[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.

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