Tony Dunbar made Englewood his permanent home in 2018, after being a frequent visitor to our area since 1966. He retired from a thirty-year law practice in New Orleans and Texas, primarily managing financial litigation and commercial transactions for local and national banks. While in New Orleans, he volunteered to help protect abused and neglected children through his service on the board of CASA, a Guardian ad Litem program. Concerned about the ethical practice of law, he chaired a Bar Association panel charged with hearing legal and ethical complaints against attorneys.
Tony has always had a keen interest in preserving Florida's natural beauty. Shortly after moving here, he completed the University of Florida's Certified Florida Master Naturalist program. He joined the board of the Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center and he volunteers weekly at both the Cedar Point Environmental Center and the Lemon Bay Environmental Park.
Tony is committed to preserving our country's democracy and passing it on to the next generation. He serves regularly as a Poll Inspector on election days at the Englewood Sports Complex. As a board member of the Englewood Democratic Club, he has spearheaded the club's "Living Democracy Scholarship" — an award given annually to the graduating senior at Lemon Bay High School who writes the best essay about the United States Constitution or the Declaration of Independence.
Tony is the award-winning author of numerous non-fiction books about the South and civil rights as well as more than a dozen mystery novels. His most recent mystery series, "Florida Fables" is set in Sarasota and Charlotte counties from the 1890's through the 1930's.
Tony and life-time partner, Nancy Shoemaker, live in Englewood. Their family includes three children, Sam, John Henry and Annalisa, and grandchildren.