John H Dawson, Sr.

John Dawson, Sr., Camden resident, former Arkansas Representative and active community leader died Wednesday, July 18, 2012 at the Ouachita County Medical Center in Camden. He was born on February 21, 1921 and graduated from Buena Vista High School in 1937. Mr. Dawson attended college at Henderson Brown University now known as Henderson State University and also attended Magnolia A&M. He went to work for the Coca~Cola Bottling Company in 1940. He joined the US Navy in September 1942 and was stationed in the Pacific. After he was discharged from the Navy in 1945 he went back to work for Coca~Cola. He was a salesman for Union Life Insurance Company and an independent agent until his death. He was also very active in the community, receiving Camden Noon Lion's Club Distinguished Service Award and Camden Area Chamber of Commerce Community Service Award. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church, a Sunday School Teacher and a member of the Mens Choir. He was also a member of the Ouachita Partnership for Economic Development Board, former President of the CAIDC and the Camden Housing Authority Board. He served as a public trustee (only one) on the board of the Arkansas Local Police and Fire Retirement System from February 11, 1999 to April 16, 2003. Dawson was the owner of John Dawson Insurance, Inc. which was located at 214 Van Buren St. in downtown Camden. Even at the age of 88, he could still be found most weekdays at his insurance office. He opened the insurance company in 1978. Also in 1978 when he was 59 years old Dawson decided to run for a seat in the Arkansas House of Representatives. He served as a state representative for 20 years and left the House at 79 years of age when term limits forced him to give up the seat. "It's a good thing, too, because I didn't have enough sense go get out on my own," Dawson said in a 2009 interview with the Sunday News. He also served on the Camden City Council in 1954. Funeral services will be 1:30 p.m. Sunday, July 22, 2012 at the First United Methodist Church with burial in Greenwood Cemetery, Camden, Ark. Visitation will be 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Saturday at Proctor Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church Building Fund, 223 Jefferson Street, S.W., Camden, Ark. 71701. Proctor Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. To sign the online guest register, visit www.proctorfuneralhome.com.