The Carson High School (CHS) administration will honor Dave Lawson before the Senator’s varsity football team takes the field against the Calaveras RedHawks Friday, August 25, 2023. Lawson and his family will be recognized for his 20 plus committed-years serving and managing concessions at various sporting events and other student-related activities.
In addition to the public demonstration of appreciation, the school will provide Lawson with a framed varsity letter “C,” similar to those given to CHS employees who serve more than 10 years and retire.
“After 20 years of working the Carson High School snack bar, I regret to have to give it up for health reasons,” Lawson said of his service. “I have enjoyed every moment of working with the staff and students. It has been a wonderful experience that I will cherish forever.”
Lawson has been married to his lovely wife, Arlene, for more than 56 years. He was drafted in 1968, the same year he was accepted into graduate school. They came to Carson City in 1972 after Dave’s 4-year stint in the Navy in Hawthorne, Nev. They have three children: Jeff, Becky and Katie, who all attended schools in Carson City and graduated from Carson High.
Dave worked for the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) for 17 years in traffic safety before accepting a position as an auditor and assistant chief for vehicle registration and titling (including license plate manufacturing). He also served eight years as an accountant for the state’s information services department developing budgets.
His first exposure to concessions management came in 1994 when his wife got him elected treasurer for the Carson City Bobby Sox league, a position that oversaw the snack bar. Later, in 2001, he managed concessions for the CHS Softball, volleyball, basketball and wrestling programs. A few years later, he was asked to manage concessions for football and so on. For the last 20-plus years he has also simultaneously volunteered to do registration and accounting for the Silver State Volleyball Club, a position he has yet to relinquish.
In addition to managing point-of-service sales, Dave also managed inventory where he would shop and stock up on products including predicting the number of pizzas needing to be cooked and served at various sporting events.
Amid the school year in 2013, Dave and his family were delivered devastating news of his colon cancer diagnosis. While the news came as a shock, he did not let his illness hamper his efforts in school concessions. He arranged medical treatments and chemotherapy on days alternating those of sporting events. Through it all, he is happy to report that he has made a full recovery and has remained cancer-free for nine years running.