SLS 171ES-29 ORIGINAL
2017 First Extraordinary Session
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 6
BY SENATOR PEACOCK
CONDOLENCES. Expresses condolences upon the death of public servant and former
legislator, George Forrest Dunn Jr.
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2 To express the sincere condolences of the Legislature of Louisiana upon the passing of the
3 Honorable George Forrest Dunn Jr., to acknowledge his lifelong commitment to
4 public service, and to note his many contributions made on behalf of the state of
5 Louisiana.
6 WHEREAS, it is with deep remorse that the Legislature of Louisiana has learned of
7 the death of businessman and former legislator, Forrest Dunn of Shreveport, who passed
8 away on Saturday, October 15, 2016, one month past his eighty-eighth birthday; and
9 WHEREAS, Forrest Dunn embodied the best qualities of a public servant; he held
10 a genuine interest in the people he served and felt a personal responsibility to represent all
11 of his constituency with honesty and integrity; and
12 WHEREAS, he served with unwavering dedication as a three-term member of the
13 Louisiana House of Representatives from 1972 until 1984, having represented the concerns
14 of District Three in Caddo Parish; and
15 WHEREAS, Forrest Dunn also served for twelve years as director of the Louisiana
16 State Exhibit Museum and, as its administrator, he worked diligently to acquire
17 extraordinary exhibits to pique the interests of a broad spectrum of the community; and
18 WHEREAS, born in Plain Dealing on September 6, 1928, he was the only child of
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SLS 171ES-29 ORIGINAL
1 George Forrest Dunn Sr. and the former Gladys Malone; and
2 WHEREAS, Mr. Dunn attended Bossier High School; as a youth of fifteen, joined
3 the United States Navy during World War II and served aboard the U.S.S. Richmond, a
4 cruiser assigned to protect the Aleutian Islands off the coast of Alaska; and
5 WHEREAS, before his election to the Legislature of Louisiana, Forrest Dunn was
6 elected to a seat on the Caddo Parish School Board, serving during the turbulent times of
7 court-ordered school desegregation; and
8 WHEREAS, during his service in the legislature, Representative Dunn garnered
9 assignments to the House standing committees on education, ways and means, retirement,
10 and commerce, and penned meaningful legislation to aid the mentally and physically
11 challenged, to elevate Louisiana State University at Shreveport from a two-year academic
12 program to a four-year undergraduate institution, and to change the office of state
13 superintendent of education from that of an elected official to an appointed position; and
14 WHEREAS, Mr. Dunn was a successful businessman who founded Dunn Furniture
15 Company in 1955 and ran a lucrative operation for more than thirty years; and
16 WHEREAS, Forrest Dunn was a gracious community leader who expressed his
17 gratitude for his good fortune by participation in all manner of civic interests that included
18 the Shreveport Chamber of Commerce, the Louisiana State Fair Executive Committee, the
19 Community Organization for Alcohol and Drug Abuse, the Shreveport Transit and Study
20 Committee, the Shreveport Housing Authority, and the Downtown Rotary Club; and
21 WHEREAS, the many public and nonprofit agencies that benefitted from his
22 guidance included his service as president of Holiday in Dixie, chairman of the
23 Ambassador's Club, campaign chairman for United Way, chairman of The ARC
24 Caddo-Bossier, and executive board member of the Shreveport Parks and Recreation
25 Council; and
26 WHEREAS, Mr. Dunn felt his greatest achievement was the founding of H.A.P.
27 House (the Handicapped Are Producers), a nonprofit organization housed at Barksdale Air
28 Force Base which provides a sheltered environment for handicapped workers; and
29 WHEREAS, Mr. Dunn was also proud to serve as a delegate to the White House
30 Conference on the Handicapped and to the Governor's Committee on the Employment of the
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SLS 171ES-29 ORIGINAL
1 Handicapped; and
2 WHEREAS, Forrest Dunn was honored with many well-deserved accolades that
3 included receipt of numerous awards, such as, Leader of the New Century by The Shreveport
4 Times, the Legend Award from the Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau, the
5 Humanitarian Award from the Community Council, a Lifetime Tribute from the Norwela
6 Council of the Boy Scouts of America, and induction into the Bossier High School Alumni
7 Association's Hall of Fame; and
8 WHEREAS, as a man of unfaltering faith, Forrest Dunn was an active member of
9 St. Mark Episcopal Cathedral; and
10 WHEREAS, he was preceded in death by his wife, Donna Young Dunn, and son,
11 James Forrest "Jimmy" Dunn, and is survived by a daughter, Linda Dunn Turner, and her
12 husband, Danny Bob Turner; and by a son, Robby Jack Dunn, and his wife, Nancy
13 Marabella; six grandchildren, twelve great-grandchildren, extended family, and very special
14 friends; and
15 WHEREAS, Forrest Dunn was a singular individual with a generous nature, blessed
16 with an abundance of determination and skills; he performed his public service proudly and
17 willingly; he extended courtesy to all; and he leaves a rich and unique legacy of good works
18 to his family, community, state, and nation.
19 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
20 express its sincere condolences upon the passing of the Honorable George Forrest Dunn Jr.,
21 Shreveport businessman, former legislator, and director of the Louisiana State Exhibit
22 Museum, and does hereby acknowledge his lifelong commitment to public service.
23 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to his
24 children, Linda D. Turner and Robby Jack Dunn.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Susan P. Montague.
DIGEST
SCR 6 Original 2017 First Extraordinary Session Peacock
Expresses condolences upon the death of former legislator and businessman,
Forrest Dunn Jr. of Shreveport.
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