Richard "Dick" Duvall was born on 19 June 1933, in Oakland, Alameda County, California, the son of Ceacil and Dorothy Jensen Duvall. After a few years, the family moved to San Leandro, CA where Dick attended various schools, including San Leandro High School where he was a star football player. Upon graduation from high school, Dick served in the United States Marine Corps for 2 years. After military service, Dick attended and graduated from Armstrong College of Business in 1956.
In September of 1957, Dick married Gwenellen "Gwen" Jones . He then attended the CHP Academy and was assigned to the Victorville office in which he served for approximately two years prior to his tragic death. On Tuesday, February 23, 1960, Officer Richard D. Duvall's last radio message was, "I'm chasing a fast one." Duvall did not know that the motorist on U.S. Highway 66 outside Victorville was an escaped felon driving a stolen car and wanted for armed robbery. As soon as the vehicle was pulled over, the ex-convict opened fire, killing the 26-year-old patrolman. The suspect was captured six days later after a gunfight with San Luis Obispo County deputies at a Shell Beach motel. The suspect was convicted of first degree murder and executed in San Quentin's gas chamber on November 3, 1961. He was suspected to have had an accomplice, but they were never found.
Dick had served less than two years with the Patrol. His death was instrumental in CHP Commissioner Bard Crittenden's decision to require that officers pair up on the graveyard shift and parts of the evening shift.
Dick was survived by his expectant wife, Gwen, and young daughter, Deanne. His son, Richard Jr. was born in July of 1960.
In 2010, a portion of State Highway Route 15 in the city of Victorville was designated as the "CHP Officer Richard D. Duvall Memorial Highway."
In September of 1957, Dick married Gwenellen "Gwen" Jones . He then attended the CHP Academy and was assigned to the Victorville office in which he served for approximately two years prior to his tragic death. On Tuesday, February 23, 1960, Officer Richard D. Duvall's last radio message was, "I'm chasing a fast one." Duvall did not know that the motorist on U.S. Highway 66 outside Victorville was an escaped felon driving a stolen car and wanted for armed robbery. As soon as the vehicle was pulled over, the ex-convict opened fire, killing the 26-year-old patrolman. The suspect was captured six days later after a gunfight with San Luis Obispo County deputies at a Shell Beach motel. The suspect was convicted of first degree murder and executed in San Quentin's gas chamber on November 3, 1961. He was suspected to have had an accomplice, but they were never found.
Dick had served less than two years with the Patrol. His death was instrumental in CHP Commissioner Bard Crittenden's decision to require that officers pair up on the graveyard shift and parts of the evening shift.
Dick was survived by his expectant wife, Gwen, and young daughter, Deanne. His son, Richard Jr. was born in July of 1960.
In 2010, a portion of State Highway Route 15 in the city of Victorville was designated as the "CHP Officer Richard D. Duvall Memorial Highway."
Richard "Dick" Duvall was born on 19 June 1933, in Oakland, Alameda County, California, the son of Ceacil and Dorothy Jensen Duvall. After a few years, the family moved to San Leandro, CA where Dick attended various schools, including San Leandro High School where he was a star football player. Upon graduation from high school, Dick served in the United States Marine Corps for 2 years. After military service, Dick attended and graduated from Armstrong College of Business in 1956.
In September of 1957, Dick married Gwenellen "Gwen" Jones . He then attended the CHP Academy and was assigned to the Victorville office in which he served for approximately two years prior to his tragic death. On Tuesday, February 23, 1960, Officer Richard D. Duvall's last radio message was, "I'm chasing a fast one." Duvall did not know that the motorist on U.S. Highway 66 outside Victorville was an escaped felon driving a stolen car and wanted for armed robbery. As soon as the vehicle was pulled over, the ex-convict opened fire, killing the 26-year-old patrolman. The suspect was captured six days later after a gunfight with San Luis Obispo County deputies at a Shell Beach motel. The suspect was convicted of first degree murder and executed in San Quentin's gas chamber on November 3, 1961. He was suspected to have had an accomplice, but they were never found.
Dick had served less than two years with the Patrol. His death was instrumental in CHP Commissioner Bard Crittenden's decision to require that officers pair up on the graveyard shift and parts of the evening shift.
Dick was survived by his expectant wife, Gwen, and young daughter, Deanne. His son, Richard Jr. was born in July of 1960.
In 2010, a portion of State Highway Route 15 in the city of Victorville was designated as the "CHP Officer Richard D. Duvall Memorial Highway."
In September of 1957, Dick married Gwenellen "Gwen" Jones . He then attended the CHP Academy and was assigned to the Victorville office in which he served for approximately two years prior to his tragic death. On Tuesday, February 23, 1960, Officer Richard D. Duvall's last radio message was, "I'm chasing a fast one." Duvall did not know that the motorist on U.S. Highway 66 outside Victorville was an escaped felon driving a stolen car and wanted for armed robbery. As soon as the vehicle was pulled over, the ex-convict opened fire, killing the 26-year-old patrolman. The suspect was captured six days later after a gunfight with San Luis Obispo County deputies at a Shell Beach motel. The suspect was convicted of first degree murder and executed in San Quentin's gas chamber on November 3, 1961. He was suspected to have had an accomplice, but they were never found.
Dick had served less than two years with the Patrol. His death was instrumental in CHP Commissioner Bard Crittenden's decision to require that officers pair up on the graveyard shift and parts of the evening shift.
Dick was survived by his expectant wife, Gwen, and young daughter, Deanne. His son, Richard Jr. was born in July of 1960.
In 2010, a portion of State Highway Route 15 in the city of Victorville was designated as the "CHP Officer Richard D. Duvall Memorial Highway."
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