Murphy-Duncan-1970

Duncan Murphy

Class of 1970 - Inducted in 2013

Duncan was inducted into the SHSAA Hall of Fame in 2013.

Duncan Murphy enjoyed playing football and golf for four years at SHS, three years of basketball and one year wrestling. He became an Eagle Scout and won the “God and Country Award.” After graduation he obtained his degree from Princeton University where he played football one year, golf four years and was captain of the golf team his senior year. He continues as an active member of his high school reunion committee.

He was employed by a furniture company for ten years before joining Riekes Equipment Co. in 1984. In 1986 he became President and part owner of the company, increasing the number of employees from 30 to 110. Branches were doubled from three to six and revenue increased ten-fold. 20 years ago a devastating fire burned the office to the ground, but they came back stronger than ever and later purchased a material handling company in Kansas City. That company has doubled in size to 65 employees.

Duncan is a member of the Yale Materials handling Dealer Advisory board and has served as president three times. He is also a member of the national trade association Materials Handling Equipment Distributors Association, serving on the MHEDA board of directors 2004 to 2012 and serving as President in 2009. Riekes won the coveted Yale Dealer of Excellence award 14 times since 1995 and is a MHEDA MVP. He is a Board Member of both the Rotary Club of Omaha and Mid-America Council BSA.

He was chairman of the “New York Says Thank You” and BSA team that gathered 1,000 volunteers to build a memorial at Little Sioux Scout camp devastated by a tornado. He is a member of the Small Business Task Force of United Way of the Midlands, president of the Missouri Valley Princeton Alumni Association, and contributor to the Omaha Community Foundation. Duncan won the Boy Scouts of America Silver Beaver Award, and was named American Business Women’s Associations’ Associate of the Year.

Duncan says he received a broad foundation in South Omaha and from SHS which is critical to his achievements. The work ethic was ingrained and the opportunities and choices available were enjoyed as were the friendships made for a lifetime. He thanks SHS, its staff and students for preparing him for life.