Edwin Russell Durno
Encyclopedia
Edwin Russell Durno was a physician, politician, an infantry sergeant who was awarded a Purple Heart
, and a basketball player recognized in the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame
.
He was a Republican
member of the United States House of Representatives
representing Oregon's 4th congressional district
from 1961 to 1963.
, near Albany
. He attended public schools in Silverton
and attended the University of Oregon
, where he starred on the Ducks' basketball team. Durno was the school's first basketball All-American and was a three-time all-Pacific Coast Conference
selection. A prolific scorer, Durno led the Ducks to the 1919 conference title and was team captain during his senior year of 1921. He was inducted into the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame
in 1981, and the University of Oregon Sports Hall of Fame in 1992.
Durno graduated from Oregon with a Bachelor of Science
degree in 1921 and went on to receive M.D.
from Harvard Medical School
in 1927, setting up a medical practice in Boston.
(as an infantry sergeant) and World War II
(in the Medical Corps) where he was awarded the Purple Heart
for his service. Durno returned to Oregon after World War II where he practiced medicine in Medford
and served on the Oregon Board of Medical Examiners from 1947 to 1958.
, and in 1960, was elected to the United States House of Representatives
, unseating liberal Democrat Charles O. Porter
. Doubtful of reelection in a politically marginal district, he did not seek reelection to the House in 1962, instead seeking the Republican nomination for Wayne Morse
's seat in Oregon's 1962 U. S. Senate election
. Durno lost the nomination to Sig Unander and returned to his medical practice in Medford. Durno died in 1976.
Purple Heart
The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York...
, and a basketball player recognized in the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame
Oregon Sports Hall of Fame
The Oregon Sports Hall of Fame honors Oregon athletes, teams, coaches, and others who have made a significant contribution to sports in Oregon. The first class was inducted in 1980, with new inductees added in the fall...
.
He was a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
member of the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
representing Oregon's 4th congressional district
Oregon's 4th congressional district
Oregon's 4th congressional district represents the southern half of Oregon's coastal counties, including Coos, Curry, Douglas, Lane, and Linn counties and most of Benton and Josephine counties...
from 1961 to 1963.
Early life and basketball career
Durno was born on a farm in Linn County, OregonLinn County, Oregon
Linn County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. It is named in honor of Lewis F. Linn, a U.S. Senator from Missouri who advocated the American occupation of the Oregon Country. By the 2010 US census the population of Linn county was 116,672 showing a 13.2% growth since the 2000 census...
, near Albany
Albany, Oregon
Albany is the eleventh largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon, and is the county seat of Linn County. It is located in the Willamette Valley at the confluence of the Calapooia River and the Willamette River in both Linn and Benton counties, just east of Corvallis and south of Salem. It is...
. He attended public schools in Silverton
Silverton, Oregon
Silverton is a city in Marion County, Oregon, United States, along the 45th parallel. The population was 7,414 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Salem Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
and attended the University of Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
, where he starred on the Ducks' basketball team. Durno was the school's first basketball All-American and was a three-time all-Pacific Coast Conference
Pacific Coast Conference
The Pacific Coast Conference was a college athletic conference in the United States which existed from 1915 to 1959. Though the Pacific-12 Conference claims the PCC's history as part of its own, the older league had a completely different charter and was disbanded in 1959 due to a major crisis...
selection. A prolific scorer, Durno led the Ducks to the 1919 conference title and was team captain during his senior year of 1921. He was inducted into the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame
Oregon Sports Hall of Fame
The Oregon Sports Hall of Fame honors Oregon athletes, teams, coaches, and others who have made a significant contribution to sports in Oregon. The first class was inducted in 1980, with new inductees added in the fall...
in 1981, and the University of Oregon Sports Hall of Fame in 1992.
Durno graduated from Oregon with a Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree in 1921 and went on to receive M.D.
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
from Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School is the graduate medical school of Harvard University. It is located in the Longwood Medical Area of the Mission Hill neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts....
in 1927, setting up a medical practice in Boston.
Military and medical career
Durno served in both World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
(as an infantry sergeant) and World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
(in the Medical Corps) where he was awarded the Purple Heart
Purple Heart
The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York...
for his service. Durno returned to Oregon after World War II where he practiced medicine in Medford
Medford, Oregon
Medford is a city in Jackson County, Oregon, United States. As of the 2010 US Census, the city had a total population of 74,907 and a metropolitan area population of 207,010, making the Medford MSA the 4th largest metro area in Oregon...
and served on the Oregon Board of Medical Examiners from 1947 to 1958.
Political career
In 1958, he was elected to the Oregon State SenateOregon State Senate
The Oregon State Senate is the upper house of the state-wide legislature for the U.S. state of Oregon. Along with the lower chamber Oregon House of Representatives it makes up the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 30 members of the State Senate, representing 30 districts across the state,...
, and in 1960, was elected to the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
, unseating liberal Democrat Charles O. Porter
Charles O. Porter
Charles Orlando Porter was a politician from the U.S. state of Oregon.-Early life:Born in Klamath Falls, Oregon, to Frank Porter and Ruth Peterson, he graduated from high school in Eugene, Oregon and then went on to graduate from Harvard University with a B.S. in 1941...
. Doubtful of reelection in a politically marginal district, he did not seek reelection to the House in 1962, instead seeking the Republican nomination for Wayne Morse
Wayne Morse
Wayne Lyman Morse was a politician and attorney from Oregon, United States, known for his proclivity for opposing his parties' leadership, and specifically for his opposition to the Vietnam War on constitutional grounds....
's seat in Oregon's 1962 U. S. Senate election
United States Senate election in Oregon, 1962
The 1962 Oregon United States Senate election was held on November 8, 1962 to select the U.S. Senator from the state of Oregon. Democratic Senator Wayne Morse decided to seek re-election for a fourth term. He defeated Republican candidate Sig Unander in the general election.-Results:...
. Durno lost the nomination to Sig Unander and returned to his medical practice in Medford. Durno died in 1976.