He saw the city’s potential
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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
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