Richard M. Duncan

Richard Meloan Duncan (November 10, 1889 – August 1, 1974) was a U.S. Representative from Missouri, and a United States federal judge.

Born in St. Joseph, Missouri, near Edgerton, 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 a city counselor to the city of St. Joseph from 1926 to 1930.

Duncan served as delegate to 1932 Democratic Convention. He was elected as a Democrat to the Seventy-third and to the four succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1933 – January 3, 1943). He served as chairman of Democratic Caucus for the Seventy-seventh Congress, but was unsuccessful in his candidacy for reelection in 1942 to the Seventy-eighth Congress.

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.

Duncan resided in Kansas City, Missouri, where he died August 1, 1974. He was interred in Memorial Park Cemetery, St. Joseph, Missouri.

References

• United States Congress. "Richard M. Duncan (id: D000536)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. 
• Richard M. Duncan at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.