Derek Lee Dawson, age 73, passed away on August 4 after a long, hard-fought battle with MDS (Leukemia).  Derek was born in Panama City, FL on February 22, 1949 to MAJ Ted and LaVerne Dawson.  He graduated with honors from Plant City High School where he excelled on the track team and in Industrial Arts.  He also served as co-editor of the school newspaper and President of the Student Senate.  He went on to continue his education at the United States Air Force Academy completing an engineering degree.  He would later add two masters degrees to that. He was credited with saving a fellow cadet’s life.

 

 

Derek was a pilot in the U. S. Air Force, retiring as a lieutenant colonel after 21 years of service.  During his time in the Air Force, he flew sea/air rescue missions in Myrtle Beach and served in the Vietnam War as a helicopter pilot.   He was also stationed in Germany flying MD80s as a med evac pilot before becoming a diplomatic pilot in Europe.  During this time he took part in the rescue mission of the Iran hostages.  He served and lived all over the world with his last tours of duty being in Egypt and Kuwait (Desert Storm).  When he came home from his last assignment he began playing in the Air Force musical group the Moody Five (from Moody AFB).  It is here that he honed his guitar playing and singing skills.  They played for civic events as well as in the courtyard of The Pentagon.

 

 

Derek had a passion for travel, camping, hiking, fishing, music, dogs, and was an avid storyteller.  Derek and his wife, Nancy, enjoyed many trips to the Caribbean, Mexico, Turkey, Bosnia, Bali, as well as cruises in Europe, and diving the Florida Keys.  He enjoyed chartering boats as often as possible.  He loved playing his several guitars and spending evenings with Nancy accompanying on the piano as they sang songs until the wee hours.

 

 

Derek’s love of life was infectious.  He had an adventurous spirit.  In retirement he loved fishing, painting and sketching, planning vacations,  and organizing crawfish boils, always enjoying a good time with family and friends.  

 

 

We are so grateful for all the memories and unconditional love he provided.  He was a force of a man not soon forgotten.  “JACK OF ALL TRADES, MASTER OF MOST” reads a plaque his men made for him on his last assignment.

 

 

He is survived by his wife, Nancy, daughters, Deven Dawson and Erin Hermann (Jason), nephew, Todd Dawson (Kimberly, Jack), and his dear friend, LTC Jack Dickinson (Charlotte).  He was preceded in death by his parents, as well as his three brothers, Gary, Mark and Kim Dawson.

 

 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to BeTheMatch.org or the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.  His wish was that his ashes be scattered at sea, arrangements by Neptune Society.