Joe Dawson's Second Career

After Joe Dawson's career-ending injuries suffered during the 1914 Indianapolis 500 he continued his association with the sport despite never returning to wheel-to-wheel competition. He served as a race official (note the photo with his father Chase where he sports a track credential) as well as test driving and even set a 24-hour distance record at the Sheepshead Bay board track in August 1917. He also had a business interest in the Owosso Milling Company in Michigan with Chase and his uncle Herbert Allison Crooke.
 
The milling company was not so far afield from the auto industry as it might appear. Dawson, father Chase and brothers Charles and Albert were all employees at one point or another of Nordyke & Marmon which had a milling division and was originally founded in construction of milling machinery in 1851. The attachment is an image of the letterhead used by the company listing Joe, Chase and Uncle Herbert as officers of the company. This artifact is hand dated September 20, 1920.