Robert Cornell Lawson (Blue Dawg) was born on August 11, 1957 in Louisiana, MO to Edward and Ernestine Johnson Lawson.  He attended Bowling Green Elementary School until the family moved to Springfield, IL.  He then attended Southeast High School.  Robert sold advertisement for publishing companies in numerous locations.  He lived and worked in Chicago, IL, Denver, CO, Pasadena, CA and St. Charles, MO.  He also worked for several telecommunication companies such as Sprint, MCI, AT&T and Pacific Bell in Phoenix, AZ and Salt Lake City, UT.

Robert met and married Regina Jordan of Pasadena, CA in 1985.  To this union a son was born Robert Adam Edward Lawson.

Robert Returned to his roots and moved back to the Bowling Green area in 1998.  He began working for Swiss Coloney Co.  He truly believed in customer satisfaction and this was evident by his letter of commendation and phone calls expressing outstanding service.  Robert believed in being the best as whatever he put his mind to.

Robert was one of the first African American Reenactment Buffalo Soldiers in the association.  He also became a member of the motor cycle club, Wheels of Choice (W.O.C.)  Robert joined the organization in 2003.  He traveled with the W.O.C. in Wisconsin, South Carolina, and Kansas City.  The W.O.C. made Robert a lifetime honorary member in 2008. 

To know Robert was to love him, his sense of humor never left him during his illness.  He was Robert until the very end.  He could always make you laugh even when you were not in the mood.  He had a good spirit and a wonderful smile.

His parents and two nephews preceded him.  He leaves to cherish his memory one son, Adam of the home, a step daughter Adonica Shaw of CA, three sisters Ernestine Grimmett (Howard) of Bowling Green, Vanessa Pitchford of Kernersville, N.C. and Joyce Miles of Chicago, IL, step mother Margaret Lawson of Hannibal.  One step brother and step sister, Vernon Murphy (Julia) and Juanita Allison (Carl) both of New London, MO.  A host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.