Paul Anderson Duke

Family-Placed Death Notice

Paul Anderson Duke, son of Paul Alexander Duke and Jenny McDonald Duke died Tuesday, March 24 at Presbyterian Village where he was in the Alzheimer's Care Unit. Born September 24, 1924 in Dekalb County, Paul Duke attended Druid Hills and Atlanta Boys High schools. He earned dual B.S. degrees from Georgia Tech, in mechanical engineering and industrial engineering. His extracurricular activities at Tech included service as president of Chi Phi fraternity and president of his Senior Class. Paul was an All-American center under football coach Bobby Dodd, serving as captain of his first team in 1945. He also played a year of professional football in New York. He received Georgia Tech's Distinguished Alumni Award in 1982, the President's Award in 1987 and the Former Student Athlete Total Person Award in 1991. He was also a member of the State of Georgia's Sports Hall of Fame. Paul's business career began with Atlantic Steel Company where he spent eight years. He saw great promise in Gwinnett County, and for three decades he focused his very active professional life there. His accomplishments included organizing the southern division of the L.B. Foster Company, moving division headquarters to Gwinnett where he served as CEO, Vice President and Director until early 1968; the formation of Peachtree Corners, Inc. and the planned community of the same name; and played a pivotal role in organizing Technology Park/Atlanta. Paul's civic activities included various positions in the Atlanta Rotary Club, the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, and the Georgia Tech Foundation. He was a past president of the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce, founding president of The Community Foundation for Northeast Georgia, and past chairman of Teachers-as-Leaders in Gwinnett. In 1985 he was named Gwinnett's Citizen of the Year. He was a former elder and lifelong member of North Avenue Presbyterian Church. Paul is survived by his wife, Jean Fraser Duke; daughters, Linda Duke Pierce, Jenny (Ginger) Duke, Laura Duke Tison, a son, Fraser McDonald Duke; eight grandchildren, Benjamin Pierce, Fraser Tison Kent, Laura Tison, Katie Tison, Logan Duke, Paul Duke; and 3 great grandchildren, Tyler Pierce, Talila Pierce, Timothy Pierce. He was preceded in death by his son, Paul A. Duke, Jr. A memorial service will be held Friday March 27 at North Avenue Presbyterian Church at 11:00 a.m. The family will receive visitors in the upstairs Dining Room after the service. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to The Presbyterian Village, 2000 East West Connector, Austell, GA 30106; The Georgia Tech Foundation; The Community Foundation for Northeast Georgia. Arrangements by Cremation Society of the SOUTH in Marietta 770-420-5557.