The UFO encounter of Tom Dawson in August 1977 stands as one of the most peculiar cases in extraterrestrial contact lore. Dawson, a 63-year-old retired car salesman, experienced a life-changing event while performing routine checks on his small farm. His encounter with a hovering disc-shaped craft and its strange humanoid occupants left him temporarily paralyzed, subjected to an apparent medical examination, and witness to an extraordinary claim from within the vessel.

What particularly distinguishes Dawson's case from other UFO encounters is the bizarre auditory experience he reported. During his examination, Dawson claimed to hear a distressed voice from inside the craft repeatedly identifying itself as Jimmy Hoffa—the infamous union leader who had disappeared under mysterious circumstances just two years earlier in 1975. This unsettling detail, along with the subsequent visit by unidentifiable "investigators" to both Dawson and his neighbor Linda Colby, adds layers of intrigue to an already remarkable account.

Key Takeaways

A retired car salesman reported being examined by humanoid beings from a disc-shaped craft while experiencing temporary paralysis.
The witness claimed to hear a voice inside the craft identifying itself as missing union leader Jimmy Hoffa.
Mysterious "investigators" with unusual physical characteristics collected evidence afterward but were never identified or heard from again.

Tom Dawson's Strange Encounter

The Unexpected Aerial Sighting

On August 6, 1977, while performing his routine morning checks on his small farm, 63-year-old retired car salesman Tom Dawson witnessed something extraordinary. A bright flash of light caught his attention, followed by the descent of a circular craft that hovered approximately two feet above the ground directly in front of him. The object was disc-shaped, roughly 30 feet in diameter, with a distinctive bulge in the center that resembled "two saucers stuck together."

The craft featured small ports, each about six inches across, running around its rim with brilliant light visible from within. Dawson also noted a small antenna-like protrusion extending from one end of the vessel. Despite his immediate instinct to flee, Dawson found himself completely unable to move.

Immobility and Environmental Effects

Dawson's paralysis wasn't limited to just him—he observed that his dog, Old John, and all nearby cattle were similarly frozen in place, creating what he described as "like a still picture." This complete immobilization of all living things in the vicinity added to the surreal nature of the experience.

While paralyzed, Dawson could only watch as a hatch opened on the craft and a ramp extended downward. His fear intensified as he realized he remained completely helpless, unable to escape or even call for help. The paralysis appeared to be some form of technology or force emanating from the craft itself.

Examination by Extraterrestrial Beings

Six humanoid figures emerged from the craft—four male and two female by Dawson's assessment. The beings stood approximately five feet tall with distinctive physical characteristics:

White, pale skin "like flower sacks"
Sharp, upturned noses
Pointed ears
Heads that sat directly on their shoulders without necks

Two of the beings (one male, one female) were completely nude, while the others wore identical outfits made of shimmering bluish-green material that Dawson described as "beautiful clothing" resembling uniforms. Their footwear featured distinctive upturned toes and appeared to be made of silk-like material.

The beings performed a methodical examination of Dawson. They:

Placed a skull cap connected to a hoop-like device with dials on his head
Removed his clothing
Attached bright orange suction cups to various parts of his body
Seemed to take readings and measurements

Interestingly, Dawson noted that after the skull cap was placed on his head, his fear subsided dramatically, as though he had been given a tranquilizer. When they removed the cap, Dawson heard something startling—a male voice from inside the craft desperately shouting, "I am Jimmy Hoffa! Won't somebody help me!" before being abruptly silenced.

The beings huddled together, speaking in what Dawson described as "very high and shrill" voices. Though he couldn't understand their language, he distinctly heard the word "Jupiter." After their brief conference, they returned to their craft, moving with a half-leaping, half-floating motion up the ramp.

The craft ascended at an angle to about 75 feet altitude before vanishing "with a wink." Immediately after its disappearance, Dawson regained mobility, as did the animals around him, with his dog frantically barking and circling the landing spot.

The Visitors' Physical Characteristics and Interactions

Physical Appearance of the Entities

The entities encountered on August 6, 1977, stood approximately five feet tall with several distinctive physical features. Their skin appeared remarkably pale, described as white as flour sacks. They had sharp, upturned noses and pointed ears. Most notably, these beings lacked necks, with their heads appearing to sit directly on their shoulders.

Four males and two females emerged from the craft, identifiable by their general body structures. Two of them—one male and one female—were completely unclothed, while the others wore identical two-piece outfits. These uniforms were made of a shimmering material that displayed changing bluish-green hues when light reflected upon them. The clothing appeared neither specifically masculine nor feminine in design. Their footwear differed from their uniforms, seemingly crafted from a silk-like material with distinctively upturned toes.

Conduct and Interactive Patterns

The entities displayed organized behavior with clear roles. One appeared to act as a leader, testing the ground before signaling others to follow. Two individuals positioned themselves as guards at the craft's entrance, while the rest proceeded with what appeared to be an examination procedure.

Their communication consisted of "very high and shrill" vocalizations. Though their language remained largely incomprehensible, one word—"Jupiter"—was distinctly recognized during their interactions. The beings seemed to communicate among themselves, particularly when they gathered in a huddle to apparently discuss whether to take the witness with them.

The entities conducted a methodical examination using several devices:

A hoop-like apparatus connected to a skull cap by cords
Dials used for taking readings
Small bright orange suction cup devices attached to various body parts

Their movement patterns were unusual—when returning to their craft, they appeared to half-leap and half-float upward into the hatch. The entire group demonstrated coordinated behaviors throughout the encounter, suggesting an organized social structure with defined purposes during their brief visit.

The Jimmy Hoffa Mystery

Unexplained Voice from the Craft

During Tom Dawson's extraordinary encounter on August 6, 1977, perhaps the most chilling aspect occurred after the strange beings had examined him. As the visitors removed a skull cap device from his head, Dawson heard a distressed voice coming from inside the craft. The voice repeatedly cried out, "I am Jimmy Hoffa! Won't somebody help me!" The desperate plea was abruptly cut off, as if someone had silenced the speaker.

This shocking moment happened while Dawson was still partially immobilized on his Georgia farm. The 63-year-old retired car seller could only listen helplessly as the voice called out before being suddenly silenced. When the skull cap was removed, Dawson's fear returned, especially as he observed the beings huddling together, seemingly discussing whether to take him aboard their craft.

The Historical Context of Hoffa's Vanishing

The timing of Dawson's encounter makes the Hoffa connection particularly noteworthy. Just two years earlier, on July 30, 1975, prominent labor leader Jimmy Hoffa had disappeared from a restaurant outside Detroit, Michigan. His vanishing became one of America's most infamous unsolved mysteries.

Law enforcement invested enormous resources in the search:

Over $1 million spent on the investigation
Significant manpower deployed
No conclusive evidence ever found

Dawson acknowledged he was familiar with Hoffa's case, as it had received extensive media coverage. The disappearance of the former Teamsters Union president had captivated public attention, with theories ranging from mob hits to government conspiracies.

What makes this aspect of Dawson's encounter so puzzling is the specificity of the voice's claim. The timing, approximately two years after Hoffa's disappearance when the case was still prominent in public consciousness, adds a disturbing dimension to an already bizarre encounter.

Events Following the Encounter

Dawson's Initial Response

After the UFO departed, Tom Dawson quickly redressed himself and noticed his surroundings returning to normal. His dog Old John, previously frozen like the nearby cattle, began barking frantically and running in circles around the landing area. Still shaken, Dawson immediately fled to his neighbor Linda Colby's house for help. When he arrived, he was in such a state of agitation that he initially struggled to articulate what had happened. According to Colby, he appeared "too excited to talk" and needed several minutes to regain his composure before he could explain the extraordinary incident.

Linda Colby's Examination

Once Dawson calmed down, he led Colby to the alleged landing site to show her where the encounter occurred. Despite his detailed account, Colby observed no visible markings or evidence on the ground where Dawson claimed the craft had hovered. Nevertheless, she remained supportive of her neighbor. Colby later told investigators that she considered Dawson to be a credible witness—describing him as a sober, church-going man who neither drank alcohol, used drugs, nor smoked. "He says it happened to him, and I believe him," she stated firmly when interviewed about the incident.

Strange Investigators' Appearance

Shortly after the encounter, both Dawson and Colby received unexpected visitors—a group claiming to be UFO investigators who identified themselves as members of "MUFAC." The team, comprised of both men and women, interviewed the witnesses thoroughly and examined the landing site. They collected soil samples and conducted radiation readings, though they reported finding nothing unusual at the scene. Colby noted that these individuals all had "olive colored skin" and appeared "foreign, possibly Mexican." Despite promising further analysis of the soil samples, neither Dawson nor Colby ever heard from the group again. Notably, researchers later determined that no official organization called MUFAC existed, and these mysterious investigators' identities and true purpose remain unknown to this day.

The Jimmy Hoffa UFO Incident: Tom Dawson's Alien Encounter with Pointy-Eared Beings in 1977