James Harold Clawson (1899-) was an active member and Patriarch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who earned his Master's at Harvard.

James Harold Clawson was born April 18, 1899, the son of Charles C. and Rosetta Thorpe Clawson of Providence, Utah. James received his early education in the Providence Public School, then attended high school and college at the Brigham Young College in Logan, taking time out to serve in the armed forces in the 1918 world war. After graduating, he also earned a degree from the Utah State Agricultural College, and completed his Master’s degree in Business Administration at Harvard in 1922. After a few years of employment with Stone & Webster in utilities management and travel, he returned to Logan and married Leora Gibbs, a classmate from Brigham Young College. After the first of three sons was born, they moved to Seattle, Washington, where James was employed by Puget Sound Power & Light Company (a subsidiary of Stone & Webster), starting as an auditor; he received his CPA certification in 1931 and continued to advance in the company over the years, becoming President and CEO in late 1959.

James was always very active in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving in leadership positions in the Boy Scouts, the MIA and priesthood quorums, Sunday School, Seattle Branch Presidency (and later bishopric) and Stake Presidency, and High Priest’s presidency. In 1960 he was ordained Patriarch of the Seattle East Stake by Elder Howard W. Hunter.