VOCA, TX, November 17, 2020 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Alphonse A. Dotson has been inducted into Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
After receiving a Bachelor of Science in art education and special education from Grambling State University, Mr. Dotson began his career as a professional football player, playing for National Football League teams such as the Kansas City Chiefs and the Oakland Raiders, which he calls America's true team. After retiring from football, he developed a love for growing grapes. His interest was piqued when he visited his grandfather's home in Houston, which consisted of two acres of land and on it was a grape arbor that was constructed for shelter for two fishing boats. Then decades later after going to South America and ending in Acapulco for fifteen years he decided to come back to Texas and developed this secret of growing grapes. As his wife, Martha, embarked on a career in hotel and resort management, Mr. Dotson took care of their children and studied soils and growing techniques in order to prepare for his career as a vintner.
In 1997, with help from family and friends, Kam and Michelle Macleod (whose father owned half of Oakland Raiders and lived in Napa) Mr. Dotson started to do research on growing and developing grapes for Certenberg Vineyards. Over the years, he sold grapes to Fall Creek Winery, which later led to the establishment of Wines of Dotson-Cervantes after several years of freezes, he developed Wines of Dotson-Cervantes for survival. Together, Mr. Dotson and wife, Martha were able to develop an award-winning wine, Gotas De Oro, which translates to "drops of gold." Mr. Dotson has served as the chief executive officer and vintner of Wines of Dotson-Cervantes and wife Martha the managing partner of Certenberg Vineyard for more than a decade.
In his career, Mr. Dotson also worked as a juvenile probation officer, social worker and special education teacher in New Orleans, Louisiana. He also worked as sports contractor and spent time buying and selling fine arts and precious gems from Africa, South America and Mexico. As an accomplished artist, and vintner he was featured in Saveur Magazine, Southern Living Magazine, Austin American-Statesman and the Chicago Tribune. As a testament to his athletic talent, Mr. Dotson was the first player from a small college to make a major All American team in 1964, where he played with Dick Butkus, Roger Staubach, Gale Sayers and Fred Biletnikoff.
For his work in winemaking, Mr. Dotson has been recognized as a Rodeo Austin Grand Champion. His wines are also regularly awarded bronze, silver and gold-level accolades for competitions across the United States. Over the years, Mr. Dotson has attributed his professional success to his faith, his wife, Martha, both grandfathers and his persistence. Civically, he has served as the chairperson of the Wine Industry Board of the Texas Department of Agriculture, and additionally served two terms as the Texas Commissioner of the Arts. Looking toward the future, he plans to develop his winery into a well-known boutique winery in the area and to pester his kids and damn sure grandkids.
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Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Today, Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. Marquis® now publishes many Who's Who titles, including Who's Who in America®, Who's Who in the World®, Who's Who in American Law®, Who's Who in Medicine and Healthcare®, Who's Who in Science and Engineering®, and Who's Who in Asia®. Marquis® publications may be visited at the official Marquis Who's Who® website at www.marquiswhoswho.com.
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