Carl was affectionately known to others by his many roles in their lives, most notably as Carl, Dad, Granddad, Great-Granddad and Uncle Carl. He was called the “Great One” by his golf and tennis buddies, “gentleman attorney” by his legal peers and a “prince among men” by many of his clients. He was “Counselor” to his close friend, the late Wellington Morton. Carl was also nicknamed “Sugar Legs” by a cheerleader as he ran down the basketball court at Auburn.
A Jacksonville native, Carl grew up in Avondale and on “the farm” on a dirt road off “Beach Road” (as Atlantic Blvd. was known at the time) with his parents, William, Jr. and Carla, his sisters, Anita and Renee and his brothers, Billy, Jimmy, and Bobby. He attended Jacksonville Beach Elementary, Fletcher Junior High, and the Florida Naval Academy. He enrolled in Alabama Polytechnic Institute (now Auburn University) but before graduating, he enlisted in the Army and was stationed in Alaska. Upon his discharge, he formed Dawson & Dawson in Lake Park, FL with his Auburn classmate, Clyde Dawson (no relation). Dawson & Dawson was a cast stone company that, among other things, found Carl digging and installing septic tanks. Around this time, he met Emily who would become his first wife. They married and he set off for University of Florida for law school.
Upon graduation in 1951, he became a lawyer as there was no bar exam at the time. He joined a firm in Jacksonville with his Swedish cousin’s husband, Charles Howell, Jr., but soon left to found Dawson and Galant, a firm that would change members over the years, but Carl was always the constant. He had two sons with Emily, before her death in 1970. He married Jan in 1972 and they had one daughter. At the start of his career, he would sometimes try three cases in the morning and play eighteen holes of golf with opposing counsel in the afternoon. In 2010, having outlasted his earlier law partners, he and a young lawyer, Michael Orr, formed Dawson Orr where Carl practiced until retiring at the age of 90.
Carl was a kind, loving, humble, and generous man with an easy smile, a twinkle in his eyes, a great sense of humor, and a hearty laugh who deeply valued his family and friends. He loved the law, playing golf and tennis at Timuquana, playing gin rummy, traveling, and spending time with his family. He had a keen intellect and excellent memory, able to recite various poems and quotes verbatim, try a complicated case, finish the crossword puzzle, or solve the final Jeopardy question before it was asked. He loved the Jacksonville Symphony and was a significant contributor toward its support. He was a proud and honorable man who saw our city experience its greatest changes over his long lifespan while personally helping contribute towards its success.
He is survived by his brother Bobby, his beloved wife Jan, sons Carl Dawson Jr. and John (Jane) Dawson, daughter Dorian (Lynn DeVries II), grandchildren Daniel (Virginia) Dawson, Matthew (Kristy) Dawson, David Dawson, Carl (Lauren) Dawson III, Emily Dawson and Xander DeVries, two great granddaughters, one nephew, eight nieces, and many cousins and extended family. A private family service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, he requested that donations be made to St. Mark’s Episcopal Church. Carl D. Dawson, Sr. will be sorely missed by all of us who knew and loved him.
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