Family creates scholarship in Red Dunn’s name

LACONIA — The family of the late Calvin “Red” Dunn, who died two decades ago, was upset when his name came up in an unflattering way last month during an acrimonious City Hall debate over the fire department.

Now family members are turning a negative into a positive in the form of a college scholarship in his name.

Laura Dunn, his granddaughter, has set up page on gofundme.com for those wishing to contribute to the scholarship fund, to be handled by the Lakes Region Scholarship Foundation, which is also accepting donations at Post Office Box 7312, Gilford, NH 03247.

“He gave back to the community,” she said. “He would give a helping hand when anybody was in need. So our family got together and said, ‘What about a way of giving back to the community like he always did with a scholarship in his name?’”

At the July 9 City Council meeting, Councilor Bob Hamel criticized the firefighters union and said, “I know you guys think you can walk on water, but there was a man in this town, a long time ago, who said he could walk on water and he tried it up on Weirs dock and he didn’t.”

Hamel upset firefighters who said they thought he was referring to fire Lt. Mark Miller, who died in a 2004 dive training accident. Then he upset the Dunn family when he said he was actually referring to Red Dunn. Hamel said Dunn once tried to walk on water without success. The councilor later apologized to the family.

Dunn’s son, also named Calvin Dunn, said he never asked his father about the incident, and never met anybody who saw it happen and doesn’t think it occurred.

Calvin Dunn said his father was a proponent of having a positive mental attitude and spoke publicly about his beliefs.

The elder Dunn served as an airman in the U.S. Air Force from 1945-52.

He came to Laconia from Vermont in the early 1950s and started a successful paving company that he ran for more than 30 years.

Laura Dunn said her grandfather showed generosity and kindness to the community over the years.

On the gofundme.com page, she mentioned that he made sure families had Christmas trees, gave out candy and ice cream to children and was a staple at local parades.

“Red enjoyed the spotlight and would've enjoyed knowing that he was being talked about 20 years after his death,” she said. “We want to make sure we continue to share his positive contributions to his community for many years to come.”

Red Dunn did not shy away from public attention.

His trucks bore his slogan, “When It's Done By Dunn It's Well Done.”

He and his round, wide-brimmed aluminum construction helmet were inseparable.

“I’m quite proud of it,” his son, Calvin Dunn, said. “I gave it to him when I was either 13 or 14. I never thought it would take off and be a 30-year hat for him. He adored it. He wore it everywhere, not just at work. If he was downtown, he’d wear it. He never left without it. It was touched up with red paint and his name was on the front.

“He liked to be unique and different.”

He sponsored bus tours for elderly people to go to the mountains. He raised money for striking workers and for a man who needed a kidney transplant. He donated his time, machines and workers during natural disasters.

Dunn said his father was the P.T. Barnum of Laconia.

“He was a terrific sales person,” he said. “He got people’s interest. It’s like people say about Dale Earnhardt Sr. When Earnhardt Sr. took his laps on the race track, 50 percent would boo and 50 percent would cheer, but 100 percent of the people were involved, and that’s the way my father was.”