Mary Alice Dunlap

Mary Alice Dunlap (September 13, 1913 - September 8, 1995) was the first female mayor of Bloomington and the second female mayor in Indiana. She was appointed to the post by the Bloomington City Council in May of 1962 when Tom Lemon resigned to take a job with the U.S. Postal Service.

Dunlap was born in Monroe County to Wren and Elizabeth (Lampkins) Stevens, although she was raised by her mother and stepfather, Carl Meadows. She worked in managerial positions at Neumode Shops, the Poplars Midtown Motor Hotel and Van Laningham Employment Service. In 1945, she began working for the city government including managing the city water department, and serving as treasurer.

After filling out Lemon's term, Dunlap ran again for mayor but lost by a few hundred votes. She worked with the Bloomington Chamber of Commerce in various capacities before becoming planning coordinator of the Monroe County Plan Commission in 1978.

She is a 1987 inductee into the Monroe County Hall of Fame on which her plaque reads "Honors (Post-1946) 1913 - ???? First female mayor of Bloomington, serving from May 1962 to Jan. 1, 1964, and second female mayor elected in Indiana. A Bloomington native who also was clerk-treasurer for six years and served on numerous boards and commissions."

Dunlap married Chester L. Dunlap and they had one child.

Boards that Dunlap served on included:

• Alcoholic Beverage Commission
• Bloomington Board of Realtors
• Bloomington Hospital
• Bloomington Parks and Recreation
• Family Services Association
• Mental Health Clinic
• Monroe County Cancer Society
• Monroe County Extension Services
• Monroe County Parks and Recreation

External links

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• Mayor Dunlap planted `seed of encouragement' - Herald Times, 1990-03-18
• Former mayor Mary Alice Dunlap dies - Herald Times, 1995-09-11