Born in Ennis, Texas on the 16th of November 1928, he grew up in Hillsboro. After graduating from Hillsboro High School, Duke attended Texas A&M University, where he was head Aggie yell leader and served in the Texas National Guard from 1948-1950. Following graduation in 1950, he served as a commissioned Army officer in Germany during the Korean War.
Returning home, Duke attended and graduated from seminary in Fort Worth but soon answered a calling for a different career, obtaining a medical degree in 1960 at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas. Duke completed his residency in general surgery at Dallas’ Parkland Memorial Hospital where in 1963 he was part of the trauma team tending to Gov. John Connally on the day of President John F. Kennedy’s assassination.
Duke joined The University of Texas Medical School at Houston in 1972 as one of the first faculty members and established the trauma service at Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center, the school’s primary teaching hospital. He was professor of surgery and the John B. Holmes Professor of Clinical Sciences. In 1976, he led the development of the Life Flight program, one of the first hospital-based air ambulance programs in the nation.
An ardent conservationist, Duke served as president of the Wild Sheep Foundation, the Boone and Crockett Club and founder of the Texas Bighorn Society, which was successful in reintroducing bighorn sheep to West Texas.
Duke was the recipient of numerous honors including, most recently, the Texas Governor’s EMS and Trauma Advisory Council’s Journey of Excellence Award and knighthood of the Order of Saint George by the U.S. Calvary and Armor Association. The award symbolizes bravery and dedication to faith and decency while recognizing the very best tankers and cavalrymen among members of the U.S. Cavalry and Armor Association. He also received in recent years the Peter Hathaway Capstick Hunting Heritage Award and the Dallas Safari Club’s highest honor.
In 2014 Alvin ISD honored him by dedicating an elementary school in his name. His advice to students, “Always tell the truth. Always be considerate of others and what their situation may be. Try to do something nice for somebody else at least once every day. There’s no value in worrying. You just have to work it out and solve the problem.”
In all his endeavors, Duke said what was most rewarding was caring for his patients. “I love to see them get well and I hate to see them suffer,” he said.
Duke was preceded in death by his parents James Henry and Helen Duke of Hillsboro.
He is survived by his immediate family: sister Helen Patricia Hipps; children Hank, Rebecca, Sara, Hallie; mother of the children Betty C. Kent; son-in-law Charles King; grandchildren Sean, Jesse James, Joshua, Maria Roosma, Wayloon Roosma, James R. Overton and Elizabeth Overton; and great-grandchild Cierra Rose. Also included are countless friends, colleagues, students, patients and admirers who appreciated his significant contributions to their lives.
The public is invited to pay their respects from three o’clock in the afternoon until eight o’clock in the evening on Saturday, the 29th of August, and again from nine o’clock in the morning until eight o’clock in the evening on Sunday, the 30th of August, in the Jasek Chapel of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston.
The family will gather for a private graveside service at the Texas State Cemetery in Austin.
In lieu of customary remembrances, memorial contributions may be directed to the Boone & Crockett Club, 250 Station Drive, Missoula, MT 59801, The James H. “Red” Duke, Jr. MD Endowed Scholarship Fund, UTHealth Office of Development, P.O. Box 1321, Houston, TX 77251-1321, or the to the Memorial Hermann Life Flight Fund.
Please view Dr. Red Duke online memorial tribute at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gf303ZNlSUQ , as well as Clips of Dr. Red Duke’s TV health spots from the 80’s at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTZCz3-UWow.
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