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He saw the city’s potential

Elia Powers

Donald Dungan’s name is emblazoned on the outside of the Costa Mesa

Branch Library, and he left his imprint on many of the city’s

institutions.

Born in Garden Grove, Dungan attended law school at UC Berkeley

before returning to Orange County in the 1940s.

In an interview with the Costa Mesa Historical Society more than

25 years ago, Dungan said an attorney had moved to Garden Grove a few

months before he returned, prompting him to settle in Costa Mesa

instead.

Dungan said he didn’t think Garden Grove would be able to support

more than one lawyer -- but that Costa Mesa had the potential for

expansion.

Dungan started a private practice in the late 1940s, but he was

best known for his work accelerating Costa Mesa’s incorporation. He

went door to door advocating incorporation, and he served on the

Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce’s board of directors to help make the

city more desirable for businesses.

“He was a very forceful person,” said Costa Mesa historian Hank

Panian. “It was his nature, and it helped when he was dealing with

lawsuits and annexation issues.”

According to Dungan’s Historical Society interview, Costa Mesa’s

city planning began at East 17th Street. Many of the early projects

involved street widening, repaving and gutter replacements.

He attempted to increase the city’s borders on all sides,

including the addition of what is now College Park.

In 1953, Dungan was named the first city attorney by the first

City Council.

He served in that role for 13 years.

Dungan also was a Newport Harbor Union High School District board

member for more than 10 years. In the Historical Society interview,

he said that he spent at least 80 hours a week dealing with school

board issues.

Panian, a former teacher, said Dungan was in favor of the

unification of the Costa Mesa Elementary, Newport Beach Elementary

and Newport Harbor Union High School districts.

“I don’t ever recall him giving a formal speech, but people

respected his opinion, and that was enough,” Panian said.

Dungan spent 16 years as a Harbor Municipal Court Judge, where he

implemented evening court sessions and was known for being tough on

drunken drivers.

Dungan died in 1984 at the age of 68.

* THE GOOD OLD DAYS runs Sundays. Do you know of a person, place

or event that deserves a look back? Let us know. Contact us by fax at

(714) 966-4679; by e-mail at [email protected]; or by mail at

Daily Pilot, 1375 Sunflower Ave., Costa Mesa, CA 92626.

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