Jim Duncan, Deacon Hall of Famer, Passes
1/10/2011 12:00:00 AM | Football
Jan. 10, 2011
Jim Duncan, one of only three players to earn All-Southern Conference football honors three times for Wake Forest, died Jan. 5, 2011 in Sunset Beach, N.C.
Duncan came to Wake Forest after an outstanding high school career in Reidsville, N.C. and a stint in the U.S. Navy. He spent 15 months in Okinawa during World War II. He lettered three years for Wake (1947-49) and was named the club's Most Valuable Player as a senior. He earned All-Southern Conference honors in each of his final three years.
Following graduation, Duncan continued his career as a linebacker for the New York Giants, serving as co-captain of that team along with Kyle Rote. He spent six seasons with the Giants before an injury ended his career. He later returned to Wake in 1956 as the first director of the Deacon Club, a position he held for three years.
In 1959, Duncan began a successful coaching career as an assistant at Appalachian State. He became head coach there one year later and led the Mountaineers to four winning seasons in five years.
Duncan then moved into the professional ranks in the Canadian Football League. He helped the Saskatchewan Roughriders win the Grey Cup in 1966 and became the head coach of the Calgary Stampeders in 1969, coaching the team to the league title in 1971.
Duncan returned to North Carolina in 1974 and began a career in sporting good sales. He became a Class "A" PGA Golf Professional and served as the head pro at Morehead City Country Club until his retirement.
Duncan also served as an administrator for the Portland Storm of the World Football League.
He was inducted into the Wake Forest Hall of Fame in 1985. He was also a member of the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame and the Appalachian State University Athletic Hall of Fame.
Jim is survived by his wife of 59 years, Elizabeth (Lib) Hellen Duncan of Sunset Beach, NC; one sister, Glenda Caudill (Ronnie) of Lexington, NC; one daughter, Suzanne Stahl (Andy Hogg) of Calgary, Alberta, Canada; two sons, James H. Duncan, Jr. (Sara) of Wilmington, NC & Lee B. Duncan (Laura) of Irmo, SC; and seven grandchildren: Stuart Stahl, Sean Stahl, Angela Smyth, Ali Duncan, Lauren Duncan, Caroline Duncan, and Lee Duncan, Jr.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 15th at Wilmington Burial & Crematory in Wilmington, NC at 12 noon. A reception will be held at the home of Mr. & Mrs. James H. Duncan Jr. immediately following the service.
The family extends thanks to the staff of Clare Bridge Alzheimer's and Dementia Care Community in Wilmington, NC, and to the NFL Management Council and the NFLPA for establishing and maintaining the 88 Plan Dementia Benefits Program.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Jim Duncan to the Alzheimer's Foundation of America, 322 Eighth Ave., 7th fl., New York, NY 10001.