Danny Dunigan honored with reception

Danny Dunigan was the guest of honor as family and friends joined him for a retirement reception Saturday at Riverside High School.

Danny Dunigan

Dunigan has given 44 years to education in the public schools with 43 years in the Caraway/Riverside District.

Dunigan has served as a science teacher, girls basketball coach, driver's education teacher, and drove a school bus throughout his teaching career.

He had a lot of memories to share with some of his co-workers who had retired, his former basketball players, and many who learned to drive in his driver's education class.

He did not plan to coach but one day he was called into the office.

"I had heard rumors of cuts and I thought, okay this might be it," he said. "I was told they needed a coach and asked if I would take it. I asked when he needed my answer and the principal said 'now'. I became the coach and I loved it. I was blessed with good teams and good players. My first junior high team was undefeated. We went to state one year and won our first game, but EPC defeated us in the semi-finals. EPC went on to win state. We had beaten them earlier in the season."

In addition to teaching and coaching basketball, Dunigan has umpired baseball and softball games, and served as assistant softball coach.

Guests enjoyed a slide presentation from his years in school through his years of teaching.

Dunigan plans to continue working in the crop consultant business he and his brother, Eddie, established years ago.

He and his wife, Debbie, live in Lake City. She teaches at Riverside East Elementary. They have two daughters, Amanda Eakins and Samantha Dunigan. Amanda and her husband, TJ, both teach in the Riverside School District. They have two daughters, Ryley and Parker. Samantha is a student at Arkansas State University.

He smiled as he was given a tee shirt with the lettering: "Every child left behind" Retired Teacher.

"The years have passed fast," Dunigan said.