Dawson's two cents made sense for many

Bob Dawson never hesitated to offer “Dawson’s two cents” — whether it was in his career, in his service on the Longboat Key Town Commission or a charity board, or a conversation with a family member.

As a commissioner, he outlined his concerns about the town’s budget process to his fellow commissioners and then-Town Manager Bruce St. Denis in a six-page memo he titled, “Dawson’s Two Cents.”

When presented with a problem with any of his roles, he would tell others: “I’m going to give you Dawson’s two cents.”

“It never bothered Bob to share his opinion,” wife Wendy Dawson said. “He was a good listener and he would give people an honest answer. He wasn’t going to go with the crowd just because it was popular.”

“He raised many, many good questions, particularly regarding the budget procedure and how the budget was put together,” said Jeremy Whatmough, who served with Dawson on the commission. “Unfortunately, at that time, there wasn’t much support for him.”

Former Longboat Key Commissioner Robert “Bob” Dawson, of Parrish and formerly of Longboat Key, died Oct. 18. He was 71.

Born Nov. 2, 1942, in McKees Rocks, Pa., he earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Baltimore.

Dawson worked for more than 30 years in the telecommunications industry for companies including AT&T, Lucent Technologies and IXC Communications.

Dawson was working at an AT&T branch in 1983 in Columbus, Ohio, when was notified that a new employee had goofed on a purchase voucher. That employee happened to be his future wife, Wendy, whom the 43-year-old Dawson married two years later after spending adulthood as a bachelor.

Dawson retired from Lucent in 1999 and began searching for property on Longboat Key. Then, he received a call from Broadwing Communications, which sought to hire him. He accepted the offer and spent two years working for the company in Austin, Texas, before moving to the Key.

Dawson first ran for the commission in 2003.

According to Wendy Dawson, her husband had tried to enlist in the military earlier in life but was not eligible due to a health issue.

“This was just his way of staying involved and serving his country,” she said.

He lost his first race to Joan Webster but ran again the next year, winning the District 3 seat from incumbent John Kerwin with 56% of the vote.

Dawson’s victory was the first time a newcomer won against an incumbent commissioner in seven years.

“What they did is sent a mandate for change,” Dawson said at the time of his victory. “What I really need to do now is to start working with the commissioners, with the staff and with the town manager.”

As a commissioner, Dawson invited citizens to meet with him in informal sessions he called “Bagels with Bob.”

During his time on the commission, Dawson frequently clashed with fellow commissioners.

In his “Dawson’s Two Cents” memo, he wrote that the town was masking its increased operating costs with a one-time $667,384 decrease in required pension contributions. He also provided an analysis showing that between town salaries and wages increased 10% and attorney fees rose by 43% over a two-year period.

He later submitted a list of 62 questions to St. Denis and then-Finance Director Terry Sullivan about the town’s budget.

Dawson also used his financial background to help several nonprofits. He served as treasurer of the Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key and Solutions to Avoid Red Tide (START), and on the board of SOLVE maternity homes.

“He really straightened out our books,” said Kiwanis Club Weldon Frost. “He did a hell of a job. It really helped us as a club.”

He was also an active volunteer at St. Mary, Star of the Sea, Catholic Church and, later, on the finance and building committees of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Catholic Church, in Parrish.

Dawson resigned from commission before the end of his term in late 2005, after his Queens Harbour home sold and he purchased a home in Parrish.

Despite the controversy Dawson generated on the commission, Whatmough believes his ideas made sense.

“It was a different time,” Whatmough said. “He would have fit in well with the present commission. They would have loved him.”

Dawson is survived by his wife, Wendy, of Parrish; two nephews; and many in-laws and cousins.

A wake and prayer service will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, at Griffith-Cline Funeral Home, 720 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton. A funeral Mass will take place at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, at St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Catholic Church, 12001 69th St. E., Parrish. A graveside service will take place Saturday, Nov. 1, in Timonium, Md.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to St. Joseph Medical Center Foundation, 7601 Osler Drive, Jordon Center, Suite 158, Towson, MD 21204.