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'''Arthur Nelder Dawson Jr.''' (December 18, 1928 &ndash; November 18, 2006),<ref name=roots>{{cite web|url=https://www.ancestry.com/|title=Ancestry® &#124; Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History Records|website=www.ancestry.com}}</ref> was a [[newspaper]] executive and civic leader In his native  [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]], [[Louisiana]], during the second half of the twentieth century. He was a 50-year career employee<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lapress.com/50yearclub.htm;|title=http://www.lapress.com/Articles/LPA%2050%20Year%20Club.htm}}</ref> of his hometown newspaper, ''The Alexandria 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.​

'''Arthur Nelder Dawson Jr.''' (December 18, 1928 &ndash; November 18, 2006),<ref name=roots>{{cite web|url=https://www.ancestry.com/|title=Ancestry® &#124; Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History Records|website=www.ancestry.com}}</ref> was a [[newspaper]] executive and civic leader In his native  [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]], [[Louisiana]], during the second half of the twentieth century. He was a 50-year career employee<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lapress.com/50yearclub.htm;|title=http://www.lapress.com/Articles/LPA%2050%20Year%20Club.htm}}</ref> of his hometown newspaper, ''The Alexandria Town Talk'', having worked in circulation, advertising, and human resources management. He started with the company as a newspaper carrier and continued to advance up the ranks.​

 

==Biography==​

==Biography==​

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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." His 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.<ref name=Obit>Dawson obituary, ''Alexandria Daily Town Talk'', November 25, 2006</ref> In that capacity, he often worked with the newspaper's veteran managing editor and later executive editor [[Adras LaBorde]] and business editor [[Cecil Williams]]. During much of Dawson's tenure, the newspaper was owned by the family of Joe Dorsey, Smith, Jr. (1922-2008), and his first wife, Jane Wilson Smith (1922-1992). Like Dawson, Smith completed a half century with the paper, formerly owned by Mrs. Smith's father. When Smith retired in 1996, the newspaper was purchased by a firm in [[Indianapolis]], [[Indiana]], which subsequently sold to Gannett Corporation in [[Virginia]]. ''The Town Talk'' is the largest circulating newspaper in central Louisiana,<ref>[http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_1996_Jan_10/ai_17999674 Central Newspapers to acquire Alexandria Daily Town Talk – Louisiana | Business Wire | Find Articles at BNET.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> ​but it is largely an [[Internet]] publication, with hard copies coming off the press only on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays

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." His 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.<ref name=Obit>Dawson obituary, ''Alexandria Daily Town Talk'', November 25, 2006.</ref> In that capacity, he often worked with the newspaper's veteran managing editor and later executive editor [[Adras LaBorde]] and business editor [[Cecil Williams]]. During much of Dawson's tenure, the newspaper was owned by the family of Joe Dorsey, Smith, Jr. (1922-2008), and his first wife, Jane Wilson Smith (1922-1992). Like Dawson, Smith completed a half century with the paper, formerly owned by Mrs. Smith's father. When Smith retired in 1996, the newspaper was purchased by a firm in [[Indianapolis]], [[Indiana]], which subsequently sold to Gannett Corporation in [[Virginia]]. ''The Town Talk'' is the largest circulating newspaper in central Louisiana,<ref>[http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_1996_Jan_10/ai_17999674 Central Newspapers to acquire Alexandria Daily Town Talk – Louisiana | Business Wire | Find Articles at BNET.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> ​but it is largely an [[Internet]] publication, with hard copies coming off the press only on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays

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Dawson was the son of  Arthur Nelder Dawson, Sr. (1881–1962), and the former Mary Monk (1905–1993).<ref name=roots/> He graduated in 1945 from Bolton High School]] in Alexandria. Thereafter, he obtained his bachelor's degree from the [[Southern Baptist]]-affiliated [[Louisiana College]] in [[Pineville, Louisiana|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.<ref name=Obit/>​

Dawson was the son of  Arthur Nelder Dawson, Sr. (1881–1962), and the former Mary Monk (1905–1993).<ref name=roots/> He graduated in 1945 from Bolton High School]] in Alexandria. Thereafter, he obtained his bachelor's degree from the [[Southern Baptist]]-affiliated [[Louisiana College]] in [[Pineville, Louisiana|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.<ref name=Obit/>​

Dawson was predeceased by his wife, the former Billie Maxwell (July 3, 1935 &ndash; April 1, 2000), a school teacher and counselor, originally from Jonesboro in Jackson Parish. She died of [[cancer]] six years before her husband expired.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.obitcentral.com/obitsearch/obits/la/la-jackson4.htm|title=Miscellaneous Jackson Parish, LA, Obituaries|website=www.obitcentral.com}}</ref> 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 board of directors of the Alexandria/Pineville Young Men's Christian Association and was active in the [[United Way]], an organization  promoted by ''The Town Talk''.<ref name=Obit/> ​

Dawson was predeceased by his wife, the former Billie Maxwell (July 3, 1935 &ndash; April 1, 2000), a school teacher and counselor, originally from Jonesboro in Jackson Parish. She died of [[cancer]] six years before her husband expired.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.obitcentral.com/obitsearch/obits/la/la-jackson4.htm|title=Miscellaneous Jackson Parish, LA, Obituaries|website=www.obitcentral.com}}</ref> 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 board of directors of the Alexandria/Pineville Young Men's Christian Association and was active in the [[United Way]], an organization  promoted by ''The Town Talk''.<ref name=Obit/> ​

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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 at Greenwood Memorial Park in Pineville.<ref>Hixson Brothers Funeral Home, Alexandria, LA, information sheet</ref> 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.<ref name=Obit/> ​

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 at Greenwood Memorial Park in Pineville.<ref>Hixson Brothers Funeral Home, Alexandria, LA, information sheet</ref> 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|Jacksonville]], [[Florida]], formerly of [[New Orleans]], and his five grandchildren, Max, Ashley, and Polly Blum and Chase, and Annie Gitter.<ref name=Obit/>

 

==References==​

==References==

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