1976 murder of a white man; due to forced confession and other police misconduct, the case was dropped in 1977. Benjamin J. Davis Jr. (1903–1964), attorney who defended man trying to organize a union from insurrection charges; elected as New York City Councilman after move to New York; Communist Party leader in 1930s Robert J. Jones - Chancellor of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; former President of the State University of New York at Albany Otis Redding (1941–1967), singer, songwriter, record producer, arranger, and talent scout, considered one of the greatest singers in the history of American popular music, soul music, and rhythm and blues. Cole Swindell (born 1983) American country music singer and songwriter Walter Washington - elected as first mayor of Washington, D.C. after the city was granted home rule by Congress References External links Life and Death: Dawson, Georgia - 1977 - 27 minutes - WGBH Boston Cities in Georgia (U.S. state) Cities in Terrell County, Georgia Populated places established in 1857 County seats in Georgia (U.S. state) Albany metropolitan area, Georgia 1857 establishments in Georgia (U.S. state)