[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 6 (Wednesday, January 16, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E21]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING ROBERT DUNBAR

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GEORGE RADANOVICH

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 16, 2008

  Mr. RADANOVICH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate 
Councilman Robert Dunbar upon his retirement from the Modesto City 
Council. Councilman Dunbar was recognized at the city of Modesto 
swearing in ceremony held on December 19, 2007.
  Councilman Dunbar was born in Terre Haute, Indiana and attended 
Indiana University and Indiana State University where he received a 
bachelor of science degree in speech and drama with a minor in 
political science. After moving to southern California he attended 
University of Redlands, University of California in Riverside and 
California State University, Fullerton and received a master of science 
degree in public school administration with a minor in political 
science and urban politics. This was the beginning of Councilman 
Dunbar's first career as a teacher.
  Before Councilman Dunbar was an elected official, he worked in the 
public school system. He began by teaching high school and junior high 
school. He moved to Merced, California, in 1972 to pursue a position 
with the Merced Union High School District. He held various positions 
within the district, including; dean of boys, vice-principal and 
learning director. In 1980 he moved to Modesto, California to join the 
Sylvan Union School District, where he became the principal of Somerset 
Junior High School. The school was named a ``Top 100 Distinguished 
Junior High School'' during his tenure. He was also the principal at 
Sylvan Elementary School, and was named the ``Eighth District PTA 
Principal of the Year.'' While working for the school districts, he was 
also a part-time professor on various subjects at Merced Junior 
College, California State University, Stanislaus, St. Mary's College, 
and Chapman University. Councilman Dunbar retired from education in 
2001 and moved onto more civic duties.
  Councilman Dunbar served on the Planning Commission for the city of 
Merced for 2 years and on the Planning Commission for the city of 
Modesto for 7 years serving as the chairman for 2 of those years. He 
was elected to the Modesto City Council in 2003, and currently serves 
as vice chair of the Finance Committee. Throughout his lifetime he has 
served in many capacities; as a baseball coach, Boy Scout leader, 
Kiwanis leader, member of the board of directors for the Modesto 
chapter of the Red Cross, member of the Association of California 
School Administrators and Stanislaus Partners in Education.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend and congratulate Councilman 
Robert Dunbar upon his retirement from the Modesto City Council. I 
invite my colleagues to join me in wishing Councilman Dunbar many years 
of continued success.

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