Richard M. Duncan

Richard Meloan Duncan (November 10, 1889 – August 1, 1974) was a United States Representative from Missouri and a United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri and the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri.

Richard M. Duncan
Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri
Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri
In office
May 31, 1965 – August 1, 1974
Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri
In office
1954–1959
Preceded byAlbert L. Reeves
Succeeded byAlbert Alphonso Ridge
Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri
Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri
In office
July 14, 1943 – May 31, 1965
Appointed byFranklin D. Roosevelt
Preceded bySeat established by 56 Stat. 1083
Succeeded byWilliam Robert Collinson
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Missouri's 3rd district
In office
January 3, 1935 – January 3, 1943
Preceded byJacob L. Milligan
Succeeded byWilliam Clay Cole
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Missouri's at-large district
In office
March 4, 1933 – January 3, 1935
Preceded byDistrict created
Succeeded byDistrict abolished
Personal details
Born
Richard Meloan Duncan

(1889-11-10)November 10, 1889
St. Joseph, Missouri
DiedAugust 11, 1974(1974-08-11) (aged 84)
Kansas City, Missouri
Resting placeMemorial Park Cemetery
St. Joseph, Missouri
Political partyDemocratic
ResidenceKansas City, Missouri
EducationChristian Brothers College
read law

Education and career

Born in St. Joseph, Missouri, near Edgerton, Missouri, Duncan attended the public schools. He graduated from Christian Brothers College, in St. Joseph, in 1909. He was a deputy circuit clerk of Buchanan County, Missouri from 1911 to 1917, and read law to be admitted to the bar in 1916, entering private practice in St. Joseph from 1917 to 1926. He was city counselor to the city of St. Joseph from 1926 to 1930.[1][2]

Congressional service

Duncan served as delegate to the 1932 Democratic National Convention. He was elected as a Democrat to the United States House of Representatives of the 73rd United States Congress and to the four succeeding Congresses, serving from March 4, 1933 to January 3, 1943. He served as Chairman of the Democratic Caucus for the 77th United States Congress, but was unsuccessful in his candidacy for reelection in 1942 to the 78th United States Congress.[2]

Federal judicial service

On July 8, 1943, Duncan was nominated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to a new joint seat on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri and the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri created by 56 Stat. 1083. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on July 8, 1943, and received his commission on July 14, 1943. He served as Chief Judge of the Western District from 1954 to 1959, assuming senior status on May 31, 1965, and serving in that capacity until his death on August 1, 1974, in Kansas City, Missouri, where he resided.[1][2] He was interred in Memorial Park Cemetery in St. Joseph.[2]

References
  1. Richard M. Duncan at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
  2. United States Congress. "Richard M. Duncan (id: D000536)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

Sources
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
District established		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Missouri's at-large congressional district
1933–1935		 Succeeded by
District abolished
Preceded by
Jacob L. Milligan		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Missouri's 3rd congressional district
1935–1943		 Succeeded by
William Clay Cole
Legal offices
Preceded by
Seat established by 56 Stat. 1083		 Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri
Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri
1943–1965		 Succeeded by
William Robert Collinson
Preceded by
Albert L. Reeves		 Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri
1954–1959		 Succeeded by
Albert Alphonso Ridge
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