Richard T. Dunn
Class of 1936
Video

Richard Dunn had a direct, positive influence on some of the most important historical events affecting the United States during the last 60 years by embodying the values of courage, compassion, conviction, service, faith, and justice.  Richard has been a successful military officer, attorney, and community and church leader.

After graduating from U-High, Richard entered the University of Illinois where he completed R.O.T.C. training and graduated with a B.A. degree.  He was commissioned into the U.S. Army Reserve Corps as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry.  He served more than 5½ years on extended active duty during World War II.  In 1946 he left full-time active duty as a Lieutenant Colonel, but remained active in the Illinois National Guard with the same rank.  He was recalled to active duty for two years to serve in the Korean Conflict and remained in the National Guard following that service, rising to the rank of Brigadier General.

One of Richard’s most important duty assignments with the National Guard was his last one – Commanding General of the Illinois Army National Guard’s Emergency Operations HQ during the civil disturbances arising on Illinois campuses from March 1968 to July 1970.  University of Illinois Chancellor Emeritus John Cribbet had this to say about Richard’s leadership: “Without debating the rights or wrongs of this time of troubles, it became necessary to call out the National Guard and tragedy could have resulted… Fortunately, it was Dick Dunn who commanded the unit…and his role can only be called heroic.  He avoided the errors that occurred elsewhere; he was calm in a turbulent time; and he understood the students and their concerns about the war in Vietnam.”

After graduating from the University of Illinois College of Law in 1947, Richard joined his father’s law practice in Bloomington.  During the course of his career, he argued cases all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.  He served the State on the Illinois Judicial Inquiry Board for many years and was a member of the Illinois Supreme Court’s Committee on Professional Responsibility.  In 1998 he received the Lincoln Award of Excellence from the McLean County Bar Association for his service to the public as an attorney.  Richard remains a counsel to the Dunn Law Firm in Bloomington.

Richard has served his church and community in many capacities.  In the early 1960s he led the Holy Trinity Parish’s campaign to raise over $1 million to construct Trinity, St. Clare, and Epiphany Grade Schools.  He has served as director of the McLean County United Way and director and vice president of the Illinois State Chamber of Commerce.  The City of Bloomington commemorated Richard’s community service by naming a soccer field and a street in his honor.

Richard was married to Julienne Biasi Dunn over 45 years, until her death in 1985.  They had four children and twenty grand-children and great-grandchildren.  He married Virginia B. Evans in 1987.