Donald Dawson Obituary

Dr. Donald L. Dawson passed away in his home on September 6, 2010. A long time resident of Colorado Springs, Don was born to Harry Dawson and Mary Blankenship on October 12,1929 in La Junta, CO. He graduated from Warren Easton High School, New Orleans, LA in January 1946 and served in the Army from 1946-1949, spending most of his tour in Trieste, Italy. Don then studied chemistry at CU Boulder graduating Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa in 1952, followed by medical school at CU Denver from 1952-1956, winning the Internal Medicine Prize and being elected to Alpha Omega Alpha. Don then took an internship at San Francisco County Hospital 1956-1957 and returned to CU Denver for his residency in clinical pathology 1957-1961. Don worked as an associate pathologist at St. Francis Hospital, San Francisco, CA until 1963. In 1964 he moved to Colorado Springs to work at Penrose Hospital until his retirement in 1996. During his tenure at Penrose, Don was Chief of Staff 1969-1970, member of the Board at Belle Bonfils Memorial Blood Bank 1975-1991, President of the Colorado Society of Clinical Pathologists 1978-1979 and Associate Professor of Clinical Pathology at the University of Colorado Medical Center. Don was Colorado Board certified in anatomical and clinical pathology, blood banking, transfusion and hematopathology. He was preceded in death by his loving wife of more than 50 years, Virginia L. Dawson and is survived by his children Amy Wagner, Damon Dawson and grandchildren Chase and Emily Wagner.