Mervin Duke

Mervin Duke was born in Moorefield, Ontario and attended high school in Listowel, Ontario. He graduated from Stratford Teachers’ College in 1935 and his first assignment was as Principal of a two-room public school in Innerkip where he taught all subjects in all the classes from grades 6 to 10. In 1943 he accepted a position with School Section #4 and Elmira Union School, now Riverside Public School in Elmira, as Principal. During this time he received his BA from the University of Western Ontario and Bed from the University of Toronto. Eight years later he joined the staff at Elmira High School. He was appointed Vice Principal and then Principal of the High School, retiring in 1973 after 38 years.

During this time, Duke was a youth hockey coach in Elmira for twenty years. Nine hockey teams coached by Duke went on to win Ontario Championships. In 1951 he was awarded the Ontario Hockey Association Honour Award for outstanding contribution to Minor Hockey.

He was chairman of the Elmira Old Boys’ and Girls’ Reunion in 1973 and during this celebration he topped the list of the ten individuals who had contributed most to the town of Elmira in the previous twenty-five years.

In the late 1970s, Duke managed the Elmira and Woolwich Chamber of Commerce until 1984.

Duke introduced Driver Training Education to Elmira and District Secondary School and he organized extra-curricular activities for students. He was an active charter member of the Elmira Lions Club and Gale Presbyterian Church, and supported many local activities including the Elmira Maple Syrup Festival.

He affected the lives of many people who live in Elmira through his professional and community contributions.