The Duke Slater Memorial Statue & Scholarship Committee has two very exciting
updates. First, on Thursday May 9, to kick off the scholarship fundraising campaign, the
committee is hosting Kirk Ferentz for a luncheon at the Church at Lyons. From 11:30am to 1:30pm,
Hyvee will provide lunch. There will be a short program on Duke’s life and the statue. Around
12:45, Kirk Ferentz will speak. Tickets are $25, and a table is $200. There is also an opportunity to sit and eat lunch with Kirk at hhis table for $1000 per seat. To make reservations, email
Deb Deters at debra.deters@csdkq.org, call 563-243-7540, extension 7022, or order online at https://clintonia.infinitecampus.org/campus/store/clinton
“The goal for this scholarship is to have a four-year scholarship for a student. Ideally, this
would grow into a $2,500 per year scholarship. This event is to kickoff the scholarship
fundraising campaign so we can set the financial amounts. I’m thinking about an annual golf
outing named after Duke,” says Ryan Veenstra, committee member.
Duke Slater moved to Clinton as a teenager in 1911. He led Clinton High School to two
state championships in 1913 and 1914. Duke attended the University of Iowa and led them to a
national championship in 1921. He would go on to play 10 years in the NFL while also obtaining
his law license. After his playing career, Duke worked his way up the judicial ranks in Chicago.
He passed in 1966, but he often came back to Clinton to mentor youth.
“For whom the scholarship will go to, we are focusing on trailblazing leaders who excel
in and out of the classroom and the athletic fields. The scholarship will require students to reflect
on Duke’s legacy and show why their life story and their trajectory reflect Duke’s story,” said
Gary Delacy, committee vice-chair.
Finally, the Duke Slater statue is in the final stages of being cast. It will be finished
sometime this summer, and there is a planned unveiling for the first home football game this fall.
The statue is being created by Brodin Studios in Minnesota. For information about the statue,
Duke, and the scholarship visit: https://www.dukeslaterstatue.com/#/
“The statue is life sized, bronze. It’s been amazing to see the updates and see Duke
come alive. The firm is great to work with. Locally, Paul Dotterweich has led the charge with
Josh Mussman on the pocket park. Amazing work by all. The vision is that every Clinton High
student for a century and all the visiting students walk by Duke and realize their paths are not
set, they set them,” said Matt Parbs, committee member.