Biography of Congressman John Duncan, Jr.

United States Congressman John J. Duncan, Jr., was born July 21, 1947, in Lebanon, Tennessee.  After being raised in Knoxville and attending the area's public schools, he earned a Bachelor of Journalism degree from the University of Tennessee in 1969.  Congressman Duncan then attended the George Washington University National Law Center in Washington, D.C., where he earned a law degree in 1973.

In addition to his academic training, Congressman Duncan served in the United States Army National Guard.  He enlisted in 1970 and rose to the rank of Captain before completing his service in 1987.

In 1973, Congressman Duncan established a private law practice in Knoxville with Zane Daniel.  He was appointed State Trial Judge by Tennessee Governor Lamar Alexander in 1981 and served in that capacity until 1988, when he was elected to Congress.

Congressman Duncan currently serves as Ranking Member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure's Highways and Transit Subcommittee.  He also holds seats on the House Committee on Natural Resources, which retains jurisdiction over national parks and natural resources, and the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

Congressman Duncan's efforts to cut government waste, reduce taxes, and limit bureaucratic red tape have been recognized by various organizations and national news media such as ABC News, CBS News, The Wall Street Journal, CNN, and U.S. News and World Report.  He has been named among the five most fiscally conservative Members of Congress by the National Taxpayers Union and is one of the few Members of Congress to receive the Citizens Against Government Waste Super Hero Award. 

In addition to his Washington office , Congressman Duncan maintains offices in Knoxville, Maryville, and Athens.  He has established a reputation for providing extensive constituent services and staying in touch with residents of the Second District by attending hundreds of public events and holding countless open-attendance constituent meetings.   Although Congressman Duncan spends more time in East Tennessee than in Washington, he maintains one of the best attendance records in the entire Congress.  

Congressman Duncan lives in Knoxville and is an Elder at Eastminster Presbyterian Church.  He is married to the former Lynn Hawkins of Sewanee, Tennessee.  They have four children (Tara, Whitney, John, and Zane) as well as four grandchildren.