 |
This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (August 2009) |
George Dawson (January 18, 1898 – July 5, 2001) was called "America's favorite poster child for literacy"[1] after learning to read at the age of 98. His life story, Life Is So Good, was published in 2000.
Contents |
Early and mid-life
Dawson was born in Marshall, Texas, in 1898 as the first of five children, a farmer's son, and grandson and great-grandson of African-American slaves. One of his earliest childhood memories, he later said, was watching a 17-year old black being lynched after being "accused of impregnating a white girl."[2] A job at a saw mill, supporting a large family, kept him out of World War I after his employer convinced him to sign an X on a paper he could not read, which he later surmised must have made some claim that he was ineligible for military service. After turning 21, he traveled extensively throughout the US, Canada, and Mexico; in 1928, after nine years of travel and work, he returned to find his family had moved away, leaving no clue as to their new home: "I wondered why they hadn’t let me know. Then again, how would they have found me? Even if they’d known where I was, I wouldn’t have been able to read their letter."[3]
He married Elzenia, a literate woman, and they moved to Dallas, where Dawson began to work for the city in road repair, and went on to have seven children, helping them all with their homework despite not knowing how to read. In 1938, he took a job with a dairy, where he worked until his retirement at age 65.
Later life
When Dawson was around age 90, he made door-to-door visits on behalf of a local adult basic education program came by his home. Dawson overcame his initial reluctance to reveal his illiteracy, telling himself, "All your life you’ve wanted to read. Maybe this is why you’re still around."[3] On first meeting instructor Carl Henry, a retired teacher, he learned that the oldest student to that time had been a woman in her fifties. Dawson learned to read and even went on to study for his GED at age 103. He died on July 5, 2001, after suffering a stroke.[4]
Fame
His autobiography, Life Is So Good"(co-written with Richard Glaubman), was published in 2000 and received attention in the national media.[2] He appeared on Oprah and told his story in the June, 2001, issue of the inspirational magazine Guideposts.
Dawson was posthumously honored when the Carroll Independent School District named a middle school after him in Southlake.[4]
References
- ^ Oliver, Myrna (2001-07-07). "Obituaries; George Dawson; Author Learned to Read at 98". Los Angeles Times: p. B.14.
- ^ a b Parrott, Susan (200-02-06). "At 98, No-Longer-Illiterate Man Turns the Page; Student: George Dawson signed his name with an X until a literacy volunteer drew him into an adult education course and taught him to read. Now he has coauthored a book". Los Angeles Times: p. A.16.
- ^ a b George Dawson. "Never Too Late to Learn," Guideposts, June 2001.
- ^ a b "George Dawson Dies; Learned To Read at 98, Urged Literacy". The Washington Post. 2001-07-08.
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
