It can be a challenge to select one Spirit of Prior Lake Award winner, but few would argue Kathy Dawson is deserving of the distinction. Dawson, a “Laker” through and through, was born and raised in Prior Lake. 

"I graduated from Prior Lake, I was a cheerleader, in the band, and marched in all of the town parades, I've always been involved with Prior Lake," she smiled. 

Kathy is a fifth generation Laker. Her great, great grandfather was on the first school board and her great grandfather attended the first school in Prior Lake - a log home. As last year's winner of the Cora McQuestion Spirit of Prior Lake Award, Woody Spitzmueller, puts it, “Kathy stands alone in consideration for the 2023 Spirit Award.”

The Community Engagement Committee agreed and after a quick vote, selected Kathy as this year’s honoree out of 10 other nominations.

“I was a bit shocked,” Dawson said. “There are so many deserving people out there and I work with a whole lot of them that are the ‘Spirit of Prior Lake.’ So, I am really excited, I appreciate it, and I’m just kind of proud to be selected.”

Kathy has served Prior Lake in one capacity or another her entire life. She joined the Prior Lake Optimists in 2014, serving two terms as the volunteer group’s president. In 2016, she joined the Prior Lake Chamber and in 2020 was nominated businessperson of the year. She’s a board member of the Prior Lake Association, she served a term on the Prior Lake Arts and Culture Committee, but her greatest passion is the preservation of the history of Prior Lake.

These days she’s helping the Prior Lake Police Department research the history of law enforcement in the City. She also assisted the VFW and collaborated with the design committee to help provide historical aspects of the VFW and incorporate those into the newly remodeled space.

If you have ever noticed the historical pictures of Prior Lake at Charlie’s, Lakers Restaurant, and Hazel Blue, it’s thanks to Kathy. Additionally, she helped with the photos displayed in the windows of the Prior Lake Chamber offices, even the Prior Lake Monopoly game was created with her help.

When the City commissioned its first mural on the Nuvera building, Kathy assisted with the town’s culture and history. When Prior Lake Savage Area Schools hired a new superintendent, it was Kathy who provided him with a binder of historical information and photos.

“When people ask me any type of question about the history of Prior Lake, I can usually find the answer,” she explained. “Sometimes I have it right at my fingertips and sometimes I have to dig through some boxes to find it.”

Dawson credits the Simpkins-Cates families who researched the history of Prior Lake for decades and passed along their information, which has inspired her to share the information and pictures with the community.

Past, present, or future, Kathy Dawson either knows something about it, lived through it, or had a hand directly in it. Kathy will be officially honored at the City Council meeting on Mon., Nov. 6 at 7 p.m.