1998

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uonerl oet!rees. D .an o ds a masters u .. gree ?hysical educa– tion from Delta State un·,ersity ano. has earned master's degree cert·fi– cation in chemistry and phystcs to her state teacher's certification. She received 30-plus graduate hours from Mississippi State University and Mississippi Univer sity fro Women, and attends science work– shops each summer to keep up with changes in educational pedagogy. Duncan and her husband, Jim, have two children. Brandi is a sopho– more at East Central and Greg is a junior at Neshoba Central High School.

Dun.;.. and her teamma!es make htstO!) that year, she also made her own mark by being named the state 's first female athlete to be se– lected an All-American while a member of a Mississippi college team. Following graduation from the "W" Duncan began her teaching and coaching career. She taught Chem– istry, physics and biology as well as coaching basketball and track for high school and junior high girls. She first served at Winston Acad– emy, where she coached basketball and track from 1972-74. Her track teams won district titles both years and the 1974 season. Duncan was chosen "Coach of the Year." Duncan then led basketball and track teams at Bayou Academy in Boyle, Miss., from 1974-80. Dur– ing this period, her tracksters earned four State, North State and district titles and were Regional Relay champions for three seasons. And once again, Duncan received "Coach ofthe Year" recognition. (lt should be noted that those track teams still hold several state records.) When she started her fam ily, Duncan semi-retired from coaching on the high school level in 1980, and began leading junior high pro– grams. She served at North Sun– nov.er Academy 10 Drew from 1981-84, where her track teams \\On conference titlts all three years and her basketball squads won two Duncan toor. · . c:r m.. _ c::- obaCen– tral junior high school program in 1990, and led her basketball teams to successful campaigns, including one undefeated season before retir– ing in 1995. She continues to coach golf at Neshoba Central High • School, a program she initiated in 1996. Her athletic involvement also includes her service as clock opera– 'tor fo r high school basketball games. Like her success as an athlete and coach, Duncan's accomplishments in the classroom have not gone un– noticed. Twice she has received "Teacher of the Year'' honors, on five occa s ions she was named STAR Teacher and she was an ..

·em l .-\11 Choctaw Conference and All– DIStnCt in 1965, 1967 and 1968. In crack, Duncan set several records in the high jump and led the Lady Wildcats to three conference and district titles and two North Divi– sion championships. From Louisville, Duncan continued her athletic career at Nashville Busi– ness College, which was then a pe– rennial power in the AAU League, and helped lead the NBC women to their eighth straight national title! Although she was a member of the National Business College basket– ball team, she actually took classes at George Peabody College (which has siced merged \\ith Vanderbilt Un iversit) ), due to an agreement bet\\een the mo colleges. NBC dropped basketball after her freshman year. and Duncan decided to enroll at then East Central Junior College where she became a three– sport letter winner. She began her athletic competition as a member of Coach Lucille Wood's volleyball team which completed season ac– tion by \\inning the state champi– onship. Then it \\as on to basketball season and once again. Coach Wood led

Deborah Norwood Duncan Philadelphia "Athletic Hall of Fame" Many athletes dream ofbeing a part of a state or national championship team, but for Duncan, a 1970 ECCC graduate, those dreams became re– alities, not just once but SIX times– with t\\0 ofthe championship com– ing an the nationalte.. el! Winning titles also followed Duncan in the coachmg ranks, as her basketball and track teams also claimed vari– ous honors. Duncan's championship years actu– all> began at Lousiville High School, where she was a three-year letter-\\ inner m basketball and track She helped ~ead the Lady Wildcats to three Cbocta\\ Conference otle:. and two district utles In recogni– tion ofher • o.:. the

can and her teammates to an– state champ onsh1p Duncan ...,..........jo'<>.ed m tenniS and "as

nament teams m voUe) ball dJ1d bas– ketball, including her selection as most valuable player at the Univer– sity of West Georgia Volleyball Tournament. Duncan and her vol– leyball teammates won several tour-

APPEARED I "' : naments including the state touma– LAKE MESSE GEF ment both years she was on the team. She was named to the Ail- S c 0 n c 0 u TY TI Squad her senior season. UN1 Q N AppEAL _ Duncan's accomplishment contin– ued on the basketball court, as the WINSTON COU T' "W" won state titles her j unior and CLARION-LEDGEF senior years, in addition to captur–

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ing the Houston, Texas Invitational Tournament along with several other invitational. Duncan was an All-State choice both years. Obviously a highlight of her "W" career was beine a memhP.r nf th"'