Post by Pat (Friend) Thompson on Sept 30, 2008 17:56:08 GMT -5
Written by Robert Garrett Sept. 1975
Self made is a term that surely can be applied appropriately to the late Walter Wyatt Dawson, who died , aged 81, on May 22nd. He had bee a patient at the Cuppett-Weeks Nursing Home in Oakland for the past four years. He was born at Mountain Lake Park, March 28, 1894, the son of Charles F. and Helen J. (Soelter) Dawson. He was the last survivor of a large family.
Shortly after graduating from the Oakland High School in 1912, Walter went to work in the First National Bank of Oakland where, in due time, he became Cashier. Here he remained for over 15 years. However, Walter had set his sights on the practice of law, and much of his spare time was devoted to reading law. Eventually he resigned as Cashier and took a course in law at Cumberland University in Tennessee, an institution where instruction was continuous throughout the year. Here he graduated in 1930 and then took postgraduate work in Baltimore where he passed his bar examinations and the began the practice of law in Oakland with Attorney E. Ray Jones. Later he established his own office. He served two terms as States Attorney of Garrett County and was a member of the American and the Maryland Bar Association. Unfortunately, however, some years ago his health failed in such a degree that he was forced to retire from active practice.
Walter was intensely interested in civic and fraternal affairs. A Past Master of Oakland Lodge A.F. & A.M., he was a 32nd Degree Mason and a member of Ali Ghan Shrine, Cumberland, and had held a number of high offices in the Masonic Order. He also found time to become a charter member and president of both the Oakland Volunteer Fire Company and the Oakland Rotary Club.
The writer always has felt that Walter Dawson displayed a remarkable degree of courage and independence in leaving behind him a position which provided not only steady employment and no doubt satisfactory compensation, but also, for one of his ability, future promotion. This he did, however, so that he could study law without interruption in Cumberland University in Nashville.
Walter will be missed by this many friends including the writer, whose friendship dates from the days when they both attended sessions of the Oakland Normal School, sixty-six years ago, with a number of other youngsters. None of us really belonged there with a host of veteran teachers as classmates. There was one exception, however, Walter Dawson studied hard and with the assistance and advice of the late U. G. Palmer, who was one of the Normal School teachers and also the principal of the Oakland High School, Walter graduated from the latter school somewhat ahead of the usual schedule, in 1912. He then lost not time in getting to work in the First National Bank.
After her graduation from the Oakland High School in 1915, Walter married Lulu Belle Friend, daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Edwin E. Friend, on October 5, 1915. Their son, Walter E. Dawson, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, survives with his mother. There also are two grandchildren and a great grandchild. Walter was a life-long member of the Methodist Church. His funeral was conducted May 24th by this pastor, Rev. Dr. Lawrence Sherwood of St. Paul's Methodist Church, with interment in the Oakland Cemetery. May Walter's soul rest in peace.
(Glade Star, Vol. 4, page 603, Sept 1975)
Self made is a term that surely can be applied appropriately to the late Walter Wyatt Dawson, who died , aged 81, on May 22nd. He had bee a patient at the Cuppett-Weeks Nursing Home in Oakland for the past four years. He was born at Mountain Lake Park, March 28, 1894, the son of Charles F. and Helen J. (Soelter) Dawson. He was the last survivor of a large family.
Shortly after graduating from the Oakland High School in 1912, Walter went to work in the First National Bank of Oakland where, in due time, he became Cashier. Here he remained for over 15 years. However, Walter had set his sights on the practice of law, and much of his spare time was devoted to reading law. Eventually he resigned as Cashier and took a course in law at Cumberland University in Tennessee, an institution where instruction was continuous throughout the year. Here he graduated in 1930 and then took postgraduate work in Baltimore where he passed his bar examinations and the began the practice of law in Oakland with Attorney E. Ray Jones. Later he established his own office. He served two terms as States Attorney of Garrett County and was a member of the American and the Maryland Bar Association. Unfortunately, however, some years ago his health failed in such a degree that he was forced to retire from active practice.
Walter was intensely interested in civic and fraternal affairs. A Past Master of Oakland Lodge A.F. & A.M., he was a 32nd Degree Mason and a member of Ali Ghan Shrine, Cumberland, and had held a number of high offices in the Masonic Order. He also found time to become a charter member and president of both the Oakland Volunteer Fire Company and the Oakland Rotary Club.
The writer always has felt that Walter Dawson displayed a remarkable degree of courage and independence in leaving behind him a position which provided not only steady employment and no doubt satisfactory compensation, but also, for one of his ability, future promotion. This he did, however, so that he could study law without interruption in Cumberland University in Nashville.
Walter will be missed by this many friends including the writer, whose friendship dates from the days when they both attended sessions of the Oakland Normal School, sixty-six years ago, with a number of other youngsters. None of us really belonged there with a host of veteran teachers as classmates. There was one exception, however, Walter Dawson studied hard and with the assistance and advice of the late U. G. Palmer, who was one of the Normal School teachers and also the principal of the Oakland High School, Walter graduated from the latter school somewhat ahead of the usual schedule, in 1912. He then lost not time in getting to work in the First National Bank.
After her graduation from the Oakland High School in 1915, Walter married Lulu Belle Friend, daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Edwin E. Friend, on October 5, 1915. Their son, Walter E. Dawson, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, survives with his mother. There also are two grandchildren and a great grandchild. Walter was a life-long member of the Methodist Church. His funeral was conducted May 24th by this pastor, Rev. Dr. Lawrence Sherwood of St. Paul's Methodist Church, with interment in the Oakland Cemetery. May Walter's soul rest in peace.
(Glade Star, Vol. 4, page 603, Sept 1975)