Dawson, William A., 1902-

William A. Dawson (1903-1981) was born on 5 November 1903 in Layton, Utah. His father, also named William A. Dawson, was a clerk in the Farmers' Union Store in Layton. The elder Dawson died of typhoid in 1903, three months before William was born. Dawson's mother, Ella Rose, was left alone to support her three boys. The family lived in Layton, but worked a dry farm in Syracuse, five miles west of Layton. Young William was educated in Layton's public schools, and graduated from Davis High in 1921. He entered the University of Utah the following fall, enrolling in the pre-medicine program. He soon changed his mind and entered the law school. He received his LLB in 1926, at the age of twenty-two. Following his graduation from law school, Dawson was elected Davis County attorney. He also established a private practice in Salt Lake with his partner Dale G. Foote. This partnership lasted twenty-one years.

In November 1927, Dawson married Gladys Norton. They settled in Layton, but Dawson was soon called to serve a mission to England for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS). He spent his first year in the Manchester District, but later presided over the Sheffield District. At the conclusion of his mission, Dawson was joined in England by his wife. They toured Scotland, Holland, Germany, France, and Italy, before returning to Layton.

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