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
In office
March 4, 1933 – January 3, 1943
Preceded byJacob L. Milligan
Succeeded byWilliam Clay Cole
Constituencyat-large (1933–1935)
3rd district (1935–1943)
Personal details
Born
Richard Meloan Duncan

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

Education and career

edit

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

edit

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

edit

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

edit
  1. ^ a b Richard M. Duncan at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
  2. ^ a b c d United States Congress. "Richard M. Duncan (id: D000536)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

Sources

edit
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 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Missouri's 3rd congressional district

1935–1943
Succeeded by
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
Preceded by Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri
1954–1959
Succeeded by