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