Born in Westboro, Massachusetts. In films from 1925, he was the winner of three Academy Awards for editing: A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM (1935), ANTHONY ADVERSE (1936), and THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD (1938). Other notable non-nominated editing credits include THE DESERT SONG (1929), THE STORY OF LOUIS PASTEUR and THREE MEN ON A HORSE (both 1936), THE PRINCE AND THE PAUPER (1937), FOUR DAUGHTERS and THE DAWN PATROL (both 1938), 'TIL WE MEET AGAIN and KNUTE ROCKNE ALL AMERICAN (both 1940), THE GREAT LIE (1941), KINGS ROW (1942), THE ADVENTURES OF MARK TWAIN, MR. SKEFFINGTON and EXPERIMENT PERILOUS (all 1944), THE SPANISH MAIN and SARATOGA TRUNK (both 1945), RIDE THE PINK HORSE (1947), ALL MY SONS (1948), HARVEY (1950), HONDO (1953), FLIGHT TO HONG KONG and his last film, THE BOSS (both 1956). Dawson wrote three films and directed three other films.  Film Editing 1935: A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM  Film Editing 1936: ANTHONY ADVERSE  Film Editing 1938: THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD  Nominated for Film Editing 1954: THE HIGH AND THE MIGHTY 4 nominations, 3 Awards