H.R. No. 2228
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, A remarkable life dedicated to inspiring students
with a love of all creatures great and small has drawn to a close
with the passing of Jim Dunlap of Dallas on April 5, 2015, at the age
of 70; and
WHEREAS, Jim Dunlap was born in Waco on October 10, 1944, and
he moved with his family to the Dallas area when he was two years
old; his fascination with animals was evident from an early age when
he used to bring them to share with his schoolmates on the
playground, holding up a lizard to draw a crowd; by the time he was
10, he had collected 52 box turtles; when his mother balked at
letting all his critters in the house, his father built a shed for
his collection in the backyard; and
WHEREAS, After graduating from Mesquite High School,
Mr. Dunlap served in the U.S. Army for three years, and he worked as
a police officer in University Park in order to put himself through
North Texas State University, earning a bachelor's degree in
education as well as a master's degree; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Dunlap began his career with the Lewisville
Independent School District before joining the Plano ISD, where
over the course of 34 years, he became a beloved biology teacher and
mentor to generations of students, with whom he especially enjoyed
sharing his enthusiasm for wild animals; and
WHEREAS, Known affectionately as "the snake man" or "the
animal guy," Mr. Dunlap amassed such a large collection that the
school district gave him his own building at the Holifield Science
Learning Center in 1989; known as the Living Materials Center, it
became a haven for unwanted or abused animals, and through the years
it offered thousands of delighted schoolchildren the chance to meet
such diverse creatures as bobcats, monkeys, buzzards, and the star
of Mr. Dunlap's menagerie, a giant Burmese python named Katy; and
WHEREAS, In addition to his work as a teacher, Mr. Dunlap
authored seven books, often appeared on television to talk about
animals, and wrote a column for the local paper called "Backyard
Zoo"; he was recognized as the Humane Educator of the Year in 1993
and 2008 by the Texas Animal Control Association, and when he
retired from teaching in 2010, the center was rededicated as the Jim
Dunlap Living Materials Center in his honor; even in retirement, he
continued to volunteer at the center three days a week, as well as
at the Dallas Zoo; and
WHEREAS, During summer vacations, when the schools were
closed, Mr. Dunlap often brought animals home with him, and his
wife, Peggy, who died in 2013, lovingly supported him in all his
endeavors, allowing their home to be inhabited by monkeys, snakes,
and all manner of creatures; Mr. Dunlap was further blessed with
the love of his two children, Sid and Erin, and his two
grandchildren, Stella and Sofia; and
WHEREAS, A gifted teacher, Jim Dunlap shared his joy in the
magnificent diversity of the animal kingdom with generations of
Texans, and the memory of his intellectual curiosity and spirit of
adventure will continue to enrich the lives of all those who were
privileged to know him; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas
Legislature pay tribute to the life of Jim Dunlap and extend sincere
condolences to the members of his family: to his son, Scott Dunlap,
and his wife, Lisa; to his daughter, Erin Dunlap Martinez, and her
husband, Mike; to his sister, Paula Mischel; to his grandchildren,
Stella and Sofia Martinez; to his niece, Tracy Barr; to his
mother-in-law, Polly Wilds; and to his other relatives and friends;
and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of
Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Jim Dunlap.
Leach
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 2228 was unanimously adopted by a
rising vote of the House on May 21, 2015.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House