from the USTA Communications Department

Columbus, OH — William J. Dunson, 97, a Saratoga Springs, N.Y., native, died April 28, 2012, at Saratoga Hospital.

Born Dec. 25, 1914, in Saratoga Springs, he was the son of the late Fred W. and Anna (Patten) Dunson. A 1933 graduate of Saratoga Springs High School, he also graduated from Albany Business College in 1936. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and served in the Asiatic Pacific Theater with the 1st Marine Division. He participated in landing and attack operations against the enemy on Easter Sunday 1945 at Okinawa and was honorably discharged as a sergeant in 1945. He worked for the U.S. Postal Service for 30 years and served as postmaster from 1959 through 1960.

Mr. Dunson also had a career in harness racing for more than 40 years. He held a USTA presiding judge’s license since 1957 and was clerk of the Saratoga Harness Race Course from 1960 to 1964. He later served as finish wire judge, presiding judge and state steward at Saratoga Harness, Yonkers Raceway, Roosevelt Raceway, Batavia Downs, Vernon Downs, Monticello Raceway and Buffalo Raceway. He also served as presiding judge at Pompano Park, and an associate and presiding judge at the Meadowlands, Garden State Park, Freehold Raceway and Riverside Downs.

A life member of both the Gurtler Bros. Post 420 Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion Adirondack Post 70, he was an honorary member of Dominick Smaldone Post 35 ITAM.

Mr. Dunson was married in 1937 to the former Elaine Waring, who died March 12, 2010.

He is survived by his daughters, Suzanne (William) Farrell, Linda (Al) Macica, Jill (Douglas) Nichols, Mary Lou (John) Luckie, Carol (Mark) Moreau and Lainie (Ted) Norman; 17 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; and a brother-in-law, Charles Furey. In addition to his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Fred; sister, Anna Kelly; and a grandson, Kenneth William Macica.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Peter’s Needy Association, 241 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866.