George Dawson (author)
George Dawson | |
---|---|
Born | Dallas, Texas , U.S. | January 19, 1898
Nationality | American |
Children | 7 |
George Dawson (January 19, 1898 – July 5, 2001) was called "America's favorite poster child for literacy"[1] after learning to read at the age of 98. His life story, Life Is So Good, was published in 2000.
A Texas middle school was named in his honor in 2002; twenty years later the same school placed his autobiography under review because it dealt with civil rights topics, which some community members argued were inappropriate for inclusion in a 7th-grade curriculum.
Early and mid-life
Dawson was born in
He married Elzenia Arnold, a literate woman, and they moved to
Later life
In 1996, when Dawson was aged about 98, a man was making door-to-door visits on behalf of a local adult education program. Dawson overcame his initial reluctance to reveal his illiteracy, telling himself, "All your life you’ve wanted to read. Maybe this is why you’re still around."[4][5] On first meeting instructor Carl Henry, a retired teacher, he learned that the oldest student to that time had been a woman in her fifties. Dawson learned to read and even went on to study for his GED at the age of 98. He died on July 5, 2001, at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas after suffering a stroke in April.[3][5]
Fame
His autobiography, Life Is So Good (co-written with Richard Glaubman), was published in 2000 and received attention in the national media.[2] He appeared on Oprah and was featured in People magazine.[3] He told his story in the June 2001 issue of the inspirational magazine Guideposts.[4]
Dawson was
References
- ^ Oliver, Myrna (July 7, 2001). "Obituaries; George Dawson; Author Learned to Read at 98". Los Angeles Times. p. B.14. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
- ^ a b Parrott, Susan (February 6, 2001). "At 98, No-Longer-Illiterate Man Turns the Page". Los Angeles Times. p. A.16. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
- ^
- ^ a b c George Dawson. "Never Too Late to Learn," Guideposts, June 2001.
- ^ a b c "George Dawson Dies; Learned To Read at 98, Urged Literacy". The Washington Post. July 8, 2001. Retrieved August 24, 2022.
- ^ Staff, Fox 4 (August 24, 2022). "Parts of George Dawson's book deemed inappropriate for George Dawson Middle School students". Fox 4. Retrieved August 26, 2022.
{{cite news}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - Dallas Morning News. Retrieved August 24, 2022.