Samuel Ross Dunbar

Samuel Ross Dunbar

1931- 2014

Services for Samuel Ross Dunbar, 82 of Alexandria, who passed away Aug. 31, 2014 will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 6, 2014 at St. James Episcopal Church in Alexandria, officiated by The Reverend Elizabeth Rogers Ratcliff. Visitation will be in the church Parish Hall from 10:00 a.m. until the Celebration of Holy Eucharist in the church at 11:00 a.m. The Committal will follow at Greenwood Memorial Park.

Mr. Dunbar was born November 5, 1931, in Alexandria, Louisiana, the son of Ita Davis Dunbar and Ross Hawkins Dunbar, and graduated from Bolton High School as salutatorian of the class of 1949. He graduated magna cum laude from Tulane University in 1953 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and a minor in Economics. During his time at his beloved Tulane, he was a member of the Tulane University Student Council and president of Delta Sigma Pi, Tulane's chapter of the International Business Fraternity. He also served as president of the student body of the School of Business. He was the recipient of the "Outstanding Graduating Senior" award and was named to the Tulane Hall of Fame and Who's Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities. Upon graduation from Tulane, Mr. Dunbar served two years in the U.S. Army in Korea, completing his tenure in1955 as a First Lieutenant.

Mr. Dunbar returned to Alexandria after his military service and joined Clark-Dunbar, Inc., as treasurer, later becoming vice-president. In 1967, at the death of his father he was named president and chairman of the board. In 1981, Clark-Dunbar was named Louisiana's Distinguished Retailer of the Year by the Louisiana Home Furnishings Association. Mr. Dunbar served as president of the Louisiana Home Furnishings Association, the Southwest Home Furnishings Association and chairman of the board of the National Home Furnishings International Association. In 1979, he was elected the youngest director of the Guaranty Bank & Trust Company, later serving as a city director of Hibernia National Bank. He also served as president of Cotten Land Corporation for 28 years.

Mr. Dunbar served on the board of directors of the Central Louisiana Chamber of Commerce, Salvation Army, YMCA, Little Theater, Community Concert Association, Arts Council of Central Louisiana and the Rapides Symphony Orchestra. He was a Rotarian for 59 years and served as president of the Alexandria Rotary Club 1967-1968, receiving a Paul Harris Fellow for his leadership. In 1977 he served as president of the Rapides United Givers.

Mr. Dunbar was a member of St. James Episcopal Church and served as chairman of the Finance, Stewardship and Worship Committees. He served on the Vestry and consecutive terms as Senior Warden.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Phyllis Nanney Dunbar.

He is survived by his children, Samuel Ross Dunbar, Jr. of Prescott, Arizona; Melanie Dunbar Jurgensen and husband Michael of Alexandria; and Dianna Kathleen Dunbar of Denver, Colorado and grandchildren, Emily Adele Dunbar of Nashville; Margaux Genevieve Jurgensen and Nurit Eleanor Jurgensen of Alexandria; and Austin Ross Dunbar of Prescott.

Pallbearers will be Edwin Caplan, Malcolm St. Romain, Gene Cotton, Charles Prince, Gerald Leglue, Jr. and Austin Dunbar. Honorary Pall Bearers will be Conrad Weil, Jr., Richard Norem, Henry Brenner, and Lawrence Embolis

Memorials may be directed to St. James Episcopal Church.