January 12, 2026
Robert H. Dunlap, Tire Industry Leader and Humanitarian, dies at 96.
BATESVILLE, MS.
It is with deep sadness that the family of Robert H. “Bob” Dunlap announces his passing at the age of 96. Mr. Dunlap, chairman and CEO of Dunlap & Kyle Co. Inc., and a beloved philanthropist whose generosity touched thousands of lives, passed away peacefully at home January 11, 2026, surrounded by family, friends and his nine beloved rescue dogs.
Born in Batesville, Mississippi in 1929, Mr. Dunlap was a proud Navy veteran who devoted nearly a century of hard work to give back more than he received. He began his career working at Dunlap & Kyle Co., a small, family-owned business that sold cars, farm equipment, and tires. As chairman and CEO, Mr. Dunlap grew Dunlap & Kyle Co. (including Gateway Tires & Hesselbein Tires) into one of the largest independent wholesale and retail tire distributors in the South, with sales first topping $1 Billion dollars in 2021. Yet he will be remembered more for his heart than his business acumen. A proud son of Batesville, he believed in using his successes to improve the community he called home and the lives of others.
Until just a few months ago, “Mr. Bob” drove himself to Batesville each day and could be found in his wood-paneled office, a cup black coffee in one hand and a lit cigar in the other, meeting with employees and visitors, checking on company operations, and doing what he loved best—building relationships and helping people.
His philanthropy was legendary: scholarships for countless students, donations to schools, colleges and universities, churches, charities, and simple acts of kindness that literally changed lives. Behind the scenes, he paid tuition for waitresses and warehouse workers, forgave debts for those struggling with illnesses, and gave second chances to men and women coming out of prison by offering them jobs—and careers—at Dunlap & Kyle.
Though the walls at headquarters are covered with framed awards and certificates, “He doesn’t even strive to get awards. They just come. When you do the things that he does, they just come,” said Dennis King, company president. In 2023, Mr. Dunlap was named Tire Business Magazine’s “Tire Dealer Humanitarian of the Year” in recognition of his lifetime of generosity.
A very proud Eagle Scout, Mr. Dunlap embodied the Scout’s oath of service throughout his life. He championed Scouting across Mississippi and the mid-south, funding facilities, scholarships, and opportunities for thousands of young people, particularly those who were Eagle Scouts. He was honored for his service to the Boy Scouts of America with the 2024 award of the National Outstanding Eagle Scout Award.
A lover of the outdoors, he was also a committed conservationist. He dedicated decades to reforesting land across Mississippi, planting millions of trees—many on Caulk Island, his 12,000-acre property along the Mississippi River, protected with a conservation easement which prevents the trees from ever being cut. His work ensured that future generations would inherit both a healthier environment and thriving wildlife habitats.
Over the last 30 years, Mr. Dunlap supported the Palmer Home for Children, as well as countless civic and religious organizations. Whether helping a church build a new sanctuary, supporting local athletics, or underwriting community development projects, his quiet generosity shaped Batesville and beyond.
Batesville mayor, Hal Ferrell, called him “a man with the Midas Touch in the community,” noting that his investments of time, land, and resources “encouraged businesses, supported schools, and left an indelible legacy of generosity.”
A coffee drinker, dog lover, political enthusiast, storyteller, and above all, a giver, Bob Dunlap lived every day with purpose. His life embodied the words he often recalled from a Navy chaplain quoting George Bernard Shaw: “A gentleman is one who puts more into the world than he takes out.” Robert H. Dunlap did just that, and so much more.
He is survived by his devoted wife of 36 years, Cyd Dunlap; his sister, Sarah Dell Gray, his five children Michael (Beth Ann), Joe, Angela Waldrup, Amy Totaro, and Richard (Alicia); 10 grandchildren, and 7 great grandchildren, and 9 loving rescue dogs, 3 cats, 2 squirrels, a cow and swayback horse. His sons and grandchildren carry on his legacy through their work in the family business.
A visitation held this Saturday at the Gateway Tire Indoor Practice Facility at South Panola High School, from 10:00 to 1:00, with the service at 1:00. A private burial will be held immediately afterward. Wells Funeral Home of Batesville has charge of the services. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to charities such as Tubb Spay & Neuter Clinic, Palmer Home for Children, Boy Scouts of America, or Panola County Community Chest.