Dr. Stanley John Lawson grew up on the shores of White House in Montego Bay, Jamaica. As the son of a fisherman and 1 of 17 brothers and sisters, he was able to overcome immense odds through his love of reading and pursuit of higher education.
He first attended The Montego Bay Primary School and went on to attend Cornwall College. He started his career as a reporter for the Gleaner’s Western Bureau in Montego Bay which led to a role as Assistant Mayor of Montego Bay which had him traveling abroad to Europe and the US in the late 1950s. After moving to the United States in 1960, he received his degree in Business Administration from the Washington Business Institute. He then attended New York University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, where he received his Master’s in Economics, and later his Ph.D. He held several roles at the United Nations in New York City before moving into academia at St. John's University where he spent 30 years as a professor of economics and finance. Dr. Lawson had an entrepreneurial spirit which led him to start several businesses in F&B and hospitality.
The success he found in the United States enabled him to give back to his homeland by supporting schools, orphanages and libraries in Montego Bay. He helped his family members, as well as friends, build brighter futures for themselves. He was an avid traveler who visited 6 of the 7 continents. He loved tennis almost as much as he loved his dogs.