Monsignor James D. Dawson was born in McCool, Neb. in 1929 to Harold and Sarah Dawson. He was one of five children in the Dawson household. He graduated from Fairmont High School in 1946. He began his formation at the St. Paul Seminary in St. Paul, Minn. where he was the youngest in a class of seventy students. He received both his philosophy and theology degrees from there and was ordained a priest on June 9, 1954.
Upon his return to the Lincoln Diocese after his ordination, he was assigned as Assistant Pastor at St. Cecelia’s in Hastings, Neb. He later earned his degree in educational administration at Catholic University in Washington, D.C., then served as principal of Pius X High School in 1959 for two years. He began his long-running role as superintendent of Lincoln’s Catholic schools in 1961, overseeing the addition of several new schools including North American Martyrs, St. Joseph’s, St. Peter’s and Villa Marie Home and School for Exceptional Children. In 1964, concurrent with his Diocesan duties, Monsignor Dawson served as Superintendent of Pius X High School. Msgr. Dawson’s service in the priesthood for more than 65 years also included many other Diocesan leadership roles.
The Monsignor James D. Dawson Scholarship was established in his honor in 2004, when he celebrated the 50th anniversary of his ordination. He requested that the Pius X Foundation establish this scholarship with gifts received on his behalf. The Monsignor James D. Dawson Scholarship has awarded $17,430 to 36 students since the 2005-06 school year. One of the scholarship recipients wrote in a thank you letter to Monsignor: “I’m at an absolute loss for words for the opportunity provided to me. I am so grateful to you and to everyone who contributed to help me achieve a wonderful Catholic education….My sister doesn’t go to Pius because of financial problems, but my parents sacrificed a lot for me to attend Pius….This scholarship assists my parents by allowing them not to worry as much about the financial costs….I would like to work in a hospital one day, where I can benefit others with my gifts.” In 2016 Msgr. Dawson was named a Distinguished Steward at Pius X. In fall 2019, the school opened the Msgr. James D. Dawson Learning Center in tribute to his lifetime of dedication to Pius X and Catholic education. Monsignor Dawson passed away at the age of 90 on June 15, 2020.
During his last five years, Msgr. Dawson often relied on Diane (Dawson) Reinsch ’72, his niece, to drive him to and from visits to Pius and other appointments. She felt so fortunate to spend so much time with him and to hear his great stories. She and Jaime (Koerner) Carson ’03 helped Msgr. write a book about his life. It is entitled, A Banker, A Teacher, A Priest. The proceeds from his book go to Villa Marie School, which he founded over 50 years ago. After Msgr. passed away, many letters from his parishioners, acquaintances and friends were received. He was loved by many as he spent his life knowing, loving and serving the Lord.
As a member of the St. Pius X Legacy Society, Msgr. Dawson made several planned gifts totaling more than $145,000, including an estate bequest and designating Pius X as a beneficiary of his life insurance, to substantially grow both the Msgr. Dawson Scholarship fund and the Pius X Foundation endowment. Monsignor’s lifetime of dedication to Pius X and Catholic education will forever benefit Pius X students, and will continue to safeguard the future of our school.
