David T. Lawson graduated from Baker University in
1921 and began teaching in Fellsburg. The next year,
he moved east as a music teacher in Altamont. He was
active in the contest movement in the 1920's. He joined
Earl McCray in a move to Fort Scott, where he
organized a vocal music program for the junior and
senior highs, as well as at the junior college. He taught
in El Dorado before going to Topeka High School, where
he closed out his teaching career. Lawson was a
founder and the first president of KMEA.