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A.O. Duer is commonly recognized as one of the founding fathers of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). Duer, executive secretary of the NAIA from 1949-1975, was affiliated with the association almost from its inception in 1937 as a national basketball tournament. He coached basketball at Pepperdine University in Los Angeles for 10 years. While at Pepperdine, he had one losing season and his teams appeared in the National Basketball Championships four times, finishing second in 1945 and third in 1946. In the 1960s, Duer was elected to the board of directors of both the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) and the United States Olympic Committee. Duer has been inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame and the National Basketball Hall of Fame for his contributions to the sport. The NAIA presents an award each year in his name to a collegiate student-athlete who succeeds on the field and in the classroom. While a student at Emporia State University, Duer competed in both football and basketball for the Hornets.
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