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17OCTOBER2013teammateBillBradburywhohadasmallertwinbrothernamedBob.BothDukeandBillreceivedacademicandathleticscholarshipstoplayfootballatUSC.BobBradburyquitschoolinhisjunioryeartofollowhisfatheroutonfilmlocations.WhowouldhavethoughtBillandBobsfatherR.N.BradburylaterwoulddirectmanyJohnWayneBWesterns.HissonlikewisewouldbecomealeadingmaninBcowboyfilmsBobSteele.BillBradburywouldgoontomedicalschoolandbecomeoneofLosAngelessleadinggynecologistsdeliveringbabiesforthelikesofShirleyTempleandEstherWilliams.HollywoodwasasmallcommunitywaybackthenDukeMorrisonenteredUSCin1925asapre-lawmajor.HeplayedfootballforthelegendarycoachHowardJonesandwasshiftedtoatackleposition.DukealsobecameafraternitymemberofSigmaChi.AfamousspectatorwhoattendedtheTrojanfootballgameswhenintownwasthelegendaryfirstKingoftheCowboysTomMix.CoachJoneshadanarrangementwithTomMixwherebyhewouldfurnishTomandhisentouragefootballticketsifTomwouldhelpfindoff-seasonemploymentforhisplayersatFoxStudios.InturnDukeandanotherplayerreceivedaninvitationtomeetTomMixatFoxStudios.ThetwoyoungmenwereimpressedwiththeluxurycarwithaTMbrandonitparkedoutinfrontofhisdressingroom.Theywenttohisroomandtherehewasinhisfancycustomcowboyoutfit.Dukewashopingtheywouldbehiredtosparwiththefamousactorwhoboxeddailytokeepinshape.ThecowboyactorwhomheadmiredasaboyaskedDuketoshowhimhowtoplayfootball.Dukeassumedaleveragepositionandthe5-foot10-inch160pound45yearoldactorwouldtryknockingoverthe6-foot4-inch180pound19yearoldDuke.ThecowboyactortoldthemthathewasgettingreadytomakeafilminColoradoandwantedthemtojoinhimandhelphimremainintopphysicalcondition.IntheinterimTomsaidhewouldhelpthemfindworkinthestudioandintroducedthemtoamaninchargeofhiringthefilmcrews.Dukewaspromptlyhiredasapropman...movingfurniturefromonesettoanother.DukeasrecordedinhisunfinishedbiographynotedthenexttimehesawTomMixdriveintothestudiolotinhisbeautifulLocomobileIquicklyputthechairdownandsmiledatmybenefactorandsaidHelloMr.Mix.Howeverthepublicsnumberonecowboystargavehimablanklook...thattoldmemydatewithColoradohadjustbeenbroken.Hedidntremember.Itisregretfulthatthesupercowboyfilmstaratthetimeforonereasonoranotherwouldconveyawho-are-youlookattheyoungman.HowevertheinitialintroductionmadebyTomMixenabledyoungDukeMorrisontoenterthestudiogatesandtherestishistory.Thiswasapivotalmomentinhislifeashesooninjuredhisshoulderwhilebodysurfingwhichendedhisfootballcareer.ThetalllithehandsomeathletewhilemovingobjectsfromonesettoanothercametotheattentionofmanypeopleincludingdirectorJohnFord.JackashewascalledbackthenhadmadeseveralfilmsbythenincludingtwocriticallyacclaimedAwesterns-TheIronHorseand3BadMen.ThedirectorusedDukebehindthescenesonMotherMachree1928whereDukemetFordstockplayerVictorMcLaglenwhowouldeventuallycostarwithhiminmemorablefilmssuchasSheWoreaYellowRibbon1949andTheQuietMan1952.Fordwouldtalktotheyoungmanabouthisplayingdaysonthegridiron.FordimmediatelylikedDukeandwouldusehimtoassistinthreemorefilms.FromtimetotimeDukewouldgetanoccasionalpartasanextrainfilms.HeevendrownedinthefloodintheepicNoahsArk1929whichstarredGeorgeOBrienJohnFordsfirstprotgeandtheleadingmaninbothTheIronHorseand3BadMen.LikeMcLaglenOBrienwouldgoontocostarwiththeDukeinFordsFortApache1948andSheWoreaYellowRibbon.DukesfirstfilmcreditwasinthefilmSalute1929anotherFordOBriencollaboration.1930wasasignificantyearinthelifeofDukeMorrison.JohnFordclaimedlateronthathelearnedthatDirectorRaoulWalshwaslookingforaleadingmanforamajoralltalkingwesternabouttheOregonTrailTheBigTrail1930.HesuggestedWalshconsiderDukeforthepart.WalshhadwantedGaryCooperfortherolebutwasnotabletosignhim.Assuchhetookabiggambleinhiringavirtuallyunknownactorage22toplaytheleadroleinabigbudgetepicwestern.WalshhadbeenreadingabiographyonGeneralMadAnthonyWayneaRevolutionaryWarheroandwantedtonamehisnewleadingmanafterthishistoricalcharacter.HoweverAnthonysoundedtooethnicsothenameJohnWaynewasselected.Unfortunatelythefilmwhichdepictedmanyofthe