May Profile

D
U
K
E

P
R
O
F
I
L
E

JQ interviews the `DUKE' and here is his report:

D.D. "Duke" Barron, present Club position:

National Advisor to the President and member of Chapter 69. Past Club positions: Former National Vice-President 1992-1997, National President 1997-1999, National Secretary Treasurer 1992-1999, member of the Board of Directors 1992-1999, Gag-Box Editor 1993-1999, National Advisor 2001-present. Also known as "That Little Sonuvabitch" since birth in 1942. Married to Pat, whom he calls "Baby" and "my good-hearted woman."

How did this guy become a 13-year BFMC veteran?

Well, it seems back in January or February of 1992, Gary "Batman" Rye met a 49 year-old Harley rider named D.D. Barron. He was known as "Duke" by the people he'd ridden motorcycles with. At that time Duke, a US Navy and Air Force veteran 1966-1971, was a former member of Chapter 2 of the US Military Vets MC in Miami, FL. He had recently relocated back to his hometown Fort Worth as the Vice-President of a local aircraft window manufacturing facility.

Since Batman loved beer, women and his Harley and Duke was of a similar mind-set, they became close friends. After a few months of drinking and riding and having a great time, Batman asked Duke if he'd like to be a Boozefighter, saying "Hell, you're just like us, why don't you make it official?" Duke's reply, "Jeezus... I thought ya'd never ask!"

That following August, on a ride to Sturgis together, Batman asked Duke to help him with the BFMC. Duke was the newest member of the 6-man Fort Worth Chapter and questioned Batman, "Why me? ...I'm the newest guy you got..." Batman says, "Nobody else wants to jack with it... and you gotta good job and it's probably gonna cost some money. You want to meet Wino?" Of course he did, so Duke agreed. After returning from Sturgis, they went to California twice and met Wino and Teri the first time at Wino's place in Fort Bragg. The second time they journeyed to "JD" John Cameron's house in LA where Wino cooked them all an Abalone dinner and Wino and JD told Batman and Duke what they wanted them to do with Boozefighters MC.

Wino had previously asked Batman to take the BFMC over as the National President and make it grow and be nationally known as a good club, not an outlaw or 1% club, as 1% meant something different today than it did in 1946-47. Wino said, "It's the only thing I ever did that really mattered. I don't want it to die with me." Serious stuff. Batman and Duke were given a mission and they took it seriously.

In October, 1992 the two from Texas incorporated the BFMC with Batman as the National President and Duke as the Vice-President and Secretary-Treasurer... and set about their assigned task in doing what Wino and JD told them to do. Organizing the club into what would become the Boozefighters MC as it exists today.

In November, 1995 Gary "Batman" Rye passed away.

Big John was the National VP for Protocol. Duke, although he was the National Vice-President, felt Big John would be more effective in carrying out Wino's and JD's wishes at that stage and told Big John, "Yer IT, I'll stay on as your VP and Sec'y-Treas. and editor of the Gag-Box... but, YOU are gonna be the PREZ... that's the way Batman wanted it. The Club comes FIRST and you DA MAN." Big John said OK.

In 1997, Big John stepped back and told Duke, "Now it's YOUR turn... YOU run for it... get in th' barrel." So Duke did. In 1999 Duke also stepped back and told Big John, "Big Boy... let's rotate this misery again... you run for Prez this time... I'm going sailing for a coupla years... TAG! Your IT again." John of course said, "Alright, dammit."

Duke retired from his job as VP at the aircraft window facility and he and his good hearted woman took off on his little sailboat for Florida and the Bahamas. After a couple of years, they ended up in Annapolis, Maryland partying with the Virginia Chapters every chance they got. They sold the boat and came back to Texas and "Boozefighting" full-time again.

He says he still smells the salt air and his "house"... a 40' travel trailer docked in the cedar-breaks 57 miles southwest of Fort Worth outside Glen Rose, Texas... rocks just like the boat when the wind blows hard enough. He's still nutz.

The first photo is of Duke after being given the trophy by Big Daddy, June 2003 for the "Longest Distance Traveled" to the National meeting in Grass Valley, CA. Photo by Chapter 6. Duke and Baby rode from Texas to the Run to The Wall to party with the Virginia Chapters (old habits die hard) in DC and from there to Grass Valley... a little over 4500 miles... still had another 2100 to go to get back to Texas. He ain't just nutz, he's certifiable crazy.

2nd photo is of Big John and Duke at a biker wedding.

Third photo is of Duke and his lady "BABY" in Sturgis in August, 1992 . The photo was taken by Gary "Batman" Rye.