A lifelong Democrat and member of what became the Byrd Organization, Dodson's elective career began on the Norfolk Board of Alderman (1912 to 1918).

He was a member of the Democratic State Central Committee from 1916 to 1938, and served as campaign manager in Norfolk for Harry F. Byrd in his successful run for Governor against G. Walter Mapp in 1925.

He participated in developing historic Jamestown, Virginia and the British goodwill tour on the 350th anniversary of the colony's founding in 1955.

[6] Dodson died in Norfolk, Virginia, on April 8, 1969, and was buried at the city's Elmwood cemetery.

[7] His son served in the U.S. Navy commanding a submarine chaser in the Pacific Ocean during World War II, became the first president of the Roanoke Jaycees, and served as President of the Virginia State Bar 1961-62 (and as chair of its Senior Lawyers Section in 1996-97) after representing Roanoke in the Virginia House of Delegates before the Massive Resistance crisis began.