Jim Dunaway obit

Jim Dunaway, the True Notorious Big has died

 

He was not on the list.

He lived and thrived during the most exciting and saddest times of the 20th century, performing at the highest level against the top competition.

At 6'5", 280 pounds few men anywhere could block this behemoth, and he was a unanimous All-American at Mississippi and a four-time all-pro. Twice in his three years as a player with Ole Miss his Rebels were named by one service or the other as national champion. In his first three years as a pro he led the Buffalo Bills to back-to-back championships. 

He was the third player taken in the 1963 NFL Draft, selected by the Minnesota Vikings, but chose instead to cast his lot with the Buffalo Bills. He ended his career as a member of the 1972 undefeated Miami Dolphin Super Bowl Champions, and he is a member of the AFL Hall Of Fame.

One might describe the life of Big Jim Dunaway as charmed. I doubt Jim would agree, and here is why.

Jim Dunaway played for the Mississippi program from 1960 through 1962. In his three seasons they lost one regular season game by a field goal to LSU. Jim was literally the big man on campus, and in more ways than one.

The beautiful Ole Miss coeds and cheerleaders promoted and supported their champion Rebel heroes. However, the big question on campus in the day of Dunaway was the racial integration of southern campuses and ground zero was Oxford, Mississippi.

There is no evidence that Jim was involved one way or the other with this issue while in college. During this time in life one will often reveal their moral navigational direction but we read little from his compass. It seems Jim was focused on his own future, and taking steps to insure his success.

Upon arriving as a pro in the state of New York, Dunaway fit readily into a fast improving Bills team. It was a diversified unit featuring such players as future Candidate for President of the United States Jack Kemp and soon to be television analyst Paul Maguire.

During the '64-'65 seasons the Bills set a pro record by holding opposing runners without a rushing touchdown for 17 consecutive games. By the end of the decade the Bills added O.J. Simpson to the team. By 1972 Big Jim was ending his career as a member of the only undefeated NFL team in history, the Miami Dolphins.

Over 20 years later Big Jim's personal life took a hit. In 1995 his wife Nonniel was granted a divorce, awarded 800 acres of property, $1,800 a month in alimony, and half of Dunaway's NFL pension. Jim Dunaway planned an appeal.

Three years later Nonniel Dunaway was found dead in a half empty swimming pool. The autopsy revealed she had a fractured skull and was unconscious when she was placed in the water by her killer.

Jim was arrested and charged with murder. A grand jury chose not to indict him however, his own children filed a wrongful death civil lawsuit against him, alleging that he was responsible for their mother's death. In 2002 Jim was found liable and ordered to pay over half a million dollars in damages to his children.

For many the life of Jim Dunaway is divided into two parts. One a magical period when he achieved wealth and fame in his professional career, the other when he failed to maintain that stature in his personal life.

There is no finger pointing here, no stating of anything other than the obvious. An ancient saying, often repeated and still very true, seems to apply. He that troubles his own house shall inherit the wind.

For now this ends the story of Big Jim Dunaway. Only time will tell if it is the final chapter.