Donald J. " Dutch " Grant, age 89 of E. Kirby St. Dexter and Mayor of Dexter from 1966 until 2007 passed away Saturday 4:55 a.m. at Samaritan Medical Center. He had been a patient for six days. Mr. Grant was born July 6, 1919 in Chaumont, N.Y. the son of Philander B. and Edith Cummings Grant. He began school at the age of 4 at Reynolds Corners School and continued there until graduating from the eight grade. He graduated from Clayton High School in 1937 where he played football and was Captain of the baseball team in his senior year. He was selected for All-Frontier Football League in senior year. He graduated college from Springfield College in 1941. As a freshman he played football, wrestling and track. He continued with these sports and included lacrosse and was Captain of the football team his senior year. He was selected as all-New England Football Tackle. He was also selected as an all-New England lacrosse player and all-New England wrestling champion and wrestled in the National Collegiate Wrestling Championships in 1939. At Springfield College he was a member of Varsity Club, Maroon Key Society, Sportsmanship Club, Student Council, Athletic Board Vice-President, Kappa Delta Pi, Honor Student 4years, Member and Certifier of USA Baseball Congress. In his Senior Year at college he was offered contracts to play professional football with the New York Giants and Brooklyn Dodgers; but war interfered. He enlisted in the US Army as a private and was discharged as a Captain of Infantry, graduated from Infantry Officers Training School at Ft.Benning, Georgia, was an instructor in 5th Army Leadership and Battle Training School in Africa, Instructor in Judo for Ranger Paratroopers and in Italy was an Infantry Platoon Leader and Company Commander. He was awarded the Bronze Star and Combat Infantry Badge. He entered the Army Reserves in1946 and retired as Colonel in 1971 after serving as Commanding Officer at Leso-Leano Army Reserve Training Center and Executive Officer of 479th Engineer Bat. In 1946 Mr. Grant was appointed Athletic Director of Physical Education and Athletics at Dexter High School. In 1952 he received a Master of Education degree including certification as principal and superintendent from St. Lawrence University. In 1956 he was named Director of Guidance and High School Assistant Principal when General Brown High School opened. Appointed Principal of General Brown Jr./Sr. High School in 1963 and became Superintendent in 1972; which position he held until 1993. Mr. Grant was a member of Association of School Business Officials, American Association of School Administrators, Smith-Savage Post #583 American Legion, Reserve Officers Association, member of Kentucky Colonels appointed by Governor Louie B. Nunn of Kentucky, Charter member of Brownville Lions Club, Honorary member of Watertown Kiwanis Club, Director of National Bank of Northern New York, President of Frontier Housing Corporation since it's inception, appointed to the Honorary Committee of Mayors for the Friendship Force by Mrs. Rosalyn Carter the National Honorary Chairperson, member and Chairman of Thousand Island Bridge Authority since 1981, Trustee of Jefferson Community College and former Chairman of the Board of Trustees, he was also a member of St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church. Mr. Grant also owned and operated an insurance company from his home Mr. Grant married Mary K. Morgan on December 6, 1945 in New York City. The couple lived in Dexter all their married lives and Mrs. Grant passed away October 23, 1991. Surviving are two nephews and two nieces. He was predeceased by a brother Roger Grant. A funeral mass will be held Thursday 11:00 a.m. at the General Brown Central Jr/Sr. High School Gymnasium, with Fr. Donald Robinson officiating. Burial will be in Dexter Cemetery in the spring. Calling hours will be Tuesday from 2-4 and 7-9 and Wednesday from 2-4 and 7-9 at the Johnson Funeral Home, Dexter. Donations may be made to General Brown Central School Donald J. Grant Scholarship Fund, Dexter Historical Society or Brownville Lions Club.