Davisson Frey Dunlap

1918 - 2017

DUNLAP Davisson Frey Dunlap (Dave), age 99, died peacefully on December 21, 2017, at Westminster Oaks in Tallahassee. He was a long-time resident of Jacksonville, Orlando and Tallahassee, Florida. A third generation Floridian, Dave was born on August 14, 1918, in Jacksonville to Sam and Belle Dunlap. He grew up in the Riverside area, where he attended West Riverside Elementary, John Gorrie Junior High and Robert E. Lee High School. At Lee, he played center for the football team and excelled in academics-being one of the few football players to take Latin. He was also given the Daughters of the American Revolution Award for Academic Achievement. He graduated with honors in 1936. Next, he attended the University of Florida, where he received his B.A. degree in 1940. While there, he was tagged for the Kappa Si freshman scholarship and was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity, Blue Key and Phi Beta Kappa. Additionally, he trained four years in ROTC and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant. Soon afterwards, he started Harvard Law School, serving as Director of the Students' Legal Aid Society. In 1942, his law education was temporarily interrupted when he went off to Advance Officers Training to teach and later lead a U.S. Army infantry company of 240 men in World War II (Company E-273rd Infantry, 69th Division), fighting in France, Belgium and Germany. For exceptional bravery shown on two occasions, Captain Dunlap was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster. After the war and returning to Harvard, he received his law degree in 1947, having served as President of Harvard Legal Aid. He continued in the Army Reserves, where he eventually retired with the rank of Colonel. This was in addition to the many years of a very successful law career where he practiced with four outstanding law firms: (Adair) Ulmer, Murchison, Kent, Ashby and Ball; Sears and Dunlap (both in Jacksonville); Carlton Fields (Orlando); and Dunlap and Shipman (Tallahassee). His specialty was business litigation and antitrust law. In 1960, Mr. Dunlap appeared before the United States Supreme Court as part of an antitrust case involving price fixing. It resulted in a satisfactory outcome for his side. Other career accomplishments have been: as a member of the Florida Bar, he served as Chairman of the Banking and Business Law Committee, as well as was on the Florida Bar Board of Governors and the Florida Bar Board of Law Examiners; as a member of the American Bar Association, he served as Chairman of the Robinson-Patmann Act Committee of the Antitrust Section of the ABA; he was a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers (5 percent) and a member of the Founding Committee of the National Institute of Trial Attorneys (NITA). As part of his dedication to giving back to the community, Dave enjoyed volunteering in a number of different ways through the years: Riverside Presbyterian Church as a Sunday School teacher, Deacon, Elder and Young Life Committee member; Meals-on-Wheels; Pro Bono Legal Aid; Medicare/Pharmacy Senior Advisor; PBS-WJXT Fund Raising; Jacksonville Consolidation Committee; and former Governor Collins Gubernatorial Committee. Additionally, he served with distinction on these Community Boards: United Way, Chamber of Commerce and Jaycees. Having grown up near the St. Johns/Ortega Rivers, he took pleasure in being an active member of the Florida Yacht Club and former River Club. Other special interests included: worldwide traveling; college football-especially University of Florida; reading-a variety of books, magazines and newspapers; wine; and jazz-an extensive jazz collection was donated to the Florida State University Library. Dave will be dearly missed and fondly remembered as a wise and good man, a mentor to colleagues/family/friends, a keen intellect, a patron of the arts, supporter of non-profit organizations, and a great role model for his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He believed strongly in the lessons learned from his parents: Always treat others with respect, fairness and compassion-no matter their religion, race or ethnic background. Also, keep an open mind, stay strong and be positive. Mr. Dunlap is survived by his children: Davisson Dave Dunlap, Jr. (Jan), Mary Elizabeth Betsy Dunlap, Reverend Deborah Debbie Wells (John), John Hahn Dunlap (Lee), Bonnie Stewart, and Ki Ki Stark. Other survivors are grandchildren: Heather Stoller (Steven), Amy Collins (Doug), Davisson Dunlap III (Clarissa), Whitney Menning (Jesse), Ashley Stanley (Craig), Jake and Katie Dunlap, Blake, Chase, Cole and Jenna Stark and Shaun Stewart. He was also blessed with great-grandchildren: Preston, Mary Mobley and Brooks Dewberry, Silas and Parker Collins, Pilar and Davisson Dunlap IV, William and Caroline Menning, and Townes and Elizabeth Reed Stanley. He was predeceased by his wives, the former Mary Hahn and Helen Forsyth (Barbara Perry is still living), as well as longtime friend/companion Katherine Kat Oven. Also deceased is his brother Sam Dunlap Jr. A special thank you goes to the staff of Westminster Oaks, particularly the loyal sitters/companions who gave him so much care and attention. Two memorial services celebrating his life will be held: one on Friday, January 12 at 3 p.m. at Faith Presbyterian Church (Tallahassee)-the other on Saturday, January 13 at 11 a.m. at Riverside Presbyterian Church (Jacksonville). In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully suggest gifts to Riverside Presbyterian Church (Jacksonville), Faith Presbyterian Church (Tallahassee), Westminster Oaks Retirement Community (Tallahassee), or your local Legal Aid Society.