Robert Lloyd Duncan (born August 5, 1953) is an American attorney and politician who served as the fourth chancellor of the

Texas Tech University System The Texas Tech University System is a Public university, public State university system, university system in Texas with five member universities. Headquartered in Lubbock, Texas, the Texas Tech University System is a $3 billion enterprise focus ...

from 2014 to 2018. A Republican, he previously served as a member of both houses of the

Texas State Legislature The Texas State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Texas. It is a bicameral body composed of a 31-member Senate and a 150-member House of Representatives. The state legislature meets at the Capitol in Austin. It is a po ...

Early life and education

Duncan is the only son of the five children of Frank L. Duncan, a district conservationist for the

U.S. Department of Agriculture The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is an executive department of the United States federal government that aims to meet the needs of commercial farming and livestock food production, promotes agricultural trade and production ...

in Vernon, and the former Robena Formby. Duncan graduated from Vernon High School in 1971, and obtained a bachelor degree in agricultural economics from

Texas Tech University Texas Tech University (Texas Tech, Tech, or TTU) is a public university, public research university in Lubbock, Texas, United States. Established on February 10, 1923, and called Texas Technological College until 1969, it is the flagship instit ...

, where he was elected student senator and student body president. He also obtained a

Juris Doctor A Juris Doctor, Doctor of Jurisprudence, or Doctor of Law (JD) is a graduate-entry professional degree that primarily prepares individuals to practice law. In the United States and the Philippines, it is the only qualifying law degree. Other j ...

degree from Texas Tech law school.

Career

Duncan served in the

Texas State Senate The Texas Senate is the upper house of the Texas Legislature, with the Texas House of Representatives functioning as the lower house. Together, they form the state legislature of the state of Texas. The Senate is made up of 31 members, where eac ...

from the 28th district, centered about Lubbock, from 1996, when he won a

special election A by-election, also known as a special election in the United States and the Philippines, or a bypoll in India, is an election used to fill an office that has become vacant between general elections. A vacancy may arise as a result of an incumben ...

, until his resignation in July 2014, when he was named chancellor of the Texas Tech system. He previously served in the

Texas House of Representatives The Texas House of Representatives is the lower house of the bicameral Texas Legislature. It consists of 150 members who are elected from single-member districts for two-year terms. There are no Term limits in the United States, term limits. The ...

from District 84 from his election in 1992 until 1996. On May 19, 2014, the Texas Tech University System Board of Regents named Duncan the sole finalist to succeed former

U.S. Representative The United States House of Representatives is a chamber of the bicameral United States Congress; it is the lower house, with the U.S. Senate being the upper house. Together, the House and Senate have the authority under Article One of th ...

Kent Hance Kent Ronald Hance (born November 14, 1942) is an American politician and lawyer who is the former Chancellor of the Texas Tech University System. In his role, he oversaw Texas Tech University, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center and An ...

as the system chancellor. He resigned his role as chancellor in 2018. Duncan was a partner at the Lubbock firm of Crenshaw Dupree & Milam, L.L.P. for 25 years, and is now of counsel for the firm. In January 2025, the office of Texas House Speaker

Dustin Burrows Dustin Ray Burrows (born November 14, 1978) is an American attorney and businessman who has served as the speaker of the Texas House of Representatives since 2025. A member of the Republican Party, he has represented the 83rd district in the Te ...

announced that Duncan would be joining his team to serve as Chief of Staff.

Personal life

Duncan is married to the former Terri Patterson. He has two children from his first marriage to the former Lynne Stebbins, Lindsey and Matthew Duncan.

Election history

Senate election history of Duncan.Uncontested primary elections are not shown.

Most recent election

2004

Previous elections

2002

1998

1996

References

External links

Texas Tech profileProject Vote Smart - Senator Robert L. Duncan (TX)
profile *''Follow the Money'' - Robert L. Duncan
2006200420021998
campaign contributions {{DEFAULTSORT:Duncan, Robert L. 1953 births Chancellors of the Texas Tech University System Living people People from Vernon, Texas Politicians from Lubbock, Texas Texas Tech University alumni Texas Tech University School of Law alumni Texas lawyers Republican Party members of the Texas House of Representatives Republican Party Texas state senators Presidents pro tempore of the Texas Senate 21st-century members of the Texas Legislature