‘A Fearless Voice Standing For Equality and Justice For All'
The renaming of West Mastin Lake School in
honor of the late James I. Dawson
Compiled by Speakin' Out News staff

The Huntsville city school board voted to rename West Mastin Lake Elementary after James I. Dawson, who died in December 2009 at the age of 84. (SON photo credit: Phyllis Jones)

HUNTSVILLE, AL -- The name of West Mastin Lake Elementary has been removed from the sign in front of the school to make way for the school's new name, James I. Dawson Elementary School. Parents, teachers and students attended the dedication ceremony.

The school on Sunday was officially renamed for the late Dawson, a longtime educator who sat on the school board for nearly 20 years. Dr. James Ira Dawson was a voice of equality and justice for all. He spoke when no one else would speak; stood when no one else would stand; and fearlessly took the road less traveled.

"And he wasn't about students in one part of town, he was about all students," Dr. John W. Humphrey, principal, James I. Dawson Elementary School said, standing CENTERED among elementary students. (SON 2011 photo)

The school board on Thursday, February 16, 2012 voted to re-name the school after Dawson, who represented northwest Huntsville on the board from 1988 until resigning because of health reasons in 2008. He died on a Tuesday stormy evening, December 8, 2009.

The Huntsville Times previously reported that the board voted based on the recommendation of a committee the district appointed to bring the idea to the community. The committee, made up of nine principals, retired administrators and community members, presented the idea to parents, teachers and other members of the West Mastin Lake community during a series of community meetings.

A survey was done and the response was favorable from 86 percent of the participants.
Churches and other community organizations were also contacted to determine if the idea was a welcome one. Again, the response was mostly positive.

John Humphreys, principal of the school and a member of the committee, said Dawson was all about students throughout his life.

"And he wasn't about students in one part of town, he was about all students," Humphreys said.

Mary Ruth Yates spent a great deal of time with Dr. Dawson, WAFF TV 48 reported. She said he was very active in the school system and made sure all students within Huntsville had an equal education. "He was very outspoken also very supportive if he believed in what we were doing and he usually did," said Yates.

Dawson's widow, Gloria Dawson, who finished her husband's term after he became ill, thanked the board for honoring him. "Today, my conscience is clear, and I feel very proud of what he did," Dawson said.

ABOUT DR. JAMES DAWSON
Dr. James Ira Dawson was born the third child of four children to the parentage of the late Jesse and Charlotte Vann Dawson on January 14,1925, in Pike County, Alabama. He attended Helicon High School and received his high school diploma. In 1953, he earned the B.S. degree in Agriculture from Alabama A&M College, Normal, Alabama. He continued his education at Tuskegee Institute, Tuskegee, Alabama, and received the M.Ed degree in Agriculture. He was the first African-American to receive the Ph.D. degree in Agriculture from Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania. Later, he earned an A.S. degree in Mortuary Science from Jefferson State Community College, Birmingham, Alabama. He served in the U.S. Army, where he fought in World War II. His decorations included three Battle Stars, a Presidential Citation and a Good Conduct Medal. He earned an honorable discharge on February 3, 1946.

Upon establishing permanent residency in Huntsville, Alabama, he and his wife, Gloria, united with St. John's AME Church, under the pastoral leadership of Dr. Homer L. McCall. While at St. John's, he served as a Steward and prayer warrior. Later, they joined Union Chapel Missionary Baptist Church under the pastoral leadership of Dr. O. Wendell Davis, where he attended faithfully until his health failed and prevented him from active service.

As an educator and administrator, his professional experiences included Associate Dean, School of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and founding Administrator of 1890 Programs with the Cooperative Extension Service of Alabama A&M University; Department Chairperson and Professor of graduate and undergraduate courses in Agribusiness Education, Educational Statistics and Educational Research at Alabama A&M University; Science and Mathematics Teacher at Helicon High School in Grady, Alabama, and Crenshaw County Training School in Luverne, Alabama; Veteran's Coordinator, Butler County City Government, Greenville, Alabama; and Vocational Agriculture Teacher at Mulberry Heights High School in Elba, Alabama. Additionally, he was a successful entrepreneur and businessman. Moreover, Dr. Dawson wrote numerous articles and papers for publication in professional journals. While teaching the graduate course Educational Statistics and Educational Research, he started writing his Educational Statistics book.

He was a member of several professional organizations and served as a consultant and evaluator for numerous 1890 land-grant institutions, Cooperative Extension and Cooperative State Research Programs throughout the United States. Furthermore, in the political arena, some of his extensive service included District 1 Representative on the Huntsville City Schools Board of Education (elected five times); Board of Directors, Alabama Democratic Party; Member, New South Coalition; Past Chairperson, Huntsville-Madison County Democratic Conference, member, National Committee to re-elect Bill Clinton for President, and Past President of the Huntsville-Madison County NAACP.

His social, civic and community activities and affiliations were numerous and legendary in the Huntsville-Madison County Community. He served as a member of the following organizations: Huntsville Manpower Planning Council, American County Life Association, Huntsville Model Cities, North Alabama Rural Development Council, National Education Association, Alabama Education Association, and Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Incorporated.
In recognition of his service to humanity, he received scores of plaques, citations and commendations_ Some of his most treasured awards and recognitions include Resolution HJR77, passed by the Alabama Home of Representatives on April 25, 1991, naming the three-story Cooperative Extension Building at Alabama A&M University the "I. Dawson Cooperative Extension Building"; Presidential Appointment- appointed by U.S. President Bill Clinton via the Secretary of Agriculture to serve as one of five state committee persons to administer USDA Policy regarding the crop, livestock, and Farm Loan Program in Alabama; and the naming of the J.O. Johnson High Auditorium in Huntsville, Alabama, in his honor.