Richard Meloan Duncan (November 10, 1889 – August 1, 1974) was aUnited States representative fromMissouri and aUnited States district judge of theUnited States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri and theUnited States District Court for the Western District of Missouri.
Born inSt. Joseph,Missouri, nearEdgerton, Missouri, Duncan attended the public schools. He graduated from Christian Brothers College, in St. Joseph, in 1909. He was a deputy circuit clerk ofBuchanan County, Missouri from 1911 to 1917, andread 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]
Duncan served as delegate to the1932 Democratic National Convention. He was elected as aDemocrat to theUnited States House of Representatives of the73rd 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 the77th United States Congress, but was unsuccessful in his candidacy for reelection in 1942 to the78th United States Congress.[2]
On July 8, 1943, Duncan was nominated by PresidentFranklin D. Roosevelt to a new joint seat on theUnited States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri and theUnited States District Court for the Western District of Missouri created by 56 Stat. 1083. He was confirmed by theUnited 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, assumingsenior status on May 31, 1965, and serving in that capacity until his death on August 1, 1974, inKansas City, Missouri, where he resided.[1][2] He was interred in Memorial Park Cemetery in St. Joseph.[2]
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by District established | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromMissouri's at-large congressional district 1933–1935 | Succeeded by District abolished |
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromMissouri's 3rd congressional district 1935–1943 | Succeeded by |
| Legal offices | ||
| Preceded by Seat established by 56 Stat. 1083 | Judge of theUnited States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri Judge of theUnited States District Court for the Western District of Missouri 1943–1965 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Chief Judge of theUnited States District Court for the Western District of Missouri 1954–1959 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
