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Duncan is perhaps best remembered as a dogged fighter for what he considered to be API's fair share of state funding. While he remained a strong supporter of cooperation among
Alabama's institutions of higher learning, he nonetheless stressed that this cooperation never should work to the detriment
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From the beginning, Cooperative
Extension work was widely considered a success in providing research-based information to the state's farmers. But much of this progress was stymied by the lack of a cooperative farm marketing mechanism — the reason for the organization of a nationwide network of Farm
260:— an issue that would hound him throughout his API career. From Extension's inception, agents worked with a wide array of agencies and other organizations associated with farming. But the relationship with the Farm Bureau, which was organized on the API campus at Duncan's behest in 1921, was unique.
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Duncan eventually was appointed a professor of
Extension in API's school of agriculture, jointly employed by API and by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and charged with serving as a "demonstration expert". His work involved organizing demonstrations at schools and other agriculture-related venues
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Much of the
Alabama Extension Service's initial efforts were focused on dealing with the bleak economic conditions associated with farming at the time. Part of this involved developing a staff of specialists with statewide responsibilities and trained to provide agents in the field with up-to-date,
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Duncan also was a strong supporter of the equalization principle that each
Alabama student should receive the same level of state support regardless of the institution attended. He also advocated a cooperative recruitment plan and the assignment of roles to Alabama and API so that would each could
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In his defense, Duncan's actions reflected to a large degree those of the USDA, which had generally supported a close working relationship with Farm Bureau. Nevertheless, Duncan drew harsh criticism from USDA for acquiescing to the publication of a circular that instructed
Alabama Extension agents
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Duncan is remembered as an
Extension administrator who demanded near perfection from his employees. He expected them not only to display a level of maturity "in order to secure and maintain the confidence and respect of farm people" but also to possess "unbounded energy, zeal, optimism, enthusiasm
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In this position, Duncan played an instrumental role organizing boys (or corn) clubs through the state — a movement that eventually would be combined with girls clubs to form what later became known as 4-H. By 1909, the state had more than 2,000 corn club members. By 1911, the number had grown to
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Even today, Duncan remains a somewhat controversial figure in
Alabama history. He is best remembered for making the Alabama Extension Service and API driving forces on the Alabama political scene. He also is viewed by many as a visionary and reformer — an early and vocal proponent of equitable
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publisher. Following a statewide newspaper campaign organized at Hanson's behest against Duncan, the API trustees, unable to reach agreement on Knapp's successor, appointed a three-man executive committee, which included Duncan, to manage the institute's affairs until final agreement could be
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Throughout the controversy, Duncan stuck to his guns, stressing that one of the original charges of the
Extension Service was to advise farm organizations. He also contended that in supporting the Farm Bureau, he merely was assisting the farm organization with the best prospects for success.
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Duncan, who had developed a strong reputation for managing a statewide organization on a lean budget, was heavily favored by the state's business and professional interests to succeed
Bradford Knapp as president of API. As far as many of them were concerned, this was precisely the kind of
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Along with Duggar's initial efforts, Duncan was instrumental in laying the groundwork for Cooperative Extension work in Alabama, ensuring the transition of the Extension mission from a primarily USDA-driven effort to one in which API, the state's first land-grant university, held primary
353:, along with API trustee and Folsom supporter Gould Beech, maintained that agriculture had suffered a relative decline — a problem, they claimed was due in large part to Alabama Extension — and that Extension was still engaged in improper political activity with the Farm Bureau.
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in east Alabama. He held several other teaching jobs in various parts of Alabama before returning to Auburn to work as an instructor and research worker under the direction of famed agricultural scientist and researcher J.F. Duggar.
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Duncan's work with API took him to almost every county in Alabama. His work with farmer institutes and similar types of efforts strengthened his knowledge of an informal type of educational outreach that eventually became known as
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Duncan conceded that relations between Extension and Farm Bureau had been too close at times, such as when Extension agents collected dues on behalf of the Farm Bureau. But he stressed that these problems had been resolved.
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Duncan Hall, the Auburn University headquarters of the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, is named after Duncan. Also, in honor of Duncan, the building was constructed with limestone from Duncan's native Franklin
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and E.A. O'Neal, president of the American Farm Bureau, Duncan eventually secured passage of the Bankhead-Jones At, which increased funding for resident teaching, agricultural research and agricultural extension.
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Duncan's financial acumen, demonstrated time and again during this especially cash-strapped period of API's history, eventually won over a majority of API trustees. Duncan was installed as API president in 1935.
214:. Meanwhile, Duggar, Duncan's mentor, assumed the directorship of the newly organized Alabama Extension Service. The dual units persisted until Duncan assumed leadership of the Alabama Extension Service in 1920.
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Ironically, as he entered the twilight of his career, Duncan, however unwittingly, went to the mat once again over Extension's longstanding relationship with the Alabama Farm Bureau. Incoming populist Gov.
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system. Duncan also oversaw efforts to adopt new forms of technological delivery, including the purchase of a 1,000-watt radio station to broadcast educational information to the state's farm population.
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Smith, Jack D., "Information and Inspiration: An Early History of the Alabama Cooperative Extension Service", (Unpublished Manuscript Prepared for Alabama Extension's 75th Anniversary), March 29, 1989.
210:, which formally established Cooperative Extension work in Alabama and the rest of the nation, Duncan was serving as superintendent of Junior and Home Economics Extension in cooperation with the
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Yeager, Joseph and Stevenson, Gene, "Inside Ag Hill: The People and Events That Shaped Auburn's Agricultural History from 1872 through 1999", Chelsea, Michigan: Sheridan Books, 1999.
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Cox, Dwayne, "Cooperative Extension, the Farm Bureau, and Luther Duncan [videorecording: 1914-1947", (DVD) Auburn Sesquicentennial Lecture Series, Auburn University, 2006.
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143:, where he eventually emerged as a student leader. To support his college career, he taught during the summer at a rural school near his home for $ 25 a month.
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435:
Cox, Dwayne; Whitehead, Jeanne A; and Steward, Rodney J., "The Depression and World War II", The Auburn University Digital Library, Auburn University, Alabama.
267:
Critics maintained that Duncan favored the Farm Bureau over other farm organizations and even dictated Farm Bureau policy — a charge Duncan repeatedly denied.
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to encourage youth and adults alike to adopt cutting-edge agricultural practices pioneered at API and other land-grant universities throughout the nation.
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248:"A man entering upon his duties of the day without a shave or with a dirty collar…will never get very far with what he represents", Duncan once said.
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Duncan Drive on the Auburn University campus is named after Duncan to honor his long service as Extension Service director and, later, president.
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Nevertheless, Duncan's past association with the Farm Bureau continued to draw withering criticism from Victor Hanson, an API trustee and
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For example, Duncan maintained that the prevailing interpretation of the state's Teacher-Training Equalization Fund greatly favored the
172:, an early Extension educational pioneer. During this early stage of his career, he also completed his master's degree at API in 1907.
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Duncan, however, was unable to see this battle to the end, dying unexpectedly in the President's Mansion on July 26, 1947.
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funding for Alabama higher education, though one who never hesitated to secure what he considered to be API's fair share.
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Unfortunately for Duncan, stiff opposition at the time prevented much of this vision from being realized in his lifetime.
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to teach for a short time in a rural county school before taking an instructor's job at an agricultural school in
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about how to recruit Farm Bureau members and to collect their dues. The publication subsequently was withdrawn.
107:(October 14, 1875 – July 26, 1947) was a 20th-century American educator and administrator. He was a pioneer of
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Duncan also played a major role in educational efforts aimed at diversifying Alabama agriculture, promoting
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A subsequent investigation of the issue by API's board of trustees revealed no wrongdoing.
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Duncan was roundly criticized for his organization's close association with the
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management style API needed in 1932, only three years after the onset of the
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and persistency" — habits that should reflect "the very highest character".
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1186:– Served as interim president prior to being named the permanent president
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President of Alabama Polytechnic Institute (later Auburn University)
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youth development, a director of the Alabama Extension Service (now
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at API's expense, even consigning API to second-class status.
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Following graduation, Duncan returned to his native northwest
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Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service
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115:) and president of the Alabama Polytechnic Institute (now
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63:B.S., M.S., Alabama Polytechnic Institute (now
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98:Thomas A. and Margaret (Hargett) Duncan
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826:Auburn-Opelika Robert G. Pitts Airport
656:Raymond J. Harbert College of Business
329:Working closely with Alabama Governor
954:
791:Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art
619:
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446:
1241:People from Franklin County, Alabama
1231:Alabama Cooperative Extension System
926:Alabama Cooperative Extension System
474:Alabama Cooperative Extension System
236:research-based information from the
113:Alabama Cooperative Extension System
131:in the northwest Alabama county of
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303:reached on a permanent successor.
218:Alabama Extension Service Director
191:production in addition to raising
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869:Notable Auburn University people
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413:Yeager and Stevenson, pp. 90-91.
1221:Presidents of Auburn University
983:Presidents of Auburn University
847:Auburn University Marching Band
821:Auburn University at Montgomery
574:U.S. Department of Agriculture
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212:U.S. Department of Agriculture
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137:Alabama Polytechnic Institute
122:
890:Auburn University traditions
651:History of Auburn University
404:Yeager and Stevenson, p. 80.
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1236:People from Auburn, Alabama
737:Deep South's Oldest Rivalry
252:The Farm Bureau Controversy
135:. In 1896, he enrolled at
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1257:
665:Southern Humanities Review
551:Alabama A&M University
206:By 1915, following of the
159:Exposure to Extension Work
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796:Donald E. Davis Arboretum
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480:
359:
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1226:Auburn University alumni
786:Auburn University Chapel
490:Smith–Lever Act of 1914
1176:Christopher B. Roberts
1004:James Ferguson Dowdell
351:James "Big Jim" Folsom
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228:
1216:Agriculture educators
1044:Charles Coleman Thach
324:University of Alabama
317:
238:land-grant university
225:
166:Cooperative Extension
127:Duncan was born near
34:Russellville, Alabama
1144:Edward R. Richardson
1088:Ralph Brown Draughon
858:The Auburn Plainsman
1036:William Leroy Broun
1020:William Leroy Broun
762:Hutsell-Rosen Track
752:Jordan-Hare Stadium
715:Swimming and diving
543:Parent universities
495:Tuskegee University
105:Luther Noble Duncan
996:William J. Sasnett
710:Women's basketball
320:
229:
1193:
1192:
1136:William F. Walker
1112:Wilford S. Bailey
1104:Hanley Funderburk
1096:Harry M. Philpott
1028:David French Boyd
1012:Isaac T. Tichenor
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622:Auburn University
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556:Auburn University
515:Notable directors
117:Auburn University
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65:Auburn University
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293:Great Depression
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180:10,000 members.
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29:October 14, 1875
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208:Smith-Lever Act
170:Seaman A. Knapp
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141:Auburn, Alabama
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82:Administrator
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72:Occupation(s)
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44:July 26, 1947
43:
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28:
24:
20:Luther Duncan
17:
1183:
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1160:Steven Leath
1128:William Muse
1079:
1068:John Wilmore
938:
856:
840:Student life
831:Rural Studio
817:
811:Langdon Hall
806:Samford Hall
801:Old Rotation
782:
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728:
663:
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129:Russellville
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46:(1947-07-26)
1211:1947 deaths
1206:1875 births
1170:(2019–2022)
1162:(2017–2019)
1154:(2007–2017)
1146:(2004–2007)
1138:(2001–2004)
1130:(1992–2001)
1122:(1984–1992)
1114:(1983–1984)
1106:(1980–1983)
1098:(1965–1980)
1090:(1947–1965)
1082:(1935–1947)
1074:(1932–1935)
1062:(1928–1932)
1054:(1920–1928)
1046:(1902–1919)
1038:(1884–1902)
1030:(1883–1884)
1022:(1882–1883)
1014:(1872–1882)
1006:(1861–1872)
998:(1859–1861)
749:Facilities:
632:Located in:
528:P. O. Davis
505:Boll weevil
331:Bibb Graves
258:Farm Bureau
1200:Categories
900:Tiger Walk
883:Traditions
742:Tiger Bowl
729:Rivalries:
720:Gymnastics
533:E. T. York
369:References
123:Early life
1168:Jay Gogue
1152:Jay Gogue
910:War Eagle
732:Iron Bowl
686:Athletics
644:Academics
264:Bureaus.
139:(API) in
95:Parent(s)
90:Ann Smith
80:Educator
60:Education
1178:(2022– )
939:Founded:
919:Outreach
700:Football
566:Partners
311:of API.
201:tomatoes
152:Wetumpka
133:Franklin
874:Ask Foy
482:History
227:County.
197:peanuts
189:poultry
148:Alabama
78:Pioneer
818:Other:
783:Main:
776:Campus
360:Legacy
193:cotton
87:Spouse
895:Aubie
51:API,
1070:and
941:1856
852:WEGL
199:and
187:and
41:Died
26:Born
185:hog
119:).
109:4-H
76:4-H
1202::
427:^
377:^
295:.
203:.
195:,
974:e
967:t
960:v
613:e
606:t
599:v
466:e
459:t
452:v
67:)
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