Edward "Eddie" Dugger
1922 - 1975

Edward “Eddie” Dugger is considered to be one of Tufts’(Tufts University) greatest and “most versatile athlete.” During his four years at Tufts, Dugger excelled in his mechanical engineering courses and set national records in track. In 1940, he set an American and NCAA record of 13.9 seconds for the 120-yard high hurdle run; this record stood undefeated until 1966. Dugger continued his athletic career after his graduation from Tufts and in ’44, ’45 and ’46 he won the National AAV hurdles indoor championship. In 1948, Dugger came in 4th place during the Olympic tryouts. This marked the end of his athletic career.

Three days after his graduation from Tufts, engineering class of 1941, Dugger accepted a position as an aeronautical engineer at Wright-Patterson AFB in Dayton, Ohio. There, he served for 33 years in the Air Force Materials Laboratory.  He rose from a Project Engineer in the Mechanical Properties of Materials Branch to Chief, Materials Information Branch, Materials Support Division.  Dugger was one of the first African American aeronautical engineers in the country. He retired at age 52, but continued to be an outstanding member of his church and a referee for local basketball and football games. He was a 33 degree Mason of the Prince Hall and a Grand Master for the state of Ohio.

Dugger married Wertha Vivian Reid, from Dayton, Ohio, in 1943, and had three children. At the time of his death in 1975, at age 53, Tufts sponsored a memorial service for him in Goddard Chapel.