Barbara Duke

The Robert C. and Barbara R. Duke Scholarship was created with a testamentary gift from the estate of Barbara Duke, widow of Robert Duke. Mrs. Duke was an avid James Madison University fan and enjoyed cruises, golfing, and cooking. She was of the Catholic faith. Mrs. Duke lived in Massachusetts, New York and Ohio where she worked for several banks. On January 10, 1972, Mrs. Duke moved to Harrisonburg and was employed by Packaging Corporation of America as Secretary to the General Manager. She also worked at Massanutten Development and Ski Resort as a secretary on weekends. On September 17, 1977, she married Robert Duke and was married for over 26 years until he passed away due to an extended illness. She had been a very loving caregiver for Bob and also her mother during their illnesses.

Robert Duke was the son of James Madison University’s second president, Dr. Samuel P. Duke. It was under Dr. Duke’s presidency that the State Teachers College of Harrisonburg was named after James Madison. The year after the Dukes moved into the president’s home, Hillcrest House, the Class of 1920 chose Bob Duke, then three years old, as ""mascot."" He attended Duke University (founded by a distant relative), then the University of Virginia, where he completed law school in 1941 before a Navy tour.

The Robert C. and Barbara R. Scholarship is now stewarded by Stewart Campbell Duke and Thomas Page Duke, grandsons of Dr. Samuel Page Duke and Lucille Campbell Duke.