George Dawson (author) facts for kids

George Dawson (born January 19, 1898 – died July 5, 2001) was an amazing American man. He became famous for learning to read when he was 98 years old! People called him "America's favorite poster child for literacy." Literacy means being able to read and write. His life story, called Life Is So Good, was published in 2000. It showed everyone that it's never too late to learn.

George Dawson's Early Life

George Dawson was born in Marshall, Texas, on January 19, 1898. He was the first of five children. His father was a farmer. George's grandparents and great-grandparents had been African-American slaves. When he was young, George worked at a saw mill. This job helped support his large family.

One time, his boss at the sawmill asked him to sign a paper. George couldn't read, so he just signed an X. He later thought that paper might have said he couldn't join the military.

Traveling and Family Life

After he turned 21, George traveled a lot. He visited many places in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. He worked in different places for nine years. In 1928, he came back home. He found that his family had moved away. They didn't leave any clues about where they went. George realized that even if they had sent a letter, he wouldn't have been able to read it. This showed how hard it was for him not knowing how to read.

Later, George married Elzenia Arnold. She was a woman who could read. They moved to Dallas, Texas. George started working for the city, repairing roads. He and Elzenia had seven children. Even though George couldn't read, he always helped his children with their homework. In 1938, he got a job at a dairy. He worked there until he retired at 65 years old.

Learning to Read at 98

In 1996, George Dawson was about 98 years old. A man visited his home to tell him about a program. This program helped adults learn to read. At first, George didn't want to tell anyone he couldn't read. But then he thought, "I've always wanted to read. Maybe this is my chance!"

He met his teacher, Carl Henry, who was a retired teacher. Carl told him that the oldest student before George was a woman in her fifties. George worked hard and learned to read! He even studied to get his GED. A GED is like a high school diploma. George Dawson passed his GED at 98 years old. He passed away on July 5, 2001, in Dallas after having a stroke.

Becoming Famous

George Dawson's autobiography, Life Is So Good, was published in 2000. He wrote it with Richard Glaubman. The book became very popular. It was talked about on national TV shows. George appeared on Oprah. He was also featured in People magazine. In June 2001, he shared his story in Guideposts magazine.

In 2002, a middle school in Southlake was named after him. It was a special way to honor George Dawson and his amazing life.