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Show SUN CHRONICLE, August 5, 1976, Page 16 The best of Buncon taken by Duncan this past winter of Coach Roger Reid and Clearfield basketball team. PICTURE . . . He left name to remember by Bliss Fullmer Keith Duncan, Sports Editor for the Roy Sun Chronicle and the Clearfield Courier, is going on an LDS mission to Atlanta, Georgia. For the next two years he will devote his time and talents, at his own expense to serve his God and church. We of the Chronicle and Courier staff will miss Keith. The post he is vacating will be hard to fill. The paper will never quite be the same without him. Keith Richard Duncan is the eldest of four children born to Richard and LaRene Duncan. He was born in Ogden on Jan. 19, 1957. For a time the family lived in Layton, and then in 1965 his mother remarried and the family moved to a farm in West Point and have lived there ever since. Keith exhibited an interest in writing when he was very young. He could always put his thoughts on paper, recalled his mother. He always liked school, and earned good grades. He seemed to be happiest when he was making a written report. Keith didnt discover sports; sports discovered him in his own living room. In his own words, he tells how it all began. One night somebody flipped the channel over to where the Utah Stars were playing basketball for the ABA championship against the Indiana Pacers. All of a sudden I was struck and my life has never been the same. I became a SPORTS NUT! Prior to this time Keiths total involvement in sports- amounted to limited action in two games of little league baseball at West Point. He entered the world of sports just like he always did anything that caught his fancy; by jumping in with both feet and becoming totally involved. But to this 9th grader, there was a lot of catching up to do. He hardly knew the and a difference between a touch-dowhomerun, but he would soon find out. In the following months he read every book on sports he could lay hands on and became an overnight TV addict. He watched countless sporting events on the tube, and would then analyze the game on paper and make written reviews of the games. He kept stats on all of the Pro teams, and memorized team rosters all the way down to the trainers. He crammed years of sports knowledge into a few months, and soon caught and surpassed in sports savy, friends who had been involved in sports all their lives. Then- - Keith became physically involved in sports. He learned golf from his father, who is a golfer, and now living in San Francisco. By 1973 Keiths dogged determination paid dividends; he took first place in the Lake Bonneville District Junior Olympics golf tournament at Riverside Golf Course. He shot a respectful 37. Keith spent countless hours pitching basketballs at a hoop set up in his backyard. He entered and won the title in the Lake Bonneville District Junior Olympics, and he made 24 of 25 shots to ice the free-throcompetition at Lake Bonneville.' In track, our man Duncan didnt have the blinding speed of a Mike McCoy, or a Rob Richeson, so he chose to run the distances. He made the cross country race at team and also ran the Clearfield High. Keiths keen interest in sports and his love for writing were natural ingredients to make him the sports writer he has become. Again, in his own words, I wanted more than anything to become Sports Editor for the junior high paper, but they made me assistant editor. I enjoyed my new job, but always knew I was in the wrong place. I wanted the sports side of the paper. But in this assignment I met Ann Jones, who was our instructor. Keith credits her for giving him his first start in journalism. As a sophomore at Clearfield High School, he enrolled in a journalism class under Mike Butler. Mike recognized this young talent, and soon had him working on the schools paper, The Talon. He made great strides in his new job, and Mr. Butler entered him in the sports writing contest for young journalists at the University of Utah. He placed sixth in that prestigious contest. In his junior year, he entered again, and won third place. As a senior he was judged number one sportswriter in all of Utah. n A DUNCAN SPECIALTY. Roys Jim McMahon football battle last year. gets set to launch play in Roy-Web- one-on-o- w him. We His mother, LaRene Cook, tried to be patient with Keith, even when out of patience, for the way he almost neglected the rest of life to do his sportswriting. I was always afraid he would ruin his health in his relentless desire to do that which he loved so much writing about sports. We are so proud of his many accomplishments, and now because he is going on a mission. Ann Jones, Teacher, 9th grade journalims, Death Keith, You have chosen to dedicate yourself to a cause requiring you to give of yourself, this is so like you. I remember you as a boy with high ideals, dedication to your convictions, willingness to learn, and a This great amount of land will be a better place to live because of young people like you. I wish you well. Neldon Nellie Hamblin - Little League Coach, Clearfield City Councilman. Coverage of the Clearfield High School and Little League programs has set the foundation for tradition which will influence area sports for years to come. Ive seen Keith interview until midnight, and still have final copy ready for print the next morning. His casual smile and clicking camera have become as commonplace as the athletes in our sports programs. Lee Bensen, Deseret News Sportswriter. As has been ably demonstrated on the pages of the Sun Chronicle, Keith Duncan has a way with words and people. His career as a journalist, following his two year vacation looms very bright. ? ? & ? e. 'f M s Roger Reid, Head Basketball Coach at Clearfield High School. No one person has done more for our basketball program than Keith Duncan. He not only instilled pride and a sense of importance to the ball players, but he made townspeople aware that we do play basketball in Clearfield. I have never in all my association with athletics, met a more dedicated and ambitious sportswriter. j m shot of Becky Bassett with whom he became very in the summer of 76. friends good KEITH'S Ernest Jacklin, Head football coach at Roy High School. Words cannot describe my personal appreciation to Keith Duncan for the many hours he spent writing and reporting the positive success of the athletic teams at Roy high school. His efforts have helped bring lecognition and success to our programs. I wish him every success on his mission. Gayle r v ' 'I -- Stevenson, o- .TiHiljV ft; Principal at Keith was Clearfield High School. very responsive to the needs of our athletic department. He never shirked a responsibility and he cooperated completely with athletes, coaches and staff. I have never known any student with more genuine interest in Clearfield High School than Keith Duncan. Ted Smith, Head Basketball coach at Keith did a High School. tremendous job in all phases of athletics at Roy High. He spent many hours with coaches and kids, and had a lot to do with the success of our programs. He worked hard and it showed in his column. Roy two-mil- e CLASSIC FINISH V-A- taken by Duncan at Clearfield Layton track meet. - From there he went on to place first in the Western United States in sports feature writing and second in sports news writing. He also won several awards for photography. n Keith was offered a full-rid- e scholarship at the University of Utah sponsored by the Salt Lake Tribune. He also had offers from Utah State, Weber State and Ricks College. In ni -- - f 0-.- .23 ...iii - .. ' 5 V & - ' vv ? '' :v J.1 w ' 'vJ , . ft - f vt, ,! t earned Keith an honorable mention ribbon in the 1976 Clearfield Art Show. It pictures Coach Ernie Jacklin of Roy in dejection. THIS PHOTO his senior year, Keith began working for the Roy Sun Chronicle and the Clearfield Courier, and eventually became Sports Editor. In two years with Chronicle and Courier he has written, layed out and taken pictures for over 200 full pages for publication. Keith Duncan credits his many friends and associates for his accomplishments in sportswriting. Lets hear what a few of them have to say about Diane Cole - Reporter for the Salt Lake Tribune. Keiths English and Journalism teacher at Clearfield High School. Keith Duncan influenced my life more than I did his. He renewed my faith in students. He kept the Clearfield high school paper alive for three years. He has the rare quality of taking the initiative to accomplish all of his goals. . 'I fc s' p' I , ,n' Howard Stahle, Owner and Publisher of Roy Sun Chronicle and Clearfield SHOT CAPTURED by Keith in Weber State last March. Courier. Roy-Bo- x n:: Elder cage clash at Keith has been a great asset to the paper in adding sports news that is and has been interesting to the people of our area. As a young man he has been very dedicated to the protession found many friends and influenced many young and old sports fans. We will miss Keith, but wish him well in his new and next real life assignment. When his mission is completed we expect to see Keith back at his old desk doing what comes naturally. Until then we know Young Duncan will be as dedicated to mission work as he has been to sports. George President Nichols, outgoing Roy of Roy Booster Club, said, I for the Royal Boosters and parents of all Roy athletes. We appreciate what Keith Duncan and the Chronicle have done for our sports program. He gave the school and ballplayers, excellent publicity and made the sports pages unbelievably good in his weekly coverage of our activities. He always looked for the best in the coaches and ballplayers and printed it. He was a big boost to our booster club. We the officers and members, wish him Godspeed and hurry back. speak To all that has been said of our young and talented sportswriter, I can only add that he is a man of compassion. I doubt seriously that he ever intentionally hurt anybody. He has a bright and happy future. Our loss is Atlanta, Georgias gain. ONE OF KEITH'S Livingston in 1976 favorites. A shot of Clearfields Max state playoffs. |
