Riding Into the Sunset

On June 11, 1979, film legend John Wayne took his final ride into the sunset. Born in Winterset, Iowa, 72 years earlier, young Marion Robert Morrison, couldn’t have ever imagined that one day he’d reign over Hollywood as “The Duke”.

The nickname “Duke” had stuck since Marion Morrison’s childhood when he had an Airedale terrier named Duke. Because the boy and his canine pal were so inseparable, the duo became known as “Big Duke” and “Little Duke”.

It was likely that Marion “Duke” Morrison would have considered becomin