Gator Great, Jimmy Dunn, passed on Sept. 18

deuce

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Jimmy Dunn, 82, of Tampa, died peacefully Sept 18 surrounded by family and friends. Preceded in death by daughter, Jana, and son Jimmy Jr. Survived by his wife of 62 years, Eleanor; daughter, Melanie Dunn (Donna); sisters, Virginia Fuller (Bill) and Penny Mellon; grandchildren, Kelli Dunn, Jamie Dunn, Casey Louke, Tyson Dunn, Joshua Louke; 3 great-grandchildren; in-laws Tom and Yvonne Feagin; and many nieces, nephews and friends. A graduate of Hillsborough High School in 1955, Jimmy excelled in 4 sports, winning the Guy Toph award for the best football player in Hillsborough County. Jimmy proudly accepted a football scholarship at the University of Florida where he played quarterback, safety and punt returner. Coaching became Jimmy’s passion. He coached college football at the University of Tennessee, and the University of Florida. He also coached in the USFL and Arena Football leagues. Ultimately, he and Eleanor moved to Tampa and started a successful real estate business, Jimmy Dunn & Associates. Jimmy was inducted into the Hillsborough High School Football Hall of Fame, the Tampa Sports Hall of Fame, the Florida-Georgia Football Hall of Fame, and the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame. Jimmy was a kind, generous, and loving husband, father, grandfather, and friend. He was a passionate Gator who bled orange and blue. Our hearts are broken but we know he is with family and friends, probably organizing a football game. Visitation will be Thursday, Sept 26 from 7-9 pm. Memorial service will be Friday, Sept 27 at 11 am. St. Paul Lutheran Church, 5103 N. Central Ave, Tampa."
 

deuce

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"After a disappointing 5-5 1955 season, 1956 was the final year of his contract and Woodruff was feeling the pressure but he had some weapons to work with. John Barrow was an All American guard, QB Jimmy Dunn who signed with the Gators despite the protests of Florida State that he had committed to them was, at 147-pounds, what Woodruff termed "the best pound-for-pound player I have ever coached".

I don't think Dunn ever lost to UGA.
 

Gator515151

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The name Jimmy Dunn is like a curse word to me....I'm sure it is not the same Jimmy Dunn but back in the 60s I was a young 18 year old driving through Georgia. I was pulled over on I-75 for speeding. Georgia cars were blowing by me like I was standing still but he had to pull over the young boy with Florida plates. He made me follow him to the local jail and gave me the option, pay the ticket or go to jail. It was before credit cards and all I had was American Express Travelers Checks. I asked who to make the check out to. He said make it out to Sheriff Jimmy Dunn. I never forgot that name.
 

SeabeeGator

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The name Jimmy Dunn is like a curse word to me....I'm sure it is not the same Jimmy Dunn but back in the 60s I was a young 18 year old driving through Georgia. I was pulled over on I-75 for speeding. Georgia cars were blowing by me like I was standing still but he had to pull over the young boy with Florida plates. He made me follow him to the local jail and gave me the option, pay the ticket or go to jail. It was before credit cards and all I had was American Express Travelers Checks. I asked who to make the check out to. He said make it out to Sheriff Jimmy Dunn. I never forgot that name.
Similar experience in Athens. Of all the speeding cars, my truck with a UF license tag got pulled over and ticketed. Don’t get me wrong - I was speeding and earned that ticket. Just odd coincidence that the only Gator fan was the one who got the ticket...
 

CGgater

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The name Jimmy Dunn is like a curse word to me....I'm sure it is not the same Jimmy Dunn but back in the 60s I was a young 18 year old driving through Georgia. I was pulled over on I-75 for speeding. Georgia cars were blowing by me like I was standing still but he had to pull over the young boy with Florida plates. He made me follow him to the local jail and gave me the option, pay the ticket or go to jail. It was before credit cards and all I had was American Express Travelers Checks. I asked who to make the check out to. He said make it out to Sheriff Jimmy Dunn. I never forgot that name.

Sorry to hear, but not shocked. It’s georgia. That said, you probably should’ve waited at least 24 hours to post that story out of respect for the REAL Jimmy Dunn.
 

Gatorbreath

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This is sad. I still enjoy his sausages. And they're not just for breakfast. They're perfect for any meal.
 

Okeechobee Joe

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JimmyDunn.jpeg

Played quarterback for UF in the late 1950s. In the above photo it looks like Auburn is on defense. In the early 1960s there was quarterback Larry Libertore. Both Dunn and Libertore weighed less than 150 pounds. Both were number 14.
 

NavetG8r

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I went to school with Jimmy Jr. He was a good kid. Although it was so long ago, I really don't remember it much, but I do remember attending a BDay party for Jimmy Jr. at their house one year. Not sure if it was because I was on a team with Jimmy Jr at the boy's club, or if I was invited for being a classmate in school, but I'm sure I met Jimmy Sr. that day. Like I said, it was a very long time ago. RIP
:chomp:
 

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