Watson B. Duncan III
Encyclopedia
Watson B. Duncan III was an American
college
professor
best known for being the mentor
of actor Burt Reynolds
.
Duncan was born in Charleston, South Carolina
. He received B.A.
and M.A.
degrees from the University of South Carolina
, where he majored in English
. He also did graduate work at the Shakespeare Institute & Royal Theatre
at the University of Birmingham
in England
. In 1953, he married Honey Harper. Duncan began teaching Speech and English at Palm Beach Junior College in the early days of the college's history, eventually rising to the head of the English department.
Reynolds attended Palm Beach Junior College while recuperating at home in Riviera Beach
from a football injury he suffered playing for Florida State University
. Duncan saw a spark of talent in Reynolds, and asked him to read for a play, Sutton Vane's Outward Bound, which the college was presenting. Duncan cast Reynolds in the lead role. This eventually led to a scholarship for Reynolds at the Hyde Park Playhouse in New York
. Reynolds credits Duncan as the person who has had the most influence in his life.
Years later, Reynolds cast his former teacher in a cameo role as the press secretary
to the governor in the movie Gator
, which Reynolds starred in and directed.
Duncan went on to head the English/Communications Department at Palm Beach Junior College for more than thirty years, specializing in Milton
and Shakespeare
. He also helped develop the talents of actor Monte Markham
and Terry Garrity
, author of The Sensuous Woman
, while they were students at Palm Beach Junior College.
Professor Duncan was well-known as a gifted Shakespearean actor, and performed frequently in the Shakespeare Festival at Stratford
, Ontario
. His teaching style reflected that avocation
, was flamboyant, dramatic, and rendered his material quite unforgettable. Generations of students remember his shout of "ME MISERABLE!," a trademark of his Paradise Lost lectures, and recall his classes as some of the most memorable experiences of their college years. He was awarded the Distinguished Floridian of the Year (1980) and the National Faculty Award (1985).
The people of Palm Beach County
have honored Duncan by naming two public buildings for him. The spacious, performing arts theatre on the main campus of Palm Beach State College in Lake Worth
, the Watson B. Duncan III Theatre, serves as a performing arts instructional facility and hosts a variety of cultural and entertainment events for the public. A public middle school
in Palm Beach Gardens
also bears his name.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
college
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
best known for being the mentor
Mentor
In Greek mythology, Mentor was the son of Alcimus or Anchialus. In his old age Mentor was a friend of Odysseus who placed Mentor and Odysseus' foster-brother Eumaeus in charge of his son Telemachus, and of Odysseus' palace, when Odysseus left for the Trojan War.When Athena visited Telemachus she...
of actor Burt Reynolds
Burt Reynolds
Burton Leon "Burt" Reynolds, Jr. is an American actor. Some of his memorable roles include Bo 'Bandit' Darville in Smokey and the Bandit, Lewis Medlock in Deliverance, Bobby "Gator" McCluskey in White Lightning and sequel Gator, Paul Crewe and Coach Nate Scarborough in The Longest Yard and its...
.
Duncan was born in Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
. He received B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
and M.A.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
degrees from the University of South Carolina
University of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina is a public, co-educational research university located in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, with 7 surrounding satellite campuses. Its historic campus covers over in downtown Columbia not far from the South Carolina State House...
, where he majored in English
English major
The English Major is a term in the United States and a few other countries for an undergraduate university degree focused around the consumption, analysis, and production of texts in the English language...
. He also did graduate work at the Shakespeare Institute & Royal Theatre
Shakespeare Institute
The Shakespeare Institute is a centre for postgraduate study dedicated to the study of William Shakespeare and the literature of the English Renaissance. It is part of the University of Birmingham, and is located in Stratford-upon-Avon....
at the University of Birmingham
University of Birmingham
The University of Birmingham is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Birmingham, England. It received its royal charter in 1900 as a successor to Birmingham Medical School and Mason Science College . Birmingham was the first Redbrick university to gain a charter and thus...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. In 1953, he married Honey Harper. Duncan began teaching Speech and English at Palm Beach Junior College in the early days of the college's history, eventually rising to the head of the English department.
Reynolds attended Palm Beach Junior College while recuperating at home in Riviera Beach
Riviera Beach, Florida
Riviera Beach is a city in Palm Beach County, Florida, U.S.A. which was incorporated September 29, 1922. Because of where its eastern boundary lies, it is also the easternmost municipality in the South Florida metropolitan area. The population was 29,884 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the...
from a football injury he suffered playing for Florida State University
Florida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
. Duncan saw a spark of talent in Reynolds, and asked him to read for a play, Sutton Vane's Outward Bound, which the college was presenting. Duncan cast Reynolds in the lead role. This eventually led to a scholarship for Reynolds at the Hyde Park Playhouse in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. Reynolds credits Duncan as the person who has had the most influence in his life.
Years later, Reynolds cast his former teacher in a cameo role as the press secretary
Press secretary
A press secretary or press officer is a senior advisor who provides advice on how to deal with the news media and, using news management techniques, helps their employer to maintain a positive public image and avoid negative media coverage....
to the governor in the movie Gator
Gator (film)
Gator is a 1976 action film starring and directed by Burt Reynolds. It is a sequel to White Lightning. Reynolds honored his favorite professor from college, Watson B...
, which Reynolds starred in and directed.
Duncan went on to head the English/Communications Department at Palm Beach Junior College for more than thirty years, specializing in Milton
John Milton
John Milton was an English poet, polemicist, a scholarly man of letters, and a civil servant for the Commonwealth of England under Oliver Cromwell...
and Shakespeare
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...
. He also helped develop the talents of actor Monte Markham
Monte Markham
Monte Markham is an American actor. During his career, Markham has appeared in film, in television, and on Broadway.Markham was born in Manatee County, Florida, the son of Millie Content and Jesse Edward Markham, Sr., who was a merchant.Of his television roles, Markham is perhaps most famous for...
and Terry Garrity
Terry Garrity
Joan Theresa Garrity, , is an American author, best known as the author of The Sensuous Woman.She was raised in Lee's Summit, Missouri and she studied at Palm Beach Junior College in Florida...
, author of The Sensuous Woman
The Sensuous Woman
The Sensuous Woman is a book by Joan Garrity. Published first during 1969 with the pseudonym "J", it is a detailed instruction manual concerning sexuality for women....
, while they were students at Palm Beach Junior College.
Professor Duncan was well-known as a gifted Shakespearean actor, and performed frequently in the Shakespeare Festival at Stratford
Stratford, Ontario
Stratford is a city on the Avon River in Perth County in southwestern Ontario, Canada with a population of 32,000.When the area was first settled by Europeans in 1832, the townsite and the river were named after Stratford-upon-Avon, England. It is the seat of Perth County. Stratford was...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
. His teaching style reflected that avocation
Avocation
An avocation is an activity that one engages in as a hobby outside one's main occupation. There are many examples of people whose professions were the ways that they made their livings, but for whom their activities outside of their workplaces were their true passions in life...
, was flamboyant, dramatic, and rendered his material quite unforgettable. Generations of students remember his shout of "ME MISERABLE!," a trademark of his Paradise Lost lectures, and recall his classes as some of the most memorable experiences of their college years. He was awarded the Distinguished Floridian of the Year (1980) and the National Faculty Award (1985).
The people of Palm Beach County
Palm Beach County, Florida
Palm Beach County is the largest county in the state of Florida in total area, and third in population. As of 2010, the county's estimated population was 1,320,134, making it the twenty-eighth most populous in the United States...
have honored Duncan by naming two public buildings for him. The spacious, performing arts theatre on the main campus of Palm Beach State College in Lake Worth
Lake Worth, Florida
Lake Worth is a city in Palm Beach County, Florida, which takes its name from the body of water along its eastern border, originally called "Lake Worth", and now generally known as the Lake Worth Lagoon. The lake itself was named for General William J. Worth, who led U.S. forces during the last...
, the Watson B. Duncan III Theatre, serves as a performing arts instructional facility and hosts a variety of cultural and entertainment events for the public. A public middle school
Middle school
Middle School and Junior High School are levels of schooling between elementary and high schools. Most school systems use one term or the other, not both. The terms are not interchangeable...
in Palm Beach Gardens
Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
Palm Beach Gardens is a city in Palm Beach County in the U.S. state of Florida. The city is in the center of a rapidly-developing area north of West Palm Beach in the northern part of the county and the South Florida metropolitan area. , the population was 48,452...
also bears his name.