"Founding Father" of
Southwest Dairy Museum
Retires After 23 Years

by: Bobby McDonald

Gene Dunham, founding father of the Southwest Dairy Museum Inc., left,
pauses with longtime employee Jodie Morris, center, and Harve Chapman,
who served as CEO of the Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce, when the
Dairy Museum made Sulphur Springs its home.

Over 300 friends and co-workers gathered at the Southwest Dairy Museum on Saturday afternoon, June 25th, to celebrate the retirement of Mr. Gene Dunham, who was the visionary founding father of the organization. Dunham had nurtured the idea of the museum from its infancy and managed the milk promotional organization to a multi-million dollar budget of "taking dairy farmer's story across the nation."

David de Jong, President of the Board of Directors of the Southwest Dairy Museum, welcomed guests and lauded Dunham's leadership from its conception. "Without the vision of this man, there wouldn't be a Southwest Dairy Museum," denoted de Jong.

Dr. Phil Porter, orginal board member and longtime friend of Dunham, presented an informative history of how the organization began as a small idea that was nurtured by Dunham and other interested individuals into the large corporation that we know today.

Among the guests were former board members, members of the Hopkins County Commissioner's Court that worked with Dunham to construct the modern museum in Sulphur Springs, and countless individuals that have worked to make the organization a success.

Pearson Knolle, former board member and longtime Jersey breeder from South Texas, presented Dunham with a "surprise" gift of two Jersey heifers, so that he could start his third career in the dairy industry! Dunham had first served as a Marketing Administrator in the Dallas office, before accepting the position at the helm of the Dairy Museum. "We don't think that you have enough 'first-hand' knowledge about the actual milking segment of the dairy industry," chided Knolle, as he presented the two heifers to Dunham.

In a unanimous decision of the board of directors, they had earlier in the day voted to name the Southwest Dairy Museum in Sulphur Springs in honor of Gene Dunham, and cited that an almost identical structure was so named in Indiana, last year, because of Dunhams devotion and help to aid others in a similar project.

Other gifts and plaques were presented to Dunham and his wife, Dorothy, as friends and associates expressed their deep gratitude for his service and devotion to the organization.

Pearson Knolle, longtime South Texas Jersey Breeder, in the foreground, watches as two registered Jersey
heifers are led across the stage of the Southwest Dairy Museum and presented to Gene Dunham as a parting
gift, upon his retirement after 23 years as general manager.

Following the presentations, Gene Dunham took the stage and reflected on the trials and successes of moving the organization to its pinacle and stated, "With the staff and board of directors that I leave this organization with, I have no doubt that it will reach even greater successes and continue to be the premier organization for education and promotion that it enjoys today!"

Dr. Phil Porter, left, and Pearson Knolle, right, pose with Gene Dunham at the retirement celebration held
in Dunham's honor on Saturday, June 25, marking 23 years of service to the organization.