March 24, 2024
Jack Colvert Duggin age 91 of Nashville passed away quietly on March 22, 2024. He was born July 18, 1932 in Smithville, TN. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Edna Odom and Dr. Jefferson Taylor Duggin and Mary Moore and Daniel Silas Colvert, parents Mary Lou and Paul R. Duggin, brother Tommy R. Duggin, and by the especially heartbreaking loss of his daughter Terry Jane Converse. He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Mary Bratten Duggin, daughter Jennifer (Dane) Alexander (Brush Creek, TN), son-in law David Converse (Nashville, TN), grandsons Patrick Converse (Miami, FL) and Andrew Converse (Houston, TX), and many nieces and nephews.
While in college he earned his commercial pilot’s license from the MTSU Flight School. He was a veteran, serving in the US Army during the Korean War. After his discharge from the army, he completed his education at MTSU receiving his Bachelor and Master’s degrees. Later in his career he graduated from Northwestern University’s Graduate School of Management’s Executive Development Institute. He began his career in blood banking serving as a Chemist – Bacteriologist at Blood Bank Foundation in Nashville, later serving as the Executive Director. He later merged Blood Bank Foundation with the American Red Cross where he served, among other positions, as Blood Services Administrator in until shortly before his retirement. Over the course of his career Mr. Duggin received several acknowledgments and accolades, including the Lemuel W. Diggs award from the Tennessee Association of Blood Banks for “rendering significant and lasting contribution to Blood Banking in the state of Tennessee”, the “Marion F. Beard Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Kentucky Association of Blood Banks” and the “Colonel Frank R. Camp Award for Excellence in the Field of Blood Banking.” He was a member of the American Association of Blood Banks serving on many committees. He was a founding member of the Tennessee Association of Blood Banks and served as President in 1975-1976. He also was a member and served as President in 1988-1989 of the Kentucky Association of Blood Banks, a member of the American Society for Medical Technology and the Tennessee Medical Society. He was a graduate of Leadership Louisville, served as President of Woodmont Kiwanis Club was a member Board of Directors of Outlook Nashville, American Legion Post #5, Nashville area Chamber of Commerce, Better Business Bureau, and served many years as a volunteer solicitor for the United Way. He was affiliated with the Baptist Church.
He was a lifelong resident of middle TN and settled in his home in Green Hills in 1963. He enjoyed gardening and caring for his home. He loved music and was practically a fixture on the front row at the Smithville Jamboree for many years. He was proud of his children and grandchildren, always supportive and encouraging their endeavors. He was beloved by so many and will be greatly missed by his entire family. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, March 25, 2024 at the Salem Baptist Church with Pastor Jason Lohorn officiating. Visitation 2-7 p.m. Sunday at Hunter Funeral Home and Noon till service time Monday at the church. Interment will follow at the Salem Cemetery in Liberty, TN. HUNTER FUNERAL HOME, Watertown 615-237-9318