Fall 2012 Issue - Colby-Sawyer College

Giving Young People a
Good Start in Life
Jim and Gwen (Hall) Dunbar ’50
by Beth Cahill, Vice President of Advancement
In their 61 years of marriage,
Gwenyth “Gwen”
Hall Dunbar, who entered
Colby Junior College with
the Class of 1950, and
her husband, Jim, have
consistently relied on their
experiences to inform
their decision-making. In
1948, Jim was a student
at Proctor Academy, and
Gwen was eager to find a
school near her hometown
boyfriend and some
of her girlfriends. Colby
Junior—now Colby-Sawyer
—fit the bill.
Jim went on to Babson
College and then Nichols
College, and the couple
married the day after he
graduated. At age 26, Jim
started his own company,
Dunbar Armored, Inc.
The company is now the
largest independent
armored car company in
the United States. Their
business success has
provided the Dunbars an
opportunity to reflect on
the things most important
to them and to support
those priorities.
While Gwen says she
was blessed to receive a
scholarship that allowed
her to attend Colby Junior,
she did not take her
studies seriously enough
to receive the same
scholarship a second year,
and she was unable to
return and graduate. She
made certain, however,
to teach her children and
grandchildren the importance
of education.
Jim and Gwen invested in
their children’s education
and made it possible for
their grandchildren to
attend private schools and
colleges. Gwen takes pride
in being able to help young
people get a good start
in life, and Jim agrees. “We
spend a lot of time letting
our family know how
important education is and
how far it can take you in
life,” he says.
In addition to providing
opportunities for their
own family, Gwen and Jim
have made important
investments to help other
students by supporting
their own schools and
a special scholarship fund
at Towson University
named for their late son
James “J” L. Dunbar Jr.
At Colby-Sawyer College,
the Dunbars have recently
made a significant estate
Gwenyth “Gwen” and Jim Dunbar are commited to supporting
the arts at Colby-Sawyer
provision as well as a
current gift to help support
the construction of a new
fine and performing arts
center. To recognize their
arts center support, a
Graphic Design Studio will
be named in their honor.
For Jim and Gwen, their
support of Colby-Sawyer is
motivated by personal
connections. They are
pleased with the college’s
leadership and enjoy a
friendship with President
Tom Galligan. “Colby-
Sawyer is very fortunate to
have Tom Galligan. He’s a
brilliant man and an
outstanding executive and
teacher,” Jim says. Gwen
adds, “Even with his
brilliance and dedication,
he’s so down to earth
and friendly and easy to
know. That’s important
for a college president.
[Advancement Officer]
Beth Camp is very
important, too. She has
the same personality.
We may not have made
a gift without her.”
Photo: Courtesy of the Dunbars
For Gwen, college friends
also remain important.
Through the years she has
stayed connected and
enjoyed outings to alumni
events, golfing and visiting
with women she met
more than 60 years ago.
“We are honored to
support Colby-Sawyer,”
Gwen shares. “I’m sure the
school is on the right
track, and the main reason
is the people.”
Fall 2012
63
Connections