Longtime Publicist David Lawson Dies at 61

David R. Lawson, who was once the publicist for movie star swimmer Esther Williams and spent more than 30 years in public relations, died at his home Saturday of a heart attack. He was 61.

Born in Detroit, Lawson served in the Air Force during the Korean War. He began his public relations career in New York City and worked for many large public relations corporations.

He had his own public relations firm in the 1980s. But in 1989, he joined Sanyo Icon in Irvine as director of corporate communications, a position he held until his death.

A wake will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at his residence.

Lawson is survived by a daughter, Leslie Lawson of Denver; a granddaughter, Danielle, 12; a grandson, Benjamin, 10; sisters Athalie of Connecticut and Shirley Haney of Alabama, and a brother, William Lawson of Bel-Air.