Career
In 1964 he was one of the first three African Americans elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives since A. C. Hamlin in 1908. Lawson represented a district in Tulsa from 1965 to 1969. He was an advocate for civil rights legislation, and also introduced a controversial abortion rights bill in 1967.
After his legislative service he encountered legal difficulties, including serving a prison term for embezzlement (for which he was later pardoned).
He is featured in the Oklahoma History Center"s One Manitoba One Vote exhibit.
