Wallace Lamar Duncan

Walley was born on September 28, 1937, to Phyllis Richmond and LaMar Corless (“Bill”) Duncan, in Salt Lake City, Utah. He spent his childhood there with his parents and four darling younger sisters, Dotti, Connie, Lori, and Reenie, who he loved dearly and who never failed to make him laugh—however much he teased them. In 1957 Walley relocated to Northern Virginia, where he remained until his death. From his first marriage to Barbara, Walley had three children, Berney, Richey, and Ashley. Subsequent to his divorce, he and Donnetta were married in 1978 and expanded their family with children Kristi, Whitney, and Andrew.

Walley was a man of charisma, wit, and impeccable style—in fact, he always said that if he hadn’t pursued law, he would have opened a men’s clothing store, which no doubt would have changed the face of men’s fashion. He also was a car enthusiast, and was featured in a Salt Lake newspaper at the early age of three for his uncanny ability to identify every make on the road. As the article puts it, “An asset to almost any police auto theft bureau would be Wallace Duncan’s camera eye. He calls ’em swiftly and accurately.” “Car-minded Walley” went on to own several Porsches, one of which he entered in an antique show and all of which were a source of great pride and enjoyment.

Walley had a booming, distinctive voice that will never be forgotten. He was a member of the a cappella choir in high school, and formed a quartet with his friends that lasted well into college. In the early years, Walley spent many a night “entertaining” his family with his guitar, singing country songs, and occasionally playing trumpet riffs. The kids fondly remember long drives in the Porsche with Dad singing along to old Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson songs.

Walley spent many joyous days golfing at Washington Golf and Country Club, Springfield Golf Country Club, and at courses around the country. He loved fishing, and enjoyed many adventures with his close friends and family in the mountains of Montana as they fly-fished, rode horses, and burned the midnight oil making jokes and telling stories. When he wasn’t playing golf or fishing, Walley enjoyed watching football, and cheering on his children as they played competitive sports.

Walley always kept an immaculate garden at his Arlington home, and he stunned the neighborhood with his festive (and plentiful) Christmas lights every year. The life of the party, Walley always loved a good celebration. In September we were fortunate to be able to share a warm evening with him and his wide circle of friends and family to celebrate his 70^th birthday. He gave a lovely birthday speech, and surprised us all by forcefully blowing out his many candles without any help from his kids!

In 2003, Walley was diagnosed and successfully treated for lung cancer. After a rapid decline in his health, Walley was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. He passed away shortly after his first round of chemotherapy.

Education
University of Utah and American University, A.B., 1960
Washington College of Law, American University, J.D., 1961
Georgetown University Law Center, LL.M., 1962

Honors
Magna Cum Laude (A.B.)
Summa Cum Laude (J.D.)
Honors (LL.M.)
Gillette Prize, Delta Theta Phi Scholarship Society
E. Barrett Prettyman Fellowship
Editor, American University Law Review
Perle Mesta Scholarship
Certificate of Proficiency in Trial Advocacy (Georgetown University Law Center)

Following graduation from law school, Walley was awarded the E. Barrett Prettyman Fellowship for graduate study in trial advocacy at the Georgetown University Law Center. From 1962 to 1965 he was Special Assistant to the Solicitor, United States Department of the Interior, where he specialized in natural resource and development problems. He joined a large Arizona firm in 1965 as Managing Partner, Washington, D.C. office, and was Washington Counsel for the Arizona Interstate Stream Commission and the Salt River Project from 1965 through 1970. On April 1, 1971, Mr. Duncan formed the firm of Duncan & Brown, and has been member of the successor firms: Duncan, Brown & Palmer; Duncan, Brown, Weinberg & Palmer; Duncan, Weinberg, Palmer & Miller, P.C., Duncan, Weinberg & Miller, P.C., and Duncan, Weinberg, Genzer & Pembroke P.C., since that time, and is currently President of Duncan, Weinberg, Genzer & Pembroke, P.C. In private practice, Mr. Duncan has participated extensively in utility consulting work, rate and service proceedings and litigation, environmental consulting and litigation, natural resource development and the general practice of law. From 1982 until the reallocation of the electrical output of Hoover Dam was resolved in 1987, Mr. Duncan was a Special Deputy Attorney General for the State of Nevada.