# Walter Duda

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{{Short description|American politician (1921–2008)}}
{{use mdy dates|date=April 2026}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Walter Duda
| office = Member of the [Nebraska Legislature](/source/Nebraska_Legislature) from the 14th district
| term_start = July 13, 1981
| term_end = January 5, 1983
| predecessor = [Thomas Fitzgerald](/source/Thomas_Fitzgerald_(Nebraska_politician))
| successor = [Tom Doyle](/source/Tom_Doyle_(Nebraska_politician))
| birth_date = {{birth date|1921|1|9}}
| birth_place = [Kansas City, Kansas](/source/Kansas_City%2C_Kansas)
| death_date = {{death date and age|2008|6|1|1921|1|9}}
| death_place = [Omaha, Nebraska](/source/Omaha%2C_Nebraska)
| education = [Iowa State University](/source/Iowa_State_University)
| party = [Republican](/source/Republican_Party_(United_States))
| spouse = Dorothy Duda (died 2008)
}}

'''Walter Duda''' (January 9, 1921{{spaced ndash}}June 1, 2008) was a [Republican](/source/Republican_Party_(United_States)) politician from [Nebraska](/source/Nebraska) who served as a member of the [Nebraska Legislature](/source/Nebraska_Legislature) from 1981 to 1983.

==Early life==
Duda was born in [Kansas City, Kansas](/source/Kansas_City%2C_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](/source/Omaha_World-Herald)|date=June 3, 2008|location=|page=4B|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald/195704309/|via=[Newspapers.com](/source/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](/source/Ancestry.com)|access-date=April 16, 2026}}</ref> and grew up in [Omaha](/source/Omaha%2C_Nebraska), graduating from [Omaha Central High School](/source/Omaha_Central_High_School).<ref name="farm"/> He served in the [Marines](/source/United_States_Marine_Corps) during [World War II](/source/World_War_II), and graduated from [Iowa State University](/source/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](/source/Douglas_County%2C_Nebraska) 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](/source/Omaha_World-Herald)|date=May 15, 1968|location=|page=4|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald/195705201/|via=[Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)|access-date=April 16, 2026}}</ref> He faced incumbent Democratic Supervisor [Dan Lynch](/source/Dan_Lynch_(Nebraska_politician)) in the general election.<ref>{{cite news|last=Claxton|first=Gary|title=Republicans Hitting Age Issue in Douglas County Races|newspaper=[Lincoln Evening Journal](/source/Lincoln_Journal_Star)|date=November 1, 1968|location=|page=14|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lincoln-journal-star/195705366/|via=[Newspapers.com](/source/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](/source/Omaha_World-Herald)|date=November 6, 1968|location=|page=46025|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald/195705272/|via=[Newspapers.com](/source/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](/source/Omaha_World-Herald)|date=February 13, 1970|location=|page=4|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald/195705448/|via=[Newspapers.com](/source/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](/source/Omaha_World-Herald)|date=May 13, 1970|location=|page=6|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald/195705521/|via=[Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)|access-date=April 16, 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Who's Who In General Election|newspaper=[Omaha World-Herald](/source/Omaha_World-Herald)|date=October 21, 1970|location=|page=51|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald/195705566/|via=[Newspapers.com](/source/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](/source/Omaha_World-Herald)|date=November 4, 1970|location=|page=2|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald/195705678/|via=[Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)|access-date=April 16, 2026}}</ref>

==Nebraska Legislature==
In 1978, Duda challenged incumbent State Senator [Thomas Fitzgerald](/source/Thomas_Fitzgerald_(Nebraska_politician)) for re-election in the 14th district, along with [U.S. Air Force](/source/United_States_Air_Force) veteran Jackson Graham, [Ku Klux Klan](/source/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](/source/Omaha_World-Herald)|date=April 29, 1978|location=|page=25|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald/195705846/|via=[Newspapers.com](/source/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](/source/Omaha_World-Herald)|date=May 10, 1978|location=|page=6|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald/195706009/|via=[Newspapers.com](/source/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](/source/Omaha_World-Herald)|date=November 8, 1978|location=|page=7|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald/195706483/|via=[Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)|access-date=April 16, 2026}}</ref>

Fitzgerald was appointed to the Liquor Control Commission by Governor [Charles Thone](/source/Charles_Thone) in 1981,<ref>{{cite news|last=Fogarty|first=Thomas A.|title=Fitzgerald succeeded by Duda|newspaper=[Lincoln Journal](/source/Lincoln_Journal_Star)|date=July 13, 1981|location=|page=1|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lincoln-journal-star/195706585/|via=[Newspapers.com](/source/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](/source/Omaha_World-Herald)|date=July 14, 1981|location=|page=4|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald/195706663/|via=[Newspapers.com](/source/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](/source/Sarpy_County%2C_Nebraska) following redistricting,<ref>{{cite news|last=Kotok|first=C. David|title=Five to Seek Re-Election|newspaper=[Omaha World-Herald](/source/Omaha_World-Herald)|date=November 1, 1981|location=|page=19|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald/195706832/|via=[Newspapers.com](/source/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](/source/Lincoln_Journal_Star)|date=April 11, 1982|location=[Lincoln, Nebraska](/source/Lincoln%2C_Nebraska)|page=3E|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-lincoln-star/195706868/|via=[Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)|access-date=April 16, 2026}}</ref>

In 1984, Duda ran for the state legislature, seeking to succeed State Senator [Dave Newell](/source/Dave_Newell) in the 13th district.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ex-Senator Seeks 13th District Seat|newspaper=[Omaha World-Herald](/source/Omaha_World-Herald)|date=February 10, 1984|location=|page=6|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald/195706970/|via=[Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)|access-date=April 16, 2026}}</ref> In the nonpartisan primary, he faced former Douglas County Commissioner [Dan Lynch](/source/Dan_Lynch_(Nebraska_politician)), who defeated him in 1968; [Northwestern Bell](/source/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](/source/Omaha_World-Herald)|date=May 11, 1984|location=|page=48|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald/195707057/|via=[Newspapers.com](/source/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](/source/Omaha_World-Herald)|date=May 16, 1984|location=|page=46|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald/195510886/|via=[Newspapers.com](/source/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](/source/Omaha_World-Herald)|date=November 7, 1984|location=|page=14|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald/194481358/|via=[Newspapers.com](/source/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

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Walter Duda](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Duda) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Duda?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.