Dawson Trotman


Dawson Earle Trotman was an evangelist and founder of The Navigators.

Biography

Trotman was born on March 25, 1906 in Bisbee, Arizona, USA.

Ministry

Trotman founded The Navigators in 1933. He lost his own life on June 18, 1956 while rescuing a girl, Allene Beck, from drowning during water-skiing in Schroon Lake, New York.
Trotman worked with many other evangelicals of his day, including Henrietta Mears, Jim Rayburn, Charles E. Fuller, Bill Bright, Billy Graham and Dick Hillis. Lorne Sanny succeeded him as president of The Navigators after Lila was its short-term interim president.

Personal life

Trotman married Lila Mae Clayton on July 3, 1932. Lila, who was born on December 12, 1913 in Buffalo Valley, Tennessee, died on October 27, 2004 at the age of 90. The couple had four children.