Robert “Bob” Dunlap
Feb. 5, 1955 – Oct. 13, 2023
On Friday, October 13, 2023, our friend Robert “Bob” Dunlap died, a terrible loss to the Kentucky botanical community. Bob loved nature and his love for the natural world was evident in how he spent his time. Bob liked to say of himself that he was “an amateur naturalist living near Paducah who owns every Peterson Field Guide that was ever published”.
In 2005, Bob was awarded the Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission Volunteer Steward of the Year. He was a longtime member of the Kentucky Native Plant Society. He wrote several articles on native plants that were published in scientific journals and the KNPS Lady Slipper newsletter (see a list of his Lady Slipper articles at the end of this memorial). Bob was a wonderful nature photographer and you can see some of his photographs at his iNaturalist Observations page. Bob was also a certified Master Naturalist. He loved to share his knowledge by giving presentations on native plants and leading nature walks in the area. He was a self-taught botanist who found new locations for rare plants and assisted in plant surveys (with state nature preserves botanists beginning over 20 years ago). Recently he was researching management strategies for a rare lily species, re-visiting the populations to determine whether light, competition or other factors are causing decline, to determine the best long term conservation strategy.
His wonderful, outgoing personality, his love and knowledge of nature and native plants, and his willingness to share his knowledge will be greatly missed.
Remembering Bob Dunlap by Joyce Bender
I met Robert Dunlap when he started volunteering for the Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission (KSNPC) in 1998 as the preserve monitor for Metropolis Lake State Nature Preserve in McCracken County. Bob also helped with monitoring at Axe Lake Swamp State Nature Preserve in Ballard County and at Three Ponds State Nature Preserve in Hickman County. Living in Paducah, he was well-situated to help keep an eye on the preserves in the Jackson Purchase.
Bob demonstrated his concern for these areas in many ways. When the Ohio River flooded in the spring, a tremendous amount of debris would float into Metropolis Lake and settle out on the parking lot and trails as the water receded. Robert cleaned up and disposed of all of this unsightly trash. He helped us with invasive species control and checked on boundaries. In the time I knew him, Bob became an accomplished naturalist. He reported on plants, oftentimes reporting to us species that we did not even know occurred on these preserves. He also reported to us on land snails and fresh water mussels, among other wildlife inhabiting our western-most preserves. Bob also enjoyed photography and sent in wonderful photos with his reports.
Several of the Commission staff were lucky enough to spend time in the field with him. All remarked on his willingness to help and his wonderful attitude. Bob received the 2005 Volunteer Steward Award from KSNPC.
He was a wonderful person, kind and thoughtful. We were glad to work with Bob and will miss him.
Some articles by Bob published in the KNPS Lady Slipper blog: