James Lee Lawson was born Jan. 9, 1873, near Williamson, West Virginia. He attended various colleges in Virginia and took post graduate law courses at Columbia University, New York City. He came to New Mexico in 1900. In 1902 he located and practiced law in Alamogordo. He was one of the organizers of the Citizens National Bank in Alamogordo and a widely known attorney in Otero County, N.M. His interest in politics led him to become the Democratic Chairman of Otero County, 1904-1906. He was elected to the Joint Statehood Convention, 1906, and a member of the State Constitutional Convention, 1910. He played a large role in the drafting of the Constitution under which New Mexico was admitted to Statehood. Lawson died in Alamogordo, N.M. in 1952.
From the description of Papers, 1909-1946. (University of New Mexico-Main Campus). WorldCat record id: 39736326
