HONORING THE LIFE OF SAMUEL DYKES DUNBAR, SR.

On 2026-07-16, Representative Victoria Spartz (R-IN-5) delivered a floor speech titled "HONORING THE LIFE OF SAMUEL DYKES DUNBAR, SR." in the House.

HONORING THE LIFE OF SAMUEL DYKES DUNBAR, SR.

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 116 (Thursday, July 16, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 116 (Thursday, July 16, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E701] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HONORING THE LIFE OF SAMUEL DYKES DUNBAR, SR. ______ HON. VICTORIA SPARTZ of indiana in the house of representatives Thursday, July 16, 2026 Mrs. SPARTZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Samuel Dykes Dunbar, Sr., a devoted Hoosier, veteran, engineer, and servant- leader whose 93 years of life exemplified duty, character, and love of country. Born on September 17, 1931, in South Bend, Indiana, to Irma Claire Dykes Dunbar and Willard Parker Dunbar, Sr., he grew up surrounded by the values of hard work and family. He spent his youth on Dunbar Farms in Crawfordsville and proudly graduating from Culver Summer Schools' Woodcraft Camp before completing high school in 1949. At just seventeen, Mr. Dunbar began his military service as a Private in the Service Battery of the Indiana National Guard, later enlisting in the United States Air Force in 1950, where he served honorably as a Radar Systems Specialist in the only F-86 Sabre jet unit stationed in England. Mr. Dunbar forged lifelong friendships during his deployments in Europe and Africa. Following more than five years of active duty, he returned home to Indiana to complete his Electrical Engineering degree at Purdue University. He subsequently joined the Air National Guard as an Air Electronics Officer and dedicated over thirty years to service in Group, Wing, and State Staff roles, retiring with the rank of Colonel in 1987. Throughout his distinguished military career, Mr. Dunbar earned numerous honors, including the Air Force Legion of Merit, the Distinguished Service Medal, the Sagamore of the Wabash, and recognition as a Kentucky Colonel. These honors reflect Mr. Dunbar's lifetime of exceptional leadership and commitment to the Nation. On September 7, 1957, he married Barbara Ann Nadeo, and together they raised four children: Theresa, Samuel, Jr., Claire, and Mary. Simultaneously he continued his education, earning an MBA from Auburn University in addition to completing both Air Command and Staff College and Air War College in 1970. Beyond military service, he built a respected civilian career in the defense and engineering sectors across several states. Mr. Dunbar then returned to Indiana, where he served as a professional engineer at Esterline Angus and later at Mallory Controls. One of his most significant contributions include serving as President of the Indiana Chapter of the Society of American Value Engineers. Mr. Dunbar passed away on November 15, 2024, at Hoosier Village in Zionsville, Indiana. He left behind a legacy defined by integrity, service, and deep devotion to his family, his state, and the United States of America. ____________________