Decades removed from his Hoop Dreams, Normal honors Dunson for helping kids reach their dreams

Posted on July 18, 2019

By Howard Packowitz

NORMAL – A Bloomington High School basketball star from the 1970’s is being honored for mentoring kids long after hanging up his uniform for the last time.

Dodie Dunson is Normal’s Citizen of the Year for 2019. He’s Director of Family Engagement at the Boys and Girls Club of Bloomington-Normal.

Normal Mayor Chris Koos said he “can’t think of any resident more deserving of recognition for his influence on the community and guiding young people to become our future leaders.”

Dunson goes “above and beyond to help kids in a variety of ways: from coaching them in sports and in life, to helping them with school issues or just about any challenge facing teens,” the mayor said.

Dunson and his wife, Jaci, live in Normal. They have two sons, Dodie Jr., 32, and Brandon, 29.

Dunson is the 66th annual Citizen of the Year recipient. Mayor Koos made the announcement at Normal’s annual Appreciation Reception, held Wednesday night at Illinois State University’s Brown Ballroom.

Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]

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