84R21706 JGH-D

By: Leach 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.