Fresno Bee (California)
October 14, 2005, Friday FINAL EDITION
Dokoozlian, former Bulldog player and teacher, dies at 77
Bryant-Jon Anteola The Fresno Bee
Nick Dokoozlian, who played for the Fresno State football team from
1949 to 1951 and later was a member of the Bulldog Foundation, died
Monday of heart disease in Fresno. He was 77.
A three-year starter at fullback and kicker, Mr. Dokoozlian earned
all-conference, Little All-Coast and honorable All-America honors in
his final year. He also was named to the All-Armenian-American team
in 1951.
After football, Mr. Dokoozlian became a viticulturist and worked at
Fresno State for 20 years as an instructor and vineyard manager.
He stayed involved in Fresno State sports while serving on the
Bulldog Foundation board of directors, a fundraising group for Fresno
State athletics.
“The university was really the fabric of his life,” said Mr.
Dokoozlian’s son, Nick Dokoozlian Jr. “He loved football, and he
loved working in the vineyard.
“He had this favorite story he always told how he scored a tying
touchdown with no time remaining, then kicked in the extra point to
win the game.”
Mr. Dokoozlian, who graduated from Dinuba High in 1946, also played
at Reedley College for two seasons and was inducted into the Reedley
College Hall of Fame last year.
During his first year at Reedley College, Mr. Dokoozlian lettered in
football, basketball, baseball and track. He concentrated on football
during his second season and earned a scholarship to UCLA.
But before Mr. Dokoozlian could play at UCLA, he returned home from
Southern California after his father suffered a heart attack. Mr.
Dokoozlian then decided to attend Fresno State.
Smaller schools such as Fresno State at the time granted
junior-college transfers three years of playing eligibility.
“He was one of the hardest guys ever to bring down,” said Paul
Mitchell, a longtime coach, teacher and stadium announcer at Reedley
High who practiced against Mr. Dokoozlian in the late 1940s. “He
either ran over you or was dragging you for several yards.”
Mr. Dokoozlian is survived by Bernadine Dokoozlian, his wife of 491/2
years, and sons Nick Jr. and Jeffrey.
Funeral service is at 10 a.m. Monday at Holy Trinity Armenian Church.
Contact the Yost & Webb Funeral Home for more information at (559)
237-4147.