Charles E. Dunbar
Encyclopedia
Charles Edward Dunbar, Jr. (December 26, 1888 – April 17, 1959), was an attorney who developed the modern civil service
system in the U.S. state
of Louisiana
. He was the first chairman of the Louisiana State Civil Service Commission, having served from 1940-1947.
Dunbar was born in McComb
, Mississippi
, to Charles Dunbar, Sr., and the former Emma Buaer. In 1910, Dunbar received his Bachelor of Arts
degree, Phi Beta Kappa, from Tulane University
in New Orleans
. He did graduate work at Harvard University
in Cambridge
, Massachusetts
, and graduated in 1914 from Harvard Law School
. He served in the United States Army
during World War I
. From 1916-1941, he served on the teaching faculty of the Tulane Law School. In 1915, he began affiliation with a New Orleans law firm, was made partner in 1919, and retained that professional relationship until his death.
Dunbar's pursuit of civil service was a response to end the past practices of political patronage
in the awarding of state and municipal government jobs. The first civil service law was drafted in 1940 under the administration of Governor Sam Houston Jones. Dunbar also worked to get the law adopted as a constitutional amendment to make any future repeal attempt less likely to succeed.From 1948-1952, the civil service department was run by R.B. Walden, a former mayor of Winnsboro
. A second civil service measure followed in 1952 under the administration of Governor Robert F. Kennon
.
Dunbar served on the executive board of the American Bar Association
, as president of the Louisiana Bar Association, and as a trustee of the Southwestern Legal Foundation. He served on the board of advisory editors of the Tulane Law Review
from its inception until his death. From 1923-1925, he was the president of the Tulane Alumni Association. In 1941, he was the vice-president of the National Civil Service League as well as the founding president of the Louisiana Civil Service League. In 1958, Dunbar was recognized as "Mr. Civil Service of North America" by the Public Personnel Association.
In June 1925, Dunbar married the former Ethelyn Legendre (years of birth and death missing) of New Orleans. Their sons were Charles E. Dunbar, III (1926–1995), and George Bauer Dunbar (born ca. 1928) of Slidell
in St. Tammany Parish
. Dunbar died in New Orleans and is interred there at Metairie Cemetery
.
Dunbar is remembered through the annual Charles E. Dunbar, Jr., Career Service Awards presented annually by the Louisiana Civil Service League to noteworthy employees in all levels of government work. Since the program began in 1959, some eight hundred employees have received the honor. Among the Dunbar winners was the late Ray R. Allen
, finance director of the City of Alexandria
, who garnered the honor in 1970, when he held the title of municipal secretary-treasurer.
Civil service
The term civil service has two distinct meanings:* A branch of governmental service in which individuals are employed on the basis of professional merit as proven by competitive examinations....
system in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
. He was the first chairman of the Louisiana State Civil Service Commission, having served from 1940-1947.
Dunbar was born in McComb
McComb, Mississippi
McComb is a city in Pike County, Mississippi, United States, about south of Jackson. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 13,644. It is the principal city of the McComb, Mississippi, Micropolitan Statistical Area...
, Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
, to Charles Dunbar, Sr., and the former Emma Buaer. In 1910, Dunbar received his Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree, Phi Beta Kappa, from Tulane University
Tulane University
Tulane University is a private, nonsectarian research university located in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States...
in New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
. He did graduate work at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
in Cambridge
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, and graduated in 1914 from Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
. He served in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. From 1916-1941, he served on the teaching faculty of the Tulane Law School. In 1915, he began affiliation with a New Orleans law firm, was made partner in 1919, and retained that professional relationship until his death.
Dunbar's pursuit of civil service was a response to end the past practices of political patronage
Patronage
Patronage is the support, encouragement, privilege, or financial aid that an organization or individual bestows to another. In the history of art, arts patronage refers to the support that kings or popes have provided to musicians, painters, and sculptors...
in the awarding of state and municipal government jobs. The first civil service law was drafted in 1940 under the administration of Governor Sam Houston Jones. Dunbar also worked to get the law adopted as a constitutional amendment to make any future repeal attempt less likely to succeed.From 1948-1952, the civil service department was run by R.B. Walden, a former mayor of Winnsboro
Winnsboro, Louisiana
Winnsboro is a city in and the parish seat of Franklin Parish, Louisiana, United States. As of July 2009, the estimated city population was 4,377...
. A second civil service measure followed in 1952 under the administration of Governor Robert F. Kennon
Robert F. Kennon
Robert Floyd Kennon, Sr., known as Bob Kennon , was the 48th Governor of Louisiana, serving from 1952-1956. He failed to win a second non-consecutive term in the 1963 Democratic primary....
.
Dunbar served on the executive board of the American Bar Association
American Bar Association
The American Bar Association , founded August 21, 1878, is a voluntary bar association of lawyers and law students, which is not specific to any jurisdiction in the United States. The ABA's most important stated activities are the setting of academic standards for law schools, and the formulation...
, as president of the Louisiana Bar Association, and as a trustee of the Southwestern Legal Foundation. He served on the board of advisory editors of the Tulane Law Review
Tulane Law Review
The Tulane Law Review, a publication of the Tulane University Law School, was founded in 1916, and is currently published six times annually. The Law Review has an international circulation and is one of few American law reviews carried by law libraries in the United Kingdom.-History:The Law Review...
from its inception until his death. From 1923-1925, he was the president of the Tulane Alumni Association. In 1941, he was the vice-president of the National Civil Service League as well as the founding president of the Louisiana Civil Service League. In 1958, Dunbar was recognized as "Mr. Civil Service of North America" by the Public Personnel Association.
In June 1925, Dunbar married the former Ethelyn Legendre (years of birth and death missing) of New Orleans. Their sons were Charles E. Dunbar, III (1926–1995), and George Bauer Dunbar (born ca. 1928) of Slidell
Slidell, Louisiana
Slidell is a city situated on the northeast shore of Lake Pontchartrain in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 25,695 at the 2000 census. The Greater Slidell Community has a population of about 90,000...
in St. Tammany Parish
St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana
St. Tammany Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana, in the New Orleans–Metairie–Kenner Metropolitan Statistical Area. The parish seat is Covington....
. Dunbar died in New Orleans and is interred there at Metairie Cemetery
Metairie Cemetery
Metairie Cemetery is a cemetery in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. The name has caused some people to mistakenly presume that the cemetery is located in Metairie, Louisiana, but it is located within the New Orleans city limits, on Metairie Road .-History:This site was previously a horse...
.
Dunbar is remembered through the annual Charles E. Dunbar, Jr., Career Service Awards presented annually by the Louisiana Civil Service League to noteworthy employees in all levels of government work. Since the program began in 1959, some eight hundred employees have received the honor. Among the Dunbar winners was the late Ray R. Allen
Ray R. Allen
Ray Robert Allen was a municipal public official and banker in Alexandria, Louisiana, who served in 1977 as secretary-treasurer and then finance director when his city converted from the commissioner to the mayor-council form of government.-Background:Allen was born in Yell County near Danville in...
, finance director of the City of Alexandria
Alexandria, Louisiana
Alexandria is a city in and the parish seat of Rapides Parish, Louisiana, United States. It lies on the south bank of the Red River in almost the exact geographic center of the state. It is the principal city of the Alexandria metropolitan area which encompasses all of Rapides and Grant parishes....
, who garnered the honor in 1970, when he held the title of municipal secretary-treasurer.