops anything that’s ever happened to me. It’s been an unexpected blessing.”
For more information about the scholarship fund, contact Sheila Massey in University Relations via e-mail or at 910-759-4834. Checks should be made payable to Wake Forest University. Desigate the “Trey Dodson” or “Tia Dodson” scholarship. Any donations should be mailed to Sheila at P.O. Box 7227, Reynolda Station, Winston-Salem, N.C. 27109-7227.
