By Andrew Cato, ShowMe Times Sports Editor

There are few awards more coveted than being named First Team All-State to a Dexter Bearcat Football player. In DHS history, only 12 athletes have had that patch on their letterman jacket.


There is one award, however, that is only given to one Bearcat a year. A bronze trophy, similar in appearance to the Heisman Memorial Trophy, that was first awarded in 1994 - the Charles Bland Award.


History of the Bland Award

The Bland Award originates from a group of football enthusiasts who had an interest in honoring the most outstanding student-athlete from the Bearcat Football team.


The selected Bearcat must meet very strict criteria in many areas of the scholar-athlete life, including: Scholastic Ability, School Participation & Attendance, Community Involvement, Leadership Qualities, Personal & Team Attitude, and Athletic Performance.

A Bland Award recipient should reflect the qualities that interscholastic sports programs have to offer. In no way should this award be seen as a trophy strictly for athleticism; rather, it is to celebrate the most outstanding, well-rounded student-athlete from the senior class.


The late Charles ‘Seed’ Bland - the man that the stadium these athletes battled in during their high school careers - was a very active supporter of the Dexter School System for many years. The most amazing gift ‘Seed’ gave was his pride in the Bearcats, as well as the young people of Dexter High School.


Known only to a few, the late Ruth Bland was the ‘athlete of the family’ and was a standout for both the DHS basketball and track teams. It has been written that she was ‘the best female athlete in Southeast Missouri’ during her time.


Together, the Bland family has been there to support Dexter Schools and Bearcat Athletics for over 60 years.

Past Winners of the Bland Award



The Bland Award Selection Committee

Selection for the Bland Award has traditionally been handled by a committee of individuals close with the Bearcat Football program: Coach Aaron Pixley and his staff; Athletic Director Chuck Powers; Brett Dorton, ‘The Stats Guy’; Christin Stone, teacher; Jason Comfort, ’95 Bland Award recipient and committee spokesperson; Judy Patterson, DHS Counselor; and Alan Hedrick, Bland Award Founder.


This year, however, the committee has decided to throw in another member: Bearcat Nation.


Everyone can participate in this - simply click here to be taken to the 2011 Bland Award voting form and fill it out - the votes tallied for each athlete will be averaged, and will count as one of the seven votes for the recipient of the 2011 Charles Bland Award.

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Make sure to go fill out the survey on who YOU think should win the 2011 Bland Award!


The polls close at 5:00 p.m., Sunday, November 6.

The winner of the 2011 Bland Award will be announced at the DHS Fall Sports Banquet, held on Tuesday, November 8.