{{Short description|American politician (1921–2008)}} {{use mdy dates|date=April 2026}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Walter Duda | office = Member of the Nebraska Legislature from the 14th district | term_start = July 13, 1981 | term_end = January 5, 1983 | predecessor = Thomas Fitzgerald | successor = Tom Doyle | birth_date = {{birth date|1921|1|9}} | birth_place = Kansas City, Kansas | death_date = {{death date and age|2008|6|1|1921|1|9}} | death_place = Omaha, Nebraska | education = Iowa State University | party = Republican | spouse = Dorothy Duda (died 2008) }}
'''Walter Duda''' (January 9, 1921{{spaced ndash}}June 1, 2008) was a Republican politician from Nebraska who served as a member of the Nebraska Legislature from 1981 to 1983.
==Early life== Duda was born in Kansas City, Kansas, in 1921,<ref name="farm">{{cite news|last=Palmer|first=Jane|title=Walter Duda intended from an early age to farm|newspaper=Omaha World-Herald|date=June 3, 2008|location=|page=4B|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald/195704309/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 16, 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Walter J. Duda|date=|url=https://www.ancestry.com/genealogy/records/walter-j-duda-24-28f0htx|website=Ancestry.com|access-date=April 16, 2026}}</ref> and grew up in Omaha, graduating from Omaha Central High School.<ref name="farm"/> He served in the Marines during World War II, and graduated from Iowa State University with his bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering.<ref name="farm"/> He operated a corn farm and worked in real estate.<ref name="farm"/>
In 1968, Duda ran for the Douglas County Board of Supervisors in the 3rd district, and won the Republican primary over Dexter Nygaard.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ostler Set for Shot at Courthouse|newspaper=Omaha World-Herald|date=May 15, 1968|location=|page=4|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald/195705201/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 16, 2026}}</ref> He faced incumbent Democratic Supervisor Dan Lynch in the general election.<ref>{{cite news|last=Claxton|first=Gary|title=Republicans Hitting Age Issue in Douglas County Races|newspaper=Lincoln Evening Journal|date=November 1, 1968|location=|page=14|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lincoln-journal-star/195705366/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 16, 2026}}</ref> Though Republicans won a majority on the board, Lynch narrowly defeated Duda.<ref>{{cite news|last=Ivey|first=James|title=Courthouse Falls to GOP Power Play|newspaper=Omaha World-Herald|date=November 6, 1968|location=|page=46025|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald/195705272/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 16, 2026}}</ref>
Duda ran again for the Board of Supervisors in 1970 for one of three at-large seats,<ref>{{cite news|title=County Race Brings Out 2 Republicans|newspaper=Omaha World-Herald|date=February 13, 1970|location=|page=4|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald/195705448/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 16, 2026}}</ref> and won the Republican primary, along with insurance agent James Henderson and real estate salesman Harry Taylor, and they faced Democrats George Buglewicz, a sales manager; surveyor Bill Green; and incumbent Supervisor Jack Cavanahg.<ref>{{cite news|title=Board Race Pairs Vacanti And Hassett|newspaper=Omaha World-Herald|date=May 13, 1970|location=|page=6|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald/195705521/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 16, 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Who's Who In General Election|newspaper=Omaha World-Herald|date=October 21, 1970|location=|page=51|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald/195705566/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 16, 2026}}</ref> All three Democratic candidates won, marking the first time since 1936 that the county board was constituted by members of one political party.<ref>{{cite news|title=Democrats' Victory On Board Is Total|newspaper=Omaha World-Herald|date=November 4, 1970|location=|page=2|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald/195705678/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 16, 2026}}</ref>
==Nebraska Legislature== In 1978, Duda challenged incumbent State Senator Thomas Fitzgerald for re-election in the 14th district, along with U.S. Air Force veteran Jackson Graham, Ku Klux Klan recruiter Herschel Nelson, and businessman Theodore Strasser.<ref>{{cite news|title=Fitzgerald Faces 4 Challengers in 14th District|newspaper=Omaha World-Herald|date=April 29, 1978|location=|page=25|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald/195705846/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 16, 2026}}</ref> Fitzgerald and Duda both received 35 percent of the vote in the primary, with Fitzgerald placing ahead of Duda by 2 votes,<ref name="1978 results">{{cite book|title=Official Report of the Nebraska State Canvassing Board, Primary Election, May 9, 1978, General Election, November 7, 1978|last=Beermann|first=Allen J.|publisher=Nebraska Secretary of State|year=1978|url=https://govdocs.nebraska.gov/epubs/S1200/S001-1978prim_gen.pdf|access-date=April 16, 2026}}</ref> and they advanced to the general election.<ref>{{cite news|title=Fall Race to Mix Old, New|newspaper=Omaha World-Herald|date=May 10, 1978|location=|page=6|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald/195706009/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 16, 2026}}</ref> Fitzgerald narrowly defeated Duda in the general election, winning 52–48 percent.<ref>{{cite news|title=Recount Possible in 6th District Race for Legislative Seat|newspaper=Omaha World-Herald|date=November 8, 1978|location=|page=7|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald/195706483/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 16, 2026}}</ref>
Fitzgerald was appointed to the Liquor Control Commission by Governor Charles Thone in 1981,<ref>{{cite news|last=Fogarty|first=Thomas A.|title=Fitzgerald succeeded by Duda|newspaper=Lincoln Journal|date=July 13, 1981|location=|page=1|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lincoln-journal-star/195706585/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 16, 2026}}</ref> and Thone appointed Duda to serve out the remaining two years of Fitzgerald's term.<ref>{{cite news|last=Jordon|first=Steve|title=Newly Named Senator Has 'No Plan, No Axes'|newspaper=Omaha World-Herald|date=July 14, 1981|location=|page=4|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald/195706663/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 16, 2026}}</ref> He was sworn in on July 13, 1981.<ref>{{cite book|title=Legislative Journal of the State of Nebraska: Eighty-Seventh Legislature, First Special Session|editor-last1=O'Donnell|editor-first1=Patrick J.|year=1981|page=8|url=https://www.nebraskalegislature.gov/FloorDocs/87/PDF/Journal/s1journal_book.pdf|access-date=April 16, 2026}}</ref> After the 14th district was relocated to Sarpy County following redistricting,<ref>{{cite news|last=Kotok|first=C. David|title=Five to Seek Re-Election|newspaper=Omaha World-Herald|date=November 1, 1981|location=|page=19|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald/195706832/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 16, 2026}}</ref> Duda declined to run for a full term in 1982.<ref>{{cite news|last=Fogarty|first=Thomas A.|title=Departing senators note their legislative education|newspaper=Sunday Journal and Star|date=April 11, 1982|location=Lincoln, Nebraska|page=3E|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-lincoln-star/195706868/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 16, 2026}}</ref>
In 1984, Duda ran for the state legislature, seeking to succeed State Senator Dave Newell in the 13th district.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ex-Senator Seeks 13th District Seat|newspaper=Omaha World-Herald|date=February 10, 1984|location=|page=6|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald/195706970/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 16, 2026}}</ref> In the nonpartisan primary, he faced former Douglas County Commissioner Dan Lynch, who defeated him in 1968; Northwestern Bell employee William Hoffman; insurance agent Bob Garrett; and pharmacy owner Luke Coniglio.<ref>{{cite news|last=Taylor|first=John|title=Candidates Match Diversity of 13th District|newspaper=Omaha World-Herald|date=May 11, 1984|location=|page=48|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald/195707057/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 16, 2026}}</ref> Lynch placed first in the primary, winning 46 percent of the vote to Duda's 35 percent,<ref name="1984 results">{{cite book|title=Official Report of the Nebraska State Canvassing Board, Primary Election, May 15, 1984, General Election, November 6, 1984|last=Beermann|first=Allen J.|publisher=Nebraska Secretary of State|year=1984|url=https://govdocs.nebraska.gov/epubs/S1200/S001-1984prim_gen.pdf|access-date=April 16, 2026}}</ref> and they both advanced to the general election.<ref>{{cite news|last=Thomas|first=Fred|title=2 Built Leads by Talking to Voters|newspaper=Omaha World-Herald|date=May 16, 1984|location=|page=46|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald/195510886/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 16, 2026}}</ref> Lynch ultimately defeated Duda, winning 55 percent of the vote to Duda's 45 percent.<ref name="1984 results"/><ref>{{cite news|last=Whitesides|first=John|title=Liberals May Gain in Legislature|newspaper=Omaha World-Herald|date=November 7, 1984|location=|page=14|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald/194481358/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 16, 2026}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Duda, Walter}} Category:1921 births Category:2008 deaths Category:Nebraska state senators Category:People from Kansas City, Kansas Category:People from Omaha, Nebraska Category:Iowa State University alumni Category:Nebraska Republicans Category:21st-century Nebraska politicians Category:20th-century members of the Nebraska Legislature