About The times. (Gainesville, Ga.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 12, 2020)
Shannon Casas Editor in Chief | 770-718-3426 | life@gainesvilletimes.com She (Times gainesvilletimes.com Weekend Edition - September 12-13, 2020 Family leaves more than lasting legacy in Gainesville When Whelchel, Dunlap, Jarrard & Walker shuts its doors at the end of this month, it not only will end the 137- year history of the venerable law firm, it also means no more Gainesville Dunlaps will be practicing law in Hall County. Sam C. Dunlap Sr. was the first lawyer of the family, opening his practice in 1883. His son Edgar “Big Ed” Dunlap joined in 1904, and his son, James A. “Bubba” Dunlap, succeeded him. Bubba Dunlap’s son, Edgar Dunlap II, is the last of the Gainesville Dunlap lawyers, having joined the firm in the mid-1970s. The “Whelchel” in the firm’s name was Pinckney Whelchel, and another longtime partner was Bill Gignilliat, whose close friend since college days was Bubba Dunlap. The Dunlaps have left large foot prints in Hall County’s history and have been involved in both statewide and national politics. All the lawyers in the firm have been active community volunteers over the years. Sam Dunlap Sr. was born in Gwinnett County in 1848 and moved to Gainesville in 1868, teaching at Corinth School. He studied law under Gov. H.D. McDaniel in Monroe, then moved back to Gainesville in 1872. He became involved in Hall County civic and political activities and was elected Gainesville mayor twice. In 1893, President Grover Cleveland appointed him U.S. Marshal for the Northern District, where he helped crack down on illegal liquor stills. Sam Dunlap Sr. served as receiver for the Gainesville, Jefferson and Southern Rail road and as commissioner of immigration and industries. He also led the Gainesville school board and was a trustee of then Brenau College. In 1905, Sam Dunlap Sr. organized Gainesville National Bank and was its president when he died in 1920. His son, “Big Ed” Dunlap, became a power in state poli tics and even had a run-in with President Franklin Roo sevelt, although he supported him. Roosevelt was piqued because Dunlap campaigned for Sen. Walter George rather than Roosevelt’s candidate, Lawrence Camp, who lost. Big Ed Dunlap had taught at Gainesville High School before being called into service during World War I. He returned to Gainesville to practice law. He had a hand in luring Chicopee Manufacturing Co. to Hall County. Johnson & Johnson, the parent company, was looking for a site for a model mill village and plant in North Georgia. Its Atlanta contact didn’t have time to tour company officials and contacted his friend Big Ed Dunlap, who happily escorted them around, smoozed county officials, and Chicopee ended up in Hall County. He was instrumental in the U.S. Navy establishing a pilot training center at the Gainesville airport and upgrading its facilities. Big Ed Dunlap also served on the state Board of Regents and Brenau’s board. He organized American Legion Post 7 and was its first commander. His son, the late Ed Dunlap Jr., said when his father and a Jewish friend were checking in to the state Legion con vention at Sea Island, the hotel manager told him it didn’t allow Jewish guests. “Under that condition, I’ll move the whole damn convention out of here,” Big Ed Dunlap told him, according to Ed Dunlap Jr. Big Ed Dunlap died at age 63 in 1955. His other son, Bubba Dunlap, was just as large as his father and grandfather. He, too, served on the Board of Regents and was close to governors, especially friend Carl Sanders. It was through much of his influence that Inter state 985 was built from 1-85 to Gainesville and the location of Gainesville Junior College, now the University of North Georgia, and Lanier Technical College at Oakwood. JOHNNY VARDEMAN vardemard 956@att. net Past, present, future Photos by SCOTT ROGERS I The Times Three Rangers Brewing is opening in Dahlonega with co-owners Blair Housley, left, and Art Attaway with employee Julia McManus meeting Thursday, Sept. 10, meeting at their site at the Etowah Meadery. Etowah Meadery will soon add the Three Rangers Brewing Co. at their Dahlonega site as owner Blair Housley and Art Attaway plan to brew six different craft beers. Art Attaway is channeling his sup port of fellow U.S. Army Ranger veterans by starting a brewery in Dahlonega. Nestled in the North Georgia moun tains, Three Rangers Brewing Co. set its grand opening for Friday, Sept. 11. The brewery, located at 3003 Morrison Moore East Parkway, shares a space with Etowah Meadery, which will cel ebrate its third year in business this October. Attaway co-owns the brewery with Blair Housley, who runs Etowah Meadery. Three Rangers will launch with a lineup of six brews including a por ter, IP A, pale ale, double IP A, wheat ale and lager. Attaway said each beer has an Army Ranger-inspired name like “Path Finder,” “Jump Master” or “Door Kicker.” To give back to the Ranger commu nity, Attaway said the brewery intends to redirect 20% of its profits to several Army Ranger-supporting organiza tions like the Three Rangers Founda tion, Darby Project and GallantFew, all of which help veterans transition from military service to civilian life. “Three Rangers represents U.S. Army Rangers’ past, present and future,” he said.” We honor the past, support the present and assure the legacy for future Rangers.” Both co-owners of the brewery are veterans. Attaway served as a U.S. Army Ranger for 12 years and Hous ley served in the U.S. Air Force for six years. The two said they met during Veterans Appreciation Day in down town Dahlonega in 2019. Attaway said they spent hours talking and getting to know one another. He eventually shared with Housley the idea of open ing a brewery to better serve Army Ranger veterans. ■ Please see BREWERY, 9B Three Rangers Brewing Co. What: Brewery that donates 20% of profit to Army Ranger veteran organizations Where: Inside Etowah Meadery, 3003 Morrison Moore East Parkway, Dahlonega Hours: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday. For more info: 706-864-6323 Brewery opens in Dahlonega to support Army Ranger veterans BY KELSEY P0D0 kpodo@gainesvilletimes.com Mural pays tribute to heavy metal brothers Green Street home The 635 Green St. home at the corner of Ridgewood Avenue in Gainesville, was built in 1912 by Sam Dunlap Sr. for his son, Sam Dunlap Jr. It remained in the Dunlap fam ily for many years and is now home to The Spa on Green Street. ‘Uncle Jimmie’ Dunlap The Dunlaps are descended from James and Rebecca Dunlap originally of South Carolina. They had 14 children. Both his grandfathers and his great-grandfather were offi cers in the Revolutionary Army, and “Uncle Jimmie,” as he was known, was born in a house that the British com mander Lord Cornwallis commandeered as his headquar ters. While the British were there, Dunlap said he suffered a serious injury to a finger when a door was slammed on it. Noting that President George Washington was called the “father of his country,” Uncle Jimmie said he should be remembered as “the great-grandson of my country, because I was born in a Revolutionary soldier’s home, rocked in a Revolutionary soldier’s cradle and wounded in a Revolutionary soldier’s home.” Johnny Vardeman is retired editor of The Times. He can be reached at 2183 Pine Tree Circle NE, Gainesville, GA 30501; phone, 770-532-2326; email, vardeman1956@att.net or johnny.peggy1956@gmail.com. His column publishes weekly. SCOTT ROGERS I The Times Motorists along Main Street SW in Gainesville will notice the brightly painted mural on the wall of Let There Be Rock Schools. Owner Kyle Sanders and wife Elizabeth recently completed the mural which features members of the popular metal band Pantera. BY KELSEY P0D0 kpodo@gainesvilletimes.com Painting for hours over Labor Day weekend, with her black chicken, LaFawn- duh, in tow, Elizabeth Sand ers breathed life into the blank side of Let There Be Rock Schools in Gainesville. When her husband, Kyle Sanders, opened the school — which offers music les sons to kids and adults — in March 2019, the midtown building at 840 Main St. was “just screaming for a mural,” she said. The two had several plans for the artistic undertak ing, but Kyle said his heavy metal heroes, Dimebag Dar rell Abbott and Vinnie Paul Abbott, kept coming to mind. Those who pass by the mural can now see the two memorialized musicians — Vinnie to the left holding a drumstick in the air and Dimebag to the right, jam ming on his guitar. The two brothers were in the heavy metal band Pantera. Kyle said Dimebag, also known as Dime, was shot and killed while performing on stage in 2004. After his brother’s death, he said Vin nie took a break from per forming, then later returned to start the band Hellyeah. Kyle joined Hellyeah in 2014, serving as the group’s bassist for five years. He played alongside Vinnie, who died two years ago. “When he passed away in 2018, it was probably the roughest patch I’ve ever gone through,” Kyle said. “That’s when a light went off. I knew I needed to start a school and have something positive to focus on.” Elizabeth, who works as a graphic designer for Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles Maga zine, said she took around a year meticulously planning the mural for Let There Be Rock. Incorporating the franchise’s colors of yellow, orange, pink and black, she painted the two musicians, making sure to accurately portray their expressions. ■ Please see MURAL, 9B ‘FOR HEAVEN’S SAKE’ THE REV. MIKE MORGAN I For The Times
