Dawson Trotman
Dawson Trotman was an evangelist, crusader and founder of The Navigators.
Trotman founded The Navigators in 1933 and through this worldwide Christian organization supported various Christian ideals: maintaining the basic disciplines of the Christ-centered Spirit-filled life, abiding in the Word of God, the importance of personal follow-up, one-on-one discipleship training, and principles for multiplying Christian disciples, laborers, and equippers around the world. In rescuing a girl from drowning during water-skiing in Schroon Lake, New York, he lost his own life on June 18, 1956.
Dr. Billy Graham said: "I think Daws has personally touched more lives than anybody I have ever known." His work and writings were instrumental in the creation of the Campus Outreach ministry, which focuses on discipleship as a method of building up the community of Christians on college campuses.
Trotman worked with many other evangelicals of his day, including Henrietta Mears, Jim Rayburn, Charles E. Fuller, and Dick Hillis. Lorne Sanny succeeded him as the head of The Navigators.
Trotman married Lila Mae Clayton on July 3, 1932. Lila Trotman died on October 27, 2005, at the age of 90. The couple had four children.
“Discipline imposed from the outside eventually defeats when it is not matched by desire from within.”