[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 9]
[Senate]
[Page 11861]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         REMEMBERING JAMES DUNN

  Mr. ROUNDS. Mr. President, today I wish to commemorate the life and 
legacy of former South Dakota State Senator James Dunn.
  Jim was born in Lead, SD, on June 27, 1927, and died in Sturgis, SD, 
on August 11, 2016, at the age of 89.
  Immediately after graduating from high school, he joined the U.S. 
Army Signal Corps and served from 1945 through 1947.
  He returned home to Lead and worked at the Homestake Gold Mine for 
the next 38 years. During that time, he also raised four children with 
his wife, Betty, and earned a bachelor's degree in business 
administration and economics. At the mine, he was a crewman, a 
machinist, the assistant director of public affairs, and then the 
director of public affairs.
  Jim inspired his coworkers with his intelligence, his humor, and his 
leadership. He became a constant promoter for the Black Hills and all 
of South Dakota. He inspired magazine articles, books, films, and other 
publicity about South Dakota.
  He was also an enthusiastic supporter and volunteer worker for dozens 
of local and State organizations during his 89 years. He was even the 
first male president of the Black Hills Girl Scout Council.
  In 1971, he was elected to the South Dakota House of Representatives. 
In 1973, he was elected to the South Dakota Senate and served until his 
retirement in 2000. His 30 years of consecutive service is matched by 
only three other legislators.
  Jim Dunn was elected to many legislative leadership positions, 
including the chairmanship of the executive board of the legislature. 
However, his leadership went beyond any position he held.
  He was a great mentor to all the legislators who served with him, 
including me. For my first 4 years of working as the majority leader, 
he sat next to me. The wisdom of his additional 20 years of experience 
kept me out of trouble. No one saw the many times I wanted to jump up 
and join a floor fight, but Jim would calmly grab my arm and say, ``Not 
yet, wait.'' His deep, raspy whispers guided me and taught me how to be 
a leader.
  Jim removed the rancor from committee and floor debates with his 
knowledge and explanation of the facts. He guided our discussions back 
to what was really important. Then he would lead us to consensus.
  He was a tough negotiator, but also a practical compromiser. He 
always brought the focus to what was best for the people back home and 
all the people of South Dakota.
  He was always there for us in solving problems and creating new 
opportunities, such as saving the State's railroads, increasing tourism 
as the prime sponsor of the Deadwood gaming law, substantial expansion 
of the financial services industry, implementing welfare reform, 
reducing property taxes, and promoting the transformation of the 
Homestake Gold Mine into the deepest underground physics laboratory in 
the world.
  But more important than all of his career accomplishments is the kind 
of person Jim Dunn was.
  He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and 
friend to all who knew him. He had an enormously positive impact on the 
many thousands of people he met and touched with his kindness and 
generosity.
  South Dakota is a better State and we are a better people because of 
Jim Dunn.
  With this, I welcome the opportunity to recognize and commemorate the 
life of this public servant and great human being, my friend, Jim Dunn.
  Thank you, Mr. President.

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