For Dixie Dunbar, golf was not just a game. It was a life pursuit.
Dunbar, of St. Simons, played golf for the University of Florida and followed his passion for the sport throughout his life. He played an instrumental role in the creation of the Atlanta Golf Classic tournament and the Atlanta Classic Foundation.
Joe Guy, past president of the foundation, said Dunbar would often play golf four days a week.
“He played golf all the time,” Guy said.
Guy recalled Dunbar’s efforts to bring PGA Tour players to the Atlanta Classic.
“He would go out to different tournaments and talk to all of the players, trying to recruit them to come to the tournament,” he said. Dunbar was successful, too, drawing many of the biggest names to the Atlanta Classic, an annual Tour stop from 1967 to 2008.
George “Dixie” Dunbar, 85, died Monday of pneumonia in Glynn-Brunswick Memorial Hospital in Brunswick. A graveside service will be held at Christ Church Columbarium in St. Simons on Friday at 3 p.m. Edo Miller and Son Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Dunbar and Guy also participated in the Magnolia Cup, where golfers from Georgia would compete against players from the U.K., the tournament alternating countries every other year.
“He was a fantastic golfer,” said Dunbar’s nephew, Thomas Griscom of Atlanta.
Dunbar’s athleticism extended beyond golf. He was a quarterback at North Fulton High School and went on to play basketball at Georgia Tech before enrolling at Florida, said Guy. Dunbar also spent time hunting and fishing.
“He loved it,” recalled Guy. “He would go to different plantations and hunt for birds.”
After college, Dunbar took up a role at his father’s company, E.V. Dunbar Company, in sales and service for refrigeration systems and air conditioning. He was also a pilot in the Air National Guard and served in Korea. Later, he joined the board at Frederica Bank and Trust.
For his bird hunting, Dunbar used his own dogs and had a particular fondness for one named Hank.
“Hank has been his life for the past several years,” said Griscom.
Griscom described his uncle as “just a great man,” surrounded by a close circle of friends.
“He was one of the old Buckhead boys,” said Guy. “He was great. He was always fun to be around.”
In addition to his nephew, Dunbar is survived by his son, George Dunbar Jr. of St. Simons; brother, Martin Nicholes of Atlanta; and a granddaughter. He is preceded in death by his wife, Donna Dunbar of St. Simons.
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