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A RESOLUTION honoring the life and memory of Cecil F. Dunn. 1
WHEREAS, Cecil Dunn was born in Richmond, Kentucky, to Hockaday Farra 2
Dunn and Nancy Terrill Dunn on August 2, 1937; and 3
WHEREAS, Cecil Dunn attended and subsequently graduated from Richmond 4
Model High School where he was a stand-out athlete in multiple sports, playing for the 5
Model-Madison Purples; and 6
WHEREAS, Cecil Dunn attended Florida State University for three years before 7
transferring back to his hometown college, Eastern Kentucky University. He went on to 8
graduate from Eastern Kentucky University's ROTC program with a Bachelor of Arts; 9
and 10
WHEREAS, Cecil Dunn entered the United States Army and was stationed at Fort 11
Knox, where he fortuitously met the love of his life, Judy Gish, while she was working 12
on base. The two began dating in 1961 before marrying in 1965; and 13
WHEREAS, after serving as the youngest Captain in his Division, Cecil Dunn 14
studied at the University of Kentucky College of Law, graduating in 1965 with a 15
Bachelor of Laws. He would go on to attend the Lexington Theological Seminary, 16
receiving his Master of Arts; and 17
WHEREAS, upon graduation, Cecil Dunn embarked upon a nearly 60-year career 18
as an attorney and judge in Lexington; and 19
WHEREAS, during that career, Cecil Dunn focused on the development of low- 20
and moderate-income multifamily housing dwellings and multifamily Housing and Urban 21
Development loans; and 22
WHEREAS, while serving as the general counsel of the Kentucky Housing 23
Corporation, Cecil Dunn was the primary legal advisor to the corporation and its staff, 24
providing a broad spectrum of legal services; and 25
WHEREAS, in addition to his private practice, Cecil Dunn served as a Criminal 26
Trial Commissioner and Assistant County Attorney for Fayette County and was 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 24 RS BR 2520
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appointed as the Special Prosecutor for the Beverly Hills Supper Club Fire investigation 1
in 1978 and 1979; and 2
WHEREAS, Cecil Dunn was a proud member of the Kentucky Bar Association. He 3
received the following awards in honor of his legal career: the Henry Duncan Award 4
from the Fayette County Bar Association, the Lexington Optimist Community Service 5
Award, the Kentucky Housing Corporation Excellence in Housing Award, and had an 6
AV Pre-Eminent Rating by Martindale-Hubbell; and 7
WHEREAS, Cecil Dunn was a proud resident of Lexington, living there for over 60 8
years. His and Judy's front door on Kingsway Drive was always open, allowing the house 9
to often be full of friends and family, with Cecil holding court in his den; and 10
WHEREAS, Cecil Dunn was a passionate advocate for his community, church, 11
University of Kentucky (UK) basketball, and family. He served as the Executive Director 12
of the Hope Center for 24 years prior to retiring. The Hope Center provides services that 13
promote healing from substance abuse, mental health disorders, and homelessness. He 14
said of the Hope Center: "It was the best thing that I have ever been associated 15
with...Second chances are born and nurtured here." Both Cecil and his dear friend, the 16
late Don Ball, dedicated the second halves of their careers to the mission and vision of 17
the Hope Center, bettering thousands of lives in the process; and 18
WHEREAS, Cecil Dunn was a lifelong Presbyterian and devout member of First 19
Presbyterian Church in Lexington. He served as a member of the Session multiple times 20
and on the Pastor Search Committee. The back right pew at First Presbyterian was often 21
"reserved" for his family and special friends, George Willmott and Grace Myers; and 22
WHEREAS, Cecil Dunn and Judy followed UK basketball for many years as 23
supporters, and he was closely associated with the team during the Joe B. Hall era; and 24
WHEREAS, though he cherished being a father, Cecil Dunn's favorite role soon 25
became that of grandparent. He treasured time with all his grandchildren and loved being 26
their CeCe, never missing a ball game, play, cheerleading and dance competition, or 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 24 RS BR 2520
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recital. In return, the grandchildren adored their CeCe; and 1
WHEREAS, Cecil Dunn had a brilliant career that spanned decades and a sterling 2
reputation in his community for his tireless work – but there is no doubt that his greatest 3
legacy is his family and those closest friends who shared his life; and 4
WHEREAS, on March 23, 2024, after a brief illness, Cecil Dunn traversed these 5
earthly bounds. He was preceded in death by his parents, Hockaday and Nancy Dunn, 6
and granddaughter, Quinn Callahan Dunn; and 7
WHEREAS, Cecil Dunn is survived by his beloved wife, Judy; sons, Patrick 8
(Michelle), Michael (Amy), and Geoffrey (Kristy); and grandchildren, Harrison 9
(Keeghan) Dunn, Aidan (Darby) Dunn, Lauren Dunn, Caroline (Justin) Widmer, Euan 10
Dunn, Mary Walker Dunn, Mason Dunn, Tatum Dunn, and Hadley Dunn; 11
NOW, THEREFORE, 12
Be it resolved by the Senate of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of 13
Kentucky: 14
Section 1. The Senate hereby extends its most profound sympathy upon the 15
passing of Cecil F. Dunn and expresses heartfelt condolences to his family and 16
community in this time of loss. 17
Section 2. When the Senate adjourns this day, it does so in honor of Cecil F. 18
Dunn. 19
Section 3. The Clerk of the Senate is directed to transmit a copy of this 20
Resolution to Senator Reginald Thomas. 21