Dr. Kirby L. Duncan

Dr. Kirby L. Duncan died at his home in Nacogdoches, Texas, on March 5, 2017. He is survived by his wife Anne, his four children, and his seven grandchildren. Kirby was born on December 2, 1934, in Deport, Texas. He was born the oldest of four children and is survived by his brother and two sisters. Dr. Duncan's love of literature developed at an early age; his mother, Opal Duncan, was a teacher and poet, and at her insistence, he learned to read before starting school where he read every book the one room McCrury school had to offer. After graduating from high school at the age of 16 and working several jobs, he was drafted into the army. His time in the military took him overseas to Germany, and his experiences there inspired him to pursue an education once he returned home. Dr. Duncan received his Bachelor of Arts in English from Arlington State College in 1963, his Masters in English from Texas Tech in 1964, and his Ph.D. in English from the University of South Carolina in 1967. He then took a teaching job in the English Department at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas, where he spent 40 years working to make students better readers and writers of English. During his tenure at SFA, Dr. Duncan served as Lower Division Coordinator off and on for years and as Chair of the English Department during the late eighties. He was affectionately known as Flunkin' Duncan across the campus. Dr. Duncan was an avid outdoorsman. His decision to come to SFA was made in large part based on the opportunities the region afforded him to hunt and fish, and that he did, making life-long friends in the woods and on the lakes of East Texas. He worked tirelessly to catch a Lake Nacogdoches record bass, coming close with a 14 pound 6 ounce fish but never quite achieving his mark. However, goals are good, and he sought after his until he was no longer able to step into the boat. Dr. Duncan's love of outdoors was also expressed in his prolific gardening. It was his goal to provide food, often growing, shelling, and putting up 40 to 50 bushels of purple hull, black-eyed, crowder, and/or lady cream peas in a season. Many people benefited from his determination to conquer the elements, and he faithfully did battle against the East Texas weather and critters season after season in his passion to provide. Kirby never let anyone go without, and if he had one calling in life it was to feed peopleâ€"whether it be food, ideas, or both. In his last days he insisted that he had to continue to take care of lingering wood piles and to prepare beds for spring planting. Dr. Duncan was a teacher first, last, and foremost. He considered administrative duties secondary to his responsibility to teach anyone who would listenâ€"the strongest and weakest students alike. He spent as much time with a student as that student was willing to put up with in order to help him or her along the path to a diploma and subsequently a life of greater opportunity and satisfaction. His own life was tremendously enriched by the relationships he developed with students and colleagues. He was a principled man who knew that the greatest work in life is spent in service to others. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the SFA Alumni Scholarship Fund that Kirby helped establish in Cyd Adams' memory. Donations can be made online through the Giving tab on the sfaalumni.com webpage or by check. Please be sure to indicate that the donation is for the Cyd Adams Scholarship, and direct any questions to Amie Ford in the SFA Alumni Office at 936-468-1297.