Did You Know – A.O Duer, “Mr. NAIA”

Did You know that former Emporia State or at the time Kansas State Teachers College Student and Athlete Alva or Al or better known as A.O. Duer would later earn the moniker of Mr. NAIA?
As a student at Emporia State from 1923-1925, Duer played football and basketball.
He would become the basketball coach at Pepperdine in 1939 where he would have only 1 losing season in 10. His teams played in the National Basketball Championships 4 times.
He would become the Executive Secretary of the NAIB which would become the NAIA in 1949 and held that post until 1975.
Duer pioneered the integration of basketball with the inclusion of an all-black school in the 1954 NAIA national tournament.
He would also serve on the board of directors of the AAU and US Olympic committee and basketball hall of fame.
He is enshrined in the Emporia State Hall of Honor, NAIA Hall of Fame, College Basketball Hall of Fame, and Basketball Hall of Fame.
There is an NAIA scholarship awarded in his name.
And now you know A.O. Duer, Mr. NAIA.