Changes

(Businessman in<br> Alexandria, Louisiana)

(Businessman in<br> Alexandria, Louisiana)

| birth_date=November 5, 1931​

| birth_date=November 5, 1931​

| birth_place =[[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]],Rapides Parish]<br>Louisiana​

| birth_place =[[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]], Rapides Parish<br>Louisiana​

| death_place=Alexandria, Louisiana ​

| death_place=Alexandria, Louisiana ​

| death_date=August 31, 2014 (aged 82)​

| death_date=August 31, 2014 (aged 82)​

==Background==

==Background==

 

The son of the former Ita Davis (1897-1986) and Ross Hawkins Dunbar (1890-1967),<ref name=findagrave>{{cite web|url=http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gsr&GSfn=&GSmn=&GSln=Dunbar&GSbyrel=all&GSby=&GSdyrel=all&GSdy=&GScntry=4&GSst=20&GScnty=1148&GSgrid=&df=all&GSob=n|title=Dunbar in Rapides Parish, Louisiana|publisher=Findagrave.com|accessdate=September 21, 2014}}</ref> he graduated second in his class in 1949 from Bolton High School in the Alexandria Garden District. In 1953, he was awarded with honors a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from [[Tulane University]] in [[New Orleans]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.is/20140921185732/http://www.kalb.com/story/26453414/alexandria-businessman-samuel-dunbar-has-passed-away-at-82|title=Alexandria businessman Samuel Dunbar has passed away at 82|publisher=KALB-TV|date=September 4, 2014|accessdate=September 21, 2014}}</ref> at which he was president of Delta Sigma Pi, a business [[fraternity]]. He was the student body president of the School of Business and received the "Outstanding Graduating Senior" award. He was inducted into the Tulane Hall of Fame and ''Who's Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities''. Upon graduation from Tulane, he served two years in the [[United States Army]] with the occupation force in [[South Korea]]. He achieved the rank of first lieutenant.<ref name=obit/>​

The son of the former Ita Davis (1897-1986) and Ross Hawkins Dunbar (1890-1967),<ref name=findagrave>{{cite web|url=http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gsr&GSfn=&GSmn=&GSln=Dunbar&GSbyrel=all&GSby=&GSdyrel=all&GSdy=&GScntry=4&GSst=20&GScnty=1148&GSgrid=&df=all&GSob=n|title=Dunbar in Rapides Parish, Louisiana|publisher=Findagrave.com|accessdate=September 21, 2014}}</ref> he graduated second in his class in 1949 from Bolton High School in the Alexandria Garden District. In 1953, he was awarded with honors a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from [[Tulane University]] in [[New Orleans]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.is/20140921185732/http://www.kalb.com/story/26453414/alexandria-businessman-samuel-dunbar-has-passed-away-at-82|title=Alexandria businessman Samuel Dunbar has passed away at 82|publisher=KALB-TV|date=September 4, 2014|accessdate=September 21, 2014}}</ref> at which he was president of Delta Sigma Pi, a business [[fraternity]]. He was the student body president of the School of Business and received the "Outstanding Graduating Senior" award. He was inducted into the Tulane Hall of Fame and ''Who's Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities''. Upon graduation from Tulane, he served two years in the [[United States Army]] with the occupation force in [[South Korea]]. He achieved the rank of first lieutenant.<ref name=obit/>​

 

==Business career==

==Business career==

 

In 1955, Dunbar returned to Alexandria and joined Clark-Dunbar, Inc., a [[furniture]] business, first as treasurer and then vice-president. Upon his father's death in 1967, he became president and chairman of the board. In 1981, Clark-Dunbar was named the state's "Distinguished Retailer of the Year" by the Louisiana Home Furnishings Association. He was president of the Louisiana and Southwest home furnishings associations and chairman of the board of the National Home Furnishings International Association. Eventually, Dunbar left the up-scale furniture business and turned his building into an office complex known as Dunbar Plaza, located on Jackson Street Extension. The Dunbar family held much timberland on which [[petroleum]] was discovered.<ref name=ttt>{{cite web|url=http://www.thetowntalk.com/story/news/local/2014/09/03/alexandria-businessman-dunbar-left-legacy-success/15050515/|title=Alexandria businessman Dunbar left legacy of success|date=September 3, 2014|author=Richard P. Sharkey|publisher=''The Alexandria Town Talk''|accessdate=September 21, 2014}}</ref>​

In 1955, Dunbar returned to Alexandria and joined Clark-Dunbar, Inc., a [[furniture]] business, first as treasurer and then vice-president. Upon his father's death in 1967, he became president and chairman of the board. In 1981, Clark-Dunbar was named the state's "Distinguished Retailer of the Year" by the Louisiana Home Furnishings Association. He was president of the Louisiana and Southwest home furnishings associations and chairman of the board of the National Home Furnishings International Association. Eventually, Dunbar left the up-scale furniture business and turned his building into an office complex known as Dunbar Plaza, located on Jackson Street Extension. The Dunbar family held much timberland on which [[petroleum]] was discovered.<ref name=ttt>{{cite web|url=http://www.thetowntalk.com/story/news/local/2014/09/03/alexandria-businessman-dunbar-left-legacy-success/15050515/|title=Alexandria businessman Dunbar left legacy of success|date=September 3, 2014|author=Richard P. Sharkey|publisher=''The Alexandria Town Talk''|accessdate=September 21, 2014}}</ref>​

 

In 1979, Dunbar was elected the youngest director of the former Guaranty Bank & Trust Company, housed in the tallest building on Third Street in downtown Alexandria. Subsequently, he was the city director of the former Hibernia National Bank. Guaranty merged in 1987 into Capital One;<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.fdic.gov/idasp/confirmation_outside.asp?inCert1=8797|title=Guaranty Bank and Trust Company|publisher=[[Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation]]|accessdate=September 21, 2014}}</ref> Hibernia also merged into Capital One in 2005. For twenty-eight years, Dunbar was president of Cotton Land Corporation of Alexandria.<ref name=obit/>​

In 1979, Dunbar was elected the youngest director of the former Guaranty Bank & Trust Company, housed in the tallest building on Third Street in downtown Alexandria. Subsequently, he was the city director of the former Hibernia National Bank. Guaranty merged in 1987 into Capital One;<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.fdic.gov/idasp/confirmation_outside.asp?inCert1=8797|title=Guaranty Bank and Trust Company|publisher=[[Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation]]|accessdate=September 21, 2014}}</ref> Hibernia also merged into Capital One in 2005. For twenty-eight years, Dunbar was president of Cotton Land Corporation of Alexandria.<ref name=obit/>​

 

His civic contributions included the [[Salvation Army]], [[United Way]], [[Chamber of Commerce]], [[Young Men's Christian Association]], Little Theater, and the Rapides Symphony Orchestra. For nearly six decades, he was a member and president of the Alexandria chapter of Rotary International and a Paul Harris Fellow of that organization. With his lifelong friend Edwin Caplan, an Alexandria clothing merchant, Dunbar created the Rotary "Service Above Self" Award to honor those who work generously for community needs. He was a senior warden and vestryman at St. James [[Episcopal ]]Church in  Alexandria.<ref name=ttt/>​

His civic contributions included the [[Salvation Army]], [[United Way]], [[Chamber of Commerce]], [[Young Men's Christian Association]], Little Theater, and the Rapides Symphony Orchestra. For nearly six decades, he was a member and president of the Alexandria chapter of Rotary International and a Paul Harris Fellow of that organization. With his lifelong friend Edwin Caplan, an Alexandria clothing merchant, Dunbar created the Rotary "Service Above Self" Award to honor those who work generously for community needs. He was a senior warden and vestryman at St. James [[Episcopal ]]Church in  Alexandria.<ref name=ttt/>​

 

==Death and family==

==Death and family==

Dunbar died in the summer of 2014 at the age of eighty-two. He was predeceased by his wife, the former Phyllis Dean Nanney (1935-2001), a native of Hendersonville, [[North Carolina]]. The couple had three surviving children, Dr. S. Ross Dunbar of Prescott, [[Arizona]]; Melanie Dunbar Jurgensen and husband, Michael, of Alexandria; and Dianna Kathleen Dunbar of [[Denver]], [[Colorado]], and four grandchildren.<ref name=obit>{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/thetowntalk/obituary.aspx?pid=172335383|title=Samuel Ross Dunbar|publisher=''The Alexandria Town Talk''|accessdate=September 21, 2014}}</ref>​

Dunbar died in the summer of 2014 at the age of eighty-two. He was predeceased by his wife, the former Phyllis Dean Nanney (1935-2001), a native of Hendersonville, [[North Carolina]]. The couple had three surviving children, Dr. S. Ross Dunbar of Prescott, [[Arizona]]; Melanie Dunbar Jurgensen and husband, Michael, of Alexandria; and Dianna Kathleen Dunbar of [[Denver]], [[Colorado]], and four grandchildren.<ref name=obit>{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/thetowntalk/obituary.aspx?pid=172335383|title=Samuel Ross Dunbar|publisher=''The Alexandria Town Talk''|accessdate=September 21, 2014}}</ref>​

 

The Dunbars are interred along with his parents at Greenwood Memorial Park in [[Pineville, Louisiana|Pineville]], Louisiana.<ref name=findagrave/>​

The Dunbars are interred along with his parents at Greenwood Memorial Park in [[Pineville, Louisiana|Pineville]], Louisiana.<ref name=findagrave/>​

==References==

==References==

{{reflist}}​​

{{reflist}}​​

 

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dunbar, Samuel}}​

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dunbar, Samuel}}​

[[Category:Louisiana People]]​

[[Category:Louisiana People]]​