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Ken Duke, PGA Tour: Arkadelphia High School

As told by Arkadelphia High School students and Mattison Griffin
Arkadelphia, Arkansas

Story Narrative:

A badger in a blue sweater serves as a mascot.

Students at Arkadelphia High School collaborated with Mattison Griffin, a student in the Public History program at Ouachita Baptist University, to explore the history of the high school’s athletic teams and supporting organizations. They located many photographs and conducted oral history interviews with Ken Duke, an AHS graduate currently playing on the PGA Tour.

Interviewer 1 (00:02): How long have you been playing golf?

Ken Duke (00:06): I'm 48 and I started when I was 10, so 38 years. But I played all sports until I was 15, then I just went straight golf.

Interviewer 1 (00:23): What all sports did you play?

Ken Duke (00:26): I played basketball, football and baseball and golf.

Interviewer 2 (00:33): And then how has golf affected your life so far in general?

Ken Duke (00:40): Well, it's obviously is a lot of hard work. I mean, I grew up in a small town in Arkadelphia and a lot of things wasn't handed to me like they have been to other people. My parents had to work and scrap as much as they can get and to help us out. But nothing comes easy. You always have to work hard and put the time in. But you need a few breaks along the way to help you along and keep going, and grow confidence as you play, and just believe that you can do something. And that's where we are, and that's where I'm at right now.

Interviewer 2 (01:21): That's great.

Interviewer 1 (01:24): How did you become the professional golfer you are today?

Ken Duke (01:29): Just believing in myself, believing in my ability. I had scoliosis when I was a kid, so I overcome that and had some other injuries. But more you just believe in yourself, and you got to put the time in, you got put the practice in, and keep working hard.

Interviewer 2 (01:45): Okay. And then how would you say that Coach Atkins affected your golfing career?

Ken Duke (01:59): Well, he just believed in us and he was just a guy that pushed everyone, and we would do what we were told. And that's kind of the way what coaches will do. If you listen to the coaches, they know what's best is. You just keep fighting and going on.

Interviewer 2 (02:20): And then if there's anything that you could look back and tell him about what you've accomplished, is there anything that you'd say to him today?

Ken Duke (02:34): Just thank you for being the person you are and believing in all our abilities, and being a friend, and just thanks for being so positive.

Interviewer 1 (02:52): How has your time at Arkadelphia High School affected you?

Ken Duke (02:59): Well, I think growing up in a small town and knowing every single person... When you go to every place you go, everybody knows you... it's fun and not in a big city. Anything you do, if you're in a big city or if you're handed things or if you're not handed things and you're in a small town, you just got to scrap and you got to work hard. You got to believe in yourself and be positive. Do a lot of positive things, no negative things. And just having fun. Have fun more than any.

Interviewer 2 (03:41): And how was your experience at Henderson, how did that affect you as well?

Ken Duke (03:47): Well, obviously, Henderson gave me a scholarship to play golf. And I wanted to go to the next level. I know a lot of guys did not want to go to the next level. And I didn't really care much about school, but Dr. Dolores White told me, "There's more than golf, son," so I had to get my degree. She made sure I got my degree. And on top of it, I had a chance to play golf for the school. And we had some wonderful teams, and to balance those two out was really nice. I probably wouldn't have made it without her. And Kathy Muse just pushing me through college and getting my degree. Because in professional sports, you never know if you're going to make it. And like I said, you got to have some breaks and you got to have some talent. And if you don't make it, you got to figure out something to do, and if you have a degree, you can fall back on that. And that's what I stress with my kids now.

Ken Duke (04:46): And even some of these young kids that ask me about how easy is it to be a professional golfer or professional athlete, or how hard is it, and the main thing, guys, just get your degree. And once you get your degree, then you can focus on something else, and you can always fall back on that going down the road if you need to.

Interviewer 2 (05:06): Okay. And then in a way, would you consider yourself, coming from a small town, a hometown hero?

Ken Duke (05:14): Yeah, I think so. A lot of people follow me, and obviously a dream of mine to play on the PGA tour. And obviously everyone around this world watches golf, and it's pretty nice to... But I'm the same guy that I was in high school and college. And even now, all the success I've had, I'm pretty much the same person. You can still talk to me. You can still call me. I'm not going to big time you. I'm not going to be that kind of person. Like you were talking about your aunt and uncles, I still know all those guys and they still know me, and if I see them, I'm going to talk to them just like they're going to talk to me. But that's me and it's always been me and I'll never change.

Interviewer 2 (05:54): Okay, I think that's all the questions we really had. Is there anything else you'd like to add?

Ken Duke (06:02): I don't think so. I think you guys did a great job, and just drop that by my mom's. 


Asset ID: 2021.09.02.a
Themes: Hometown Teams, sports, golf, hard work, mentors, college, confidence, education, perseverance, hometown heroes, small-town life
Date recorded: 2017
Length of recording: 06:08 m
File Type: Audio
Related traveling exhibition: Hometown Teams: How Sports Shape America
Sponsor or affiliated organization: Arkadelphia High School, Arkadelphia, Arkansas, in collaboration with the Public History program at Ouachita Baptist University
More information: https://arkansashumanitiescouncil.org/hometown-teams-exhibit/

 

 

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