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16SmokeSignalsACenturyofSilverScreenHeroesonHorsebackNo.16intheSeriesByGaryEugeneBrownAlltheworldsastageandallthemenandwomenmerelyplayersTheyhavetheirexitsandtheirentrances..AsYouLikeItWilliamShakespeareJaquesMonologueActII.Peopleoftenwonderwhytheirlivestakeaparticularcourseresultingintheirultimatedestiny.Somefeelitisbeingattherightplaceattherighttimeothersbycreatingavisionandworkinghardtoachieveitandtherearethosewhoareoftheopinionitismainlylucklikeaspinoftheroulettewheeleitherbyfateorbydivineappointment.OurfeaturedplayertodaywasborninasmallMidwesttown.AsaboyhewasthrilledtoseephotoplaysofhisheroTomMix.Duringhisyouthheparticipatedinsportsandassumedstudentbodyofficerresponsibilities.AfternotreceivingacceptanceattheUSNavalAcademytheyoungmandecidedhewantedtobecomealawyer.Howeverhewasgoingtobemuchmuchmorethanyourrunofthemillbarrister.HewasdestinedtobecomeanAmericanlegend.HisnameknownthroughouttheworldtothisdayBornMarionRobertMorrisonat13poundsinWintersetIowaonMay261907tothelocaldruggistClydeMorrisonandhiswifetheformerMaryMollyBrownatelephoneoperator.MarionwasveryfondofhisfatherwhothetownfolksoftencalledDoc.MollyapetiteenergeticredheadhadafierytemperwhichshewoulddemonstrateattimesoftenaimedatDoc.Marionwassaddenedwiththeangryoutburstsathomebetweenhisparents.Ayoungerbrotherwasbornin1912.HismotherwantedtonamehimRobertsotheylegallychangedMarionsmiddlenametoMitchell.Itwasthefirstofmanyactsthatindicatedshefavoredtheyoungestson.Marionspenttherestofhislifetryingtopleasehismother.DocsfatherencouragedthefamilytofollowhimtoCalifornia.DocwentfirstandbroughtthefamilytotheMojaveDeserttownofLancasterin1914.TheoriginalintentwasforthemtobecomefarmersalongwithMarionsgrandfather.HoweverMitchellMorrisondiedandin1916andbeingtiredoftheheatjackrabbitsandrattlesnakesthefamilymovedtoGlendalewhichofferedamuchmilderenvironment.DocMorrisonwentbacktopharmacyworkandMarionenteredthepublicschoolsystem.AtaboutthistimehepickedupthenicknameDukethenameofhislargeAiredaleTerrier.MarionwouldfrequentaGlendalefirestationwithhisdogintoworviceversa.ThelocalfirefightersbegancallingthembothDuke.ThenamestuckforlifeashewasnottooenamoredwithbeingcalledMarion.DukeMorrisonenteredGlendaleHighSchoolin1921.Hefitinverywellandwasquitepopular.DukebecamePresidentofhisSr.Class1925.Heparticipatedinschoolplayswasasportswriterfortheschoolpaperandwasastarguardonthechampionshiphighschoolfootballteam.DukehadafellowJOHNWAYNEHIGHNOON