Robert Ray Coffman became Mayor of Lawson after a special election was held on August 16, 1960, to fill the office of mayor after the death of Thomas Dudley Williamson. The vote was 124 – 14. He served as Mayor 1960-1966.
Coffman was born September 4, 1894, the son of Jacob Lincoln Coffman (Mayor of Lawson 1919-1923) and Lucy Adeline (Wallace) Coffman. He served in the 352nd Infantry, 88th Division.
On November 10, 1984 he died and was buried in Lawson Cemetery.