James A. "Pappy" Dunn graduated from Alabama State Teachers College, now Alabama State University, where he was an outstanding student and excelled in both basketball and football.

In the fall of 1939, Dunn was hired to teach science and coach all sports at Calhoun County Training School in Hobson, near Anniston. He served in the military during World War II which interrupted his duties at the school for a few years. Other than the military service, Dunn remained at Calhoun County Training as a teacher, coach and administrator until his retirement at the close of the 1985-86 school year.

Dunn coached Calhoun County Training football teams were equally successful. Although records are incomplete, Dunns teams won approximately one hundred games.

Before the Alabama Interscholastic Athletic Association began its state tournament for girls in 1949, Dunns Calhoun County Training girls teams won more than thirty consecutive games. Dunn coached the Calhoun County Training girls to District tournament championships in 1952 and 1954 and a second place District finish in 1955.

Coach Dunns 1959-60 boys basketball team won the Northeast District tournament. His Tigers finished second in the District tournament in 1950, 1956 and 1958.

In 1968 Dunn became principal at Calhoun County Training, a position he held until he retired.