I would like to take time now to adjourn tonight’s meeting in memory of Leonard Pete Duncan, who was a beloved member of our community and passed away at the age of 73.
Leonard was born in Selma, California, and spent his childhood with his mother and father picking crops and working on ranches in California and Oregon.
When he was a young boy, the owner of the ranch where he lived told him he looked more like a “Pete” than a “Leonard,” so he went by Pete from then on.
At the age of 9, Pete and his family moved to Los Angeles.
He attended Junior High and High School in Highland Park, where he was very active in his school’s R.O.T.C. program.
As a teenager, Pete became a master mechanic and joined the LA County Sheriff’s Department as a corrections officer at the age of 19.
A year later, he was drafted into the Army and did his basic training at Fort Polk in Louisiana, before being sent to Fort Bragg in North Carolina.
When he was sent to Vietnam at age 21, he served in the Military Police and volunteered to secure the roads around the barracks each night.
Upon returning home from the war, Pete continued his work as a corrections officer.
One month after coming back, he married his childhood sweetheart, Loretta.
Pete and Loretta eventually moved to the Santa Clarita Valley, and he graduated from College of the Canyons with honors and a degree in Police Science.
In our community, Pete served as Vice President of the Vietnam Veterans of America and was also active at Real Life Church.
He is known for his compassion, faith and dedication to service.
We are saddened by the passing of Pete Duncan and our thoughts are with his family and friends during this difficult time.