Francis Smith and Catherine Wolfe attend Katherine Dunlap's birthday party Katherine Stallings Dunlap, Converse College Class of '29, received the Distinguished Alumna Award. She was an education and psychology major at Converse and has devoted much of her life to public service.

In 1951, Dunlap joined S.C. Governor James F. Byrnes' staff as an assistant. As each new adminstration came into office, Katherine was asked to remain. By the time she retired in 1980, she had served eight S.C. governors. Her responsibilities throughout this time greatly varied. She was administrative assistant and fiscal officer under Governors Byrnes and Timmerman, fiscal officer for Governors Russell and McNair, extradition and fiscal affairs assistant for Governors West and Edwards, and fiscal affairs officer for Governor Riley.

On three separate occasions, Dunlap was awarded the Order of the Palmetto, the highest honor on a civilian in S.C. In 1980, she was invited to address the state Senate and received a standing ovation. She was also presented with an Award for Excellence in Community Service in 1995 by the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Photos by Jim Covington Pam Davis Meacham and Tootsie Kline show Katherine Stallings Dunlap the article about her in The Columbia Star at her birthday party February 23, 2008. Her civic activities include service with the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Pilot Club of Spartanburg, the American Legion Auxiliary, Military Officers' Association of America, Fort Jackson Officers' Club Auxiliary, and the Fort Jackson Retired Officers' Wives Club.

On February 23, 2008, friends and family celebrated Dunlap's 100th birthday, the actual date being February 24, 2008.

Katherine Stallings Dunlap's family came from all over the United States to be with her on her 100th birthday.