Leadership
We are fortunate to have a strong leadership team for Clan Dunbar International Society. The Clan Dunbar members mentioned below, exemplify the remarkable competencies necessary to ensure our engagements and efforts are successful. Here are a few of these competencies and what can be expected from our leadership team:
Our leaders are learning continually.
Our leaders champion change.
Our leaders communicate powerfully.
Our leaders build relationships.
Our leaders develop others.
Our leaders think and act innovatively.
Our leaders value collaboration and teamwork.
Our leaders solve problems and make decisions.
Our leaders take responsibility and have accountability.
Meet the leadership team!
Sir James Michael Dunbar
14th Baronet of Mochrum and 39th Hereditary Chief of the Name and Arms of Dunbar. Sir James Dunbar is also a retired Colonel in the United States Air Force.
Chief of the Name and Arms
David C. Dunbar
Est quibusdam rerum eos veniam repellendus aut enim tempore et laboriosam beatae et perspiciatis quisquam et eligendi omnis. Sit accusantium nihil qui modi nesciunt et maxime impedit sit architecto repellendus. Et nihil officiis hic molestiae reprehenderit quo quisquam quia id voluptatem ipsa et dolor rerum ab temporibus voluptas. Est possimus quia rem possimus repellendus in dolores provident hic cumque recusandae et odit libero qui quia ipsam et deleniti fugiat. Contact the Clan Chieftain!
Chieftain
William M. Dunbar
Est quibusdam rerum eos veniam repellendus aut enim tempore et laboriosam beatae et perspiciatis quisquam et eligendi omnis. Sit accusantium nihil qui modi nesciunt et maxime impedit sit architecto repellendus. Et nihil officiis hic molestiae reprehenderit quo quisquam quia id voluptatem ipsa et dolor rerum ab temporibus voluptas. Est possimus quia rem possimus repellendus in dolores provident hic cumque recusandae et odit libero qui quia ipsam et deleniti fugiat. Contact the ClanTreasurer!
Treasurer
Christine Dunbar Kuhn
I have been the Genealogist for Clan Dunbar since 2009 when I joined the Clan’s trip to Scotland for the historic GATHERING OF THE CLANS in Edinburgh. Although the march of the clans up the Royal Mile to Edinburgh Castle was unforgettable, our visits to Dunbar-specific castles and estates awakened my interest in Dunbar history far beyond that of my own family. When then-Chieftain Jim Mattern asked me to serve, I saw it as an opportunity to learn more about a fascinating and ancient family, while becoming part of a wonderful group of people. In addition to my role as Genealogist, I have also planned the Clan’s Scotland tours for 2014 and 2019.
Before retiring in 2007, I worked for The Boston Company (now BNY Mellon), as a trust officer/manager for employee benefit plans. In addition to genealogy, my interests include travel, gardening and photography. I’m also the devoted owner of two Shetland Sheepdogs. Contact our Clan Genealogist!
Clan Genealogist
Debra Dunbar Nowell
Debra’s been the Clan Dunbar Y-DNA Project Administrator since its inception in 2005. When researching the known Y-DNA testing companies at that time for the Dunbars to use, she found FamilyTreeDNA.com (FTDNA) to be the best fit for this very important project. Of all the companies she researched, FTDNA is the only one remaining today.
Since then, the Project has added several Co-Administrators to help manage the project. Thank you to Dave Dunbar, Tom Dunbar, Lyle Dunbar, and David Dunbar.
For additional information please email or visit our website: www.DunbarDNA.org. Contact the Y-DNA Project Director!
Dunbar Y-DNA Project Administrator
Thomas H. Dunbar
Born in Erie county NY. Lived in NYC for seven years. Moved to SC in 1982. Started doing genealogical work in my teens, tracing “my” Dunbar family back to CT in 1694. Still looking for the link to the British Isles. Member of the St. Andrews Society of the State of New York, and a Life Member of the Aztec Club. Joined the Dunbar Society in 1981, during founder, Bob Dunbar of Florida’s presidency. Have since served as SC State Convener, and SE USA VP., and instituted the early collection of genealogical information from new members, serving as genealogist from 1981. Manned the Dunbar tents at Grandfather Mountain, NC, Stone Mountain, GA and Lake Norman, NC in the period 1981 thru 2015. At Scott Harrison Dunbar’s instigation (“we’ve gotta have another tartan choice other than this Christmas red and green!”) coordinated with Dalgliesh Mills in Selkirk to develop the Dunbar Hunting Tartan and got it accepted by Sir James as the recognized “Dunbar Hunting Tartan”. In the late 1990s I was able to submit proofs to Lord Lyon, King of Arms to petition for a posthumous grant of arms to my ancestor John (3) Dunbar of CT, and to matriculate arms of my own. Thus, today any descendant of that John Dunbar, bearing the Dunbar surname may petition Lyon Court to matriculate arms of their own.
Debra very kindly has allowed me to act as Ass’t Administrator of the DNA project since very shortly after she single handedly created the entire Dunbar DNA Project. I was able to contact Sir James who graciously provided the first DNA sample from a proven line, thus beginning the process of identifying “Lineage 1” as the line of the noble family of “Dunbar”. I continue to research Dunbar lines in Britain and the US, and have found in early records many instances of the use of the surname “of Dunbar” in Medieval England from as early as the last quarter of the 13th Century, indicating the name had spread to areas “furth of Scotland” much earlier than we had expected and that searchers should consider their family’s emigrant ancestor may have come from any part of Britain or Ireland, rather than restricting their search to Scotland!
Resigned my membership in the Clan Organization in 2015, but retained my association with the Dunbar DNA Project.
Assistant DNA Project Administrator
Karon Keefe Dunbar
Est quibusdam rerum eos veniam repellendus aut enim tempore et laboriosam beatae et perspiciatis quisquam et eligendi omnis. Sit accusantium nihil qui modi nesciunt et maxime impedit sit architecto repellendus. Et nihil officiis hic molestiae reprehenderit quo quisquam quia id voluptatem ipsa et dolor rerum ab temporibus voluptas. Est possimus quia rem possimus repellendus in dolores provident hic cumque recusandae et odit libero qui quia ipsam et deleniti fugiat. Contact our Membership Director!
Membership Director
Sally Dunbar Wilkins
Est quibusdam rerum eos veniam repellendus aut enim tempore et laboriosam beatae et perspiciatis quisquam et eligendi omnis. Sit accusantium nihil qui modi nesciunt et maxime impedit sit architecto repellendus. Et nihil officiis hic molestiae reprehenderit quo quisquam quia id voluptatem ipsa et dolor rerum ab temporibus voluptas. Est possimus quia rem possimus repellendus in dolores provident hic cumque recusandae et odit libero qui quia ipsam et deleniti fugiat. Contact the Quartermaster!
Quartermaster
Susan Mattern
Est quibusdam rerum eos veniam repellendus aut enim tempore et laboriosam beatae et perspiciatis quisquam et eligendi omnis. Sit accusantium nihil qui modi nesciunt et maxime impedit sit architecto repellendus. Et nihil officiis hic molestiae reprehenderit quo quisquam quia id voluptatem ipsa et dolor rerum ab temporibus voluptas. Est possimus quia rem possimus repellendus in dolores provident hic cumque recusandae et odit libero qui quia ipsam et deleniti fugiat. Contact the Editor, “Lion and Thistle”!
Editor of “Lion and Thistle”
Tony Dunbar
Hello fellow clan members! I am Tony Dunbar from Georgia. I was fortunate to meet some of you at the AGM at Loon Mountain in NH recently and enjoyed our time together. Here is a little about my family and history. I am married to a wonderful woman, Kathy who is now retired from the public school system as an educator for over 30 years. Kathy and I are both still actively involved in the primary school education system. In our spare time, we operate a private K-9 mathematics school called Progress Math. I am also a full-time Software Engineer in corporate America. I am using my skills to assist David in rebuilding the Clan Dunbar website.
I was raised in Augusta, Georgia, but my family's history began in the state of South Carolina. My father and grandfather were born and raised in Dunbarton, SC. Dunbarton was a plantation established and settled by Scottish descendants of this clan. Thanks to some additional research conducted by Chris K. and Debra N., I now have a more complete understanding of my family history. There is a fantastic story about my family history that I won't elaborate on here, but would be glad to share at some other forum. However, I can say that my life and who I am has been heavily influenced by the character of my forefathers and to an extent, their plantation owners.
My hopes and goals in life have been to use my knowledge, talents and skills to enhance the life of those around me. I want to pass on those positive character traits to my children and others I mentor. I see these character traits as the same as those exemplified in the Clan Dunbar heritage.
Yours Aye!
Webmaster
Conveners
Bill and Sandy Dunbar - Southeast region. Contact this convener!
James Baden Dunbar - Mid-Atlantic region. Contact this convener!
Heather K. Dunbar Wilhelm and Joe Wilhelm - Southern California. Contact this convener!
Debra Lynn Dunbar Gibson - Mountain/West Region. Contact this convener!