In Memoriam: Donald W. Lawton

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TAPPI Fellow Donald W. Lawton was a highly respected leader in the paper industry for nearly half a century, having lived and worked most of his career in the Holden, Mass., area. A graduate of Wentworth Institute, Lawton was first recognized as the co-inventor of a new type of paper coating drying device that revolutionized many aspects of the drying of coated paper and paperboard. He attended his first TAPPI conference in 1964 and became a full member in 1967.

As a member of TAPPI, Lawton was a key participant in many conferences and conducted popular seminars on blade coating and airfoil coating, while also speaking on new technological breakthroughs emerging in the field of paper coating. He also published articles in TAPPI JOURNAL and presented papers on the air drying of coated papers and board at technical meetings around the world. He was known as the "heart" of the TAPPI Coating and Graphic Arts Division, and was named a TAPPI Fellow in 1997.

After retirement, Lawton became very active on the Holden, Mass., School Building Committee, overseeing the building of three local elementary schools. He also served on Holden's Main Street Task Force where he was chairman of the Transportation / Circulation Committee overseeing the reconstruction of Holden's Main Street district. In retirement, he also enjoyed cross-country trips and the opportunity to spend more time with his children and grandchildren.