Archives West Finding Aid

Robert D. Duggan, known to all as "Bob" was born in Seattle, Washington on September 7, 1932. Bob graduated from Foster High School in 1950 and immediately enrolled at University of Washington summer program. He also started work on the Seattle waterfront in August 1950. His longshore employment paid all the costs of his college education and later a large portion of his law school education. He graduated with a BA in Labor Economics in June of 1954. In December 1954 he was called to active duty with the United States Air Force. In February 1956 he was awarded his "wings" as a jet fighter pilot. In December 1955 he married Martha H." Marty" Duggan (1934-2003), the mother of his 3 children, In September 1958, he entered the University of Washington School of Law, graduating 1961. In September 1961, he began what turned out to be 40 years of law practice, representing longshoremen, harbor workers, seaman and fishermen. He also represented all ILWU locals in Washington over that 40 year span. In 1989-90 while serving as president of the University of Washington Alumni Association, he began to promote the idea of establishing an endowed chair in honor of Harry Bridges. He was instrumental in raising the funds to establish the chair in 1992. Bob married Judith Turner Duggan on December 17, 2006.