Jim Duncan was a basketball star who also played football and tennis at Napa High School. He played #1 singles and doubles on the 1945, ’46 and ’47 tennis teams. In 1947, Duncan and doubles partner Jack Hosburg won the North Bay League championship. He was the center on the 1945 B football championship team. As a varsity player in 1946, Duncan was converted to end and contributed to a 6-1-2 record with two touchdown receptions. As a basketball player, Duncan’s presence on the team assured a league championship. He played center on the 1944-45 B team that lost only one game. It was Coach Ron English’s second consecutive one loss season. Duncan was a starting forward on the 1945-46 NBL co-championship team, and he led the 1946-47 team to a league title and a trip to the Northern California Tournament of Champions. He was the leading scorer on that team. Duncan’s championship caliber of play in three sports enabled him to become Napa High’s first athlete to earn six Block N’s. He was also Student Body President in the fall semester of 1946.
