Nelder Dawson
Encyclopedia
Arthur Nelder Dawson, Jr. (December 18, 1928—November 18, 2006), was an award-winning newspaper
executive and civic leader in Alexandria, Louisiana
, during the second half of the twentieth century. He was a 50-year career employee of his hometown newspaper, the Alexandria Daily Town Talk
, having worked in circulation, advertising, and human resources management. He started with the company as a youthful newspaper carrier and continued to advance up the ranks.
A board member of the Southern Classified Managers Association and a past president and life member of the Newspaper Personnel Managers Association, Dawson was recognized in 1991 by the Louisiana Press Association with inclusion in the group's "50-Year Club." Dawson's later newspaper duties including the recruitment of reporters and photographers, most being recent college graduates who were seeking a start in journalism in the small- to medium-sized market that Alexandria offers. In that capacity, he often worked with the newspaper's veteran managing editor
and later executive editor Adras P. LaBorde, I
and business editor Cecil Williams. During much of Dawson's tenure, the newspaper was owned by the family of Joe D. Smith, Jr.
, and his first wife, Jane Wilson Smith, of Alexandria. Smith, like Dawson, completed a half century with the paper. When Smith retired in 1996, the newspaper was purchased by a firm in Indianapolis, Indiana
, which subsequently sold to Gannett. With some 40,000 subscribers, The Town Talk is the largest circulating newspaper in central Louisiana.
Dawson was born in Alexandria, the seat of Rapides Parish, to Arthur Nelder Dawson, Sr. (1881–1962), and the former Mary Monk (1905–1993). He graduated in 1945 from Bolton High School
in the Garden District of Alexandria. Thereafter, he obtained his bachelor's degree from the Baptist
-affiliated Louisiana College
in Pineville
across the Red River from Alexandria. He was president of the Louisiana College student body during his time there. He actually began working for The Town Talk when was twelve years of age.
Also as a college student still affiliated with The Town Talk, Dawson enlisted in the Louisiana National Guard
. He retired years later from the Guard with the rank of captain. In his later years, he became an avid deep-sea fisherman in the waters of the Caribbean Sea
, the Gulf of Mexico
, Alaska
, and the Amazon River
.
Dawson was predeceased by his wife, the former Billie Maxwell (July 3, 1935-April 1, 2000), a school teacher and counselor. Mrs. Dawson was originally from Jonesboro
, the seat of Jackson Parish. She died of cancer
six years before her husband expired. Dawson was a vestryman of St. James Episcopal Church and a veteran member and past president of the Alexandria Optimist Club. He also served as president of the Alexandria/Pineville Young Men's Christian Association board of directors and was active in the United Way, an organization promoted by The Town Talk.
Dawson died in Rapides Regional Medical Center of complications from a fall and heart disease
. Services were held on November 26, 2006, in St. James Church, with the Reverend Fred H. Tinsley, Jr., officiating. The Dawsons are interred in Section 7 of Greenwood Memorial Park in Pineville.
Survivors included daughters, Stacey Blum (born 1962) and husband Alfred M. Blum (born 1960) of Oakland, California
, and Catherine Gitter (born 1969) and husband Douglas K. "Doug" Gitter (born 1965) of Jacksonville, Florida
, formerly of New Orleans, and his five grandchildren, Max, Ashley, and Polly Blum and Chase and Annie Gitter.
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
executive and civic leader in Alexandria, Louisiana
Alexandria, Louisiana
Alexandria is a city in and the parish seat of Rapides Parish, Louisiana, United States. It lies on the south bank of the Red River in almost the exact geographic center of the state. It is the principal city of the Alexandria metropolitan area which encompasses all of Rapides and Grant parishes....
, during the second half of the twentieth century. He was a 50-year career employee of his hometown newspaper, the Alexandria Daily Town Talk
The Town Talk (Alexandria)
The Town Talk, started as The Daily Town Talk in 1883 and later named the Alexandria Daily Town Talk, is the major newspaper of Central Louisiana. It is published by Gannett in Alexandria, the seat of Rapides Parish and the economic center of Central Louisiana.The daily newspaper has a circulation...
, having worked in circulation, advertising, and human resources management. He started with the company as a youthful newspaper carrier and continued to advance up the ranks.
A board member of the Southern Classified Managers Association and a past president and life member of the Newspaper Personnel Managers Association, Dawson was recognized in 1991 by the Louisiana Press Association with inclusion in the group's "50-Year Club." Dawson's later newspaper duties including the recruitment of reporters and photographers, most being recent college graduates who were seeking a start in journalism in the small- to medium-sized market that Alexandria offers. In that capacity, he often worked with the newspaper's veteran managing editor
Managing editor
A managing editor is a senior member of a publication's management team.In the United States, a managing editor oversees and coordinates the publication's editorial activities...
and later executive editor Adras P. LaBorde, I
Adras LaBorde
Adras Paul LaBorde, I , was a reporter, managing editor, and columnist for the Alexandria Daily Town Talk, the largest newspaper in central Louisiana. His career stretched from the mid-1940s into the early 1990s...
and business editor Cecil Williams. During much of Dawson's tenure, the newspaper was owned by the family of Joe D. Smith, Jr.
Joe D. Smith, Jr.
Joe Dorsey Smith, Jr. , was the former general manager, president, publisher, and chairman of the board of the Alexandria Daily Town Talk in Alexandria, the largest newspaper in central Louisiana. Smith became publisher in 1962...
, and his first wife, Jane Wilson Smith, of Alexandria. Smith, like Dawson, completed a half century with the paper. When Smith retired in 1996, the newspaper was purchased by a firm in Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, which subsequently sold to Gannett. With some 40,000 subscribers, The Town Talk is the largest circulating newspaper in central Louisiana.
Dawson was born in Alexandria, the seat of Rapides Parish, to Arthur Nelder Dawson, Sr. (1881–1962), and the former Mary Monk (1905–1993). He graduated in 1945 from Bolton High School
Bolton High School (Louisiana)
Bolton High School is a secondary educational institution located in the Garden District of Alexandria, the seat of Rapides Parish and the largest city in central Louisiana. The school is named for its benefactor, James W...
in the Garden District of Alexandria. Thereafter, he obtained his bachelor's degree from the Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
-affiliated Louisiana College
Louisiana College
Louisiana College is a private institution of higher education located in Pineville, Louisiana, affiliated with the Louisiana Baptist Convention, serving a student body of approximately 1,300 students. The college operates on a semester system, with two shorter summer terms...
in Pineville
Pineville, Louisiana
Pineville is a city in Rapides Parish, Louisiana, United States. It is adjacent to the city of Alexandria, and is part of that city's Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 13,829 at the 2000 census....
across the Red River from Alexandria. He was president of the Louisiana College student body during his time there. He actually began working for The Town Talk when was twelve years of age.
Also as a college student still affiliated with The Town Talk, Dawson enlisted in the Louisiana National Guard
United States National Guard
The National Guard of the United States is a reserve military force composed of state National Guard militia members or units under federally recognized active or inactive armed force service for the United States. Militia members are citizen soldiers, meaning they work part time for the National...
. He retired years later from the Guard with the rank of captain. In his later years, he became an avid deep-sea fisherman in the waters of the Caribbean Sea
Caribbean Sea
The Caribbean Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean located in the tropics of the Western hemisphere. It is bounded by Mexico and Central America to the west and southwest, to the north by the Greater Antilles, and to the east by the Lesser Antilles....
, the Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
, Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
, and the Amazon River
Amazon River
The Amazon of South America is the second longest river in the world and by far the largest by waterflow with an average discharge greater than the next seven largest rivers combined...
.
Dawson was predeceased by his wife, the former Billie Maxwell (July 3, 1935-April 1, 2000), a school teacher and counselor. Mrs. Dawson was originally from Jonesboro
Jonesboro, Louisiana
Jonesboro is a town in and the parish seat of Jackson Parish in the northern portion of the U.S. state of Louisiana. The population was 3,914 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Ruston Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
, the seat of Jackson Parish. She died of cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
six years before her husband expired. Dawson was a vestryman of St. James Episcopal Church and a veteran member and past president of the Alexandria Optimist Club. He also served as president of the Alexandria/Pineville Young Men's Christian Association board of directors and was active in the United Way, an organization promoted by The Town Talk.
Heart disease
Heart disease, cardiac disease or cardiopathy is an umbrella term for a variety of diseases affecting the heart. , it is the leading cause of death in the United States, England, Canada and Wales, accounting for 25.4% of the total deaths in the United States.-Types:-Coronary heart disease:Coronary...
. Services were held on November 26, 2006, in St. James Church, with the Reverend Fred H. Tinsley, Jr., officiating. The Dawsons are interred in Section 7 of Greenwood Memorial Park in Pineville.
Survivors included daughters, Stacey Blum (born 1962) and husband Alfred M. Blum (born 1960) of Oakland, California
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
, and Catherine Gitter (born 1969) and husband Douglas K. "Doug" Gitter (born 1965) of Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
, formerly of New Orleans, and his five grandchildren, Max, Ashley, and Polly Blum and Chase and Annie Gitter.