Honoring Retiring Hilltoppers: Jim Lawson
Anu Vashist '21, Lead News Editor
Jim Lawson, a member of the Hopkins Maintenance Department, will be retiring this June after 18 years on The Hill.
Lawson specifically worked on grounds and buildings; his main responsibility was “taking care of the athletic fields” and “getting ready for games,” but he also oversaw the cleaning service to ensure they had the necessary supplies. Before Hopkins, Lawson was a freelance musician, landscaper, painter, and carpenter. He played with multiple musical artists including The Temptations, Four Tops, and Tony Bennett, and would even go on the road for tours across the East Coast. Lawson hopes that during his retirement, he can continue to pursue his musical interests along with some close friends: “I’m building a studio now at my house so that we can get together.” He emphasized the uniqueness of his Hopkins connection; when he first applied for a position, he “knew nothing about Hopkins” but soon realized that multiple neighbors were Hopkins alumni or students. He also noticed a connection between the Townshend auditorium and his application reference, Harry Townshend. “So, it’s all of a sudden, not knowing anything and having neighbors and you know, all these ties,” said Lawson. Although Lawson still hopes to help with music during the HDA productions, he will miss his friends. “[Retiring] is kind of like graduating. You have these people that you know for six years and then all of a sudden, it ends and you go on doing something else. And you’re gonna miss all those people that you’ve had relationships with.”
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