Hall of Fame - Richard Duke

Richard Duke has earned the honor of being the first inductee into the Friend of TASFAA category. Richard’s association with TASFAA began through his devotion to service to his client schools. He was in the business of helping schools with the collection of their account receivables in the National Defense and National Direct Student Loans. Through Richard’s successful efforts, NDSL delinquency was reduced which, in turn increased cash flow for financial aid administrators to make loan funds available to their students. On many occasions as a conference presenter, he demonstrated his commitment to the integrity of the student loan programs by sharing effective collection techniques with TASFAA members in an effort to prevent delinquency.

Richard was one of the first “vendors” of TASFAA which helped open the door to actual vendor support. Richard is a generous and hospitable person by nature and through his unofficial hospitality suites, he provided a warm, friendly atmosphere for conference weary attendees to relax and network with friends at the end of the day. As a result of Richard’s example and support, TASFAA moved toward accepting vendors or sponsors at meetings. In the early 1980s, TASFAA amended its constitution to create a system of direct vendor support. This action officially expanded TASFAA’s financial stability and forever changed its ability to support new areas of outreach.

Richard has proven to be a Friend of TASFAA through his large and welcoming presence. Longtime TASFAA members will smile instantly at the mention of his name or at the recollection of Richard on the dance floor, around a golf tee, or at a dinner table. His rich humor is noted more for his delivery than for the content of the jokes he always has at hand. He brought the spirit of Christmas not only to TASFAA but for years played this role in his community, making hundreds of children happy. Anyone who knows him as Santa Clause knows there could be no person more physically fitting or personally engaged than Richard.

Richard Duke is an original. Without his contributions, TASFAA may have taken many more years to enter into serious partnerships with lenders, guarantors, servicers, data processing companies and more. It is appropriate and long overdue that TASFAA recognize this gentleman’s contribution and commitment to TASFAA’s mission of helping provide access for higher education.