OutInform: Houston Pride Guide 2015 Issue | Page 28
Deborah Duncan
Honorary GM
Host/Senior Producer, Great Day Houston
W
hen you look at how Deborah Duncan grew up, it is no surprise that she
ended up in the communication business. Raised in a military family, her
early years were spent in Taiwan and Japan. As her family constantly moved
around, young Deborah attended five different elementary schools. At each
school, determined to learn everything about her “new friends,” Deborah honed
her interviewing skills. She completed grade school in San Antonio where her
father retired. Deborah then enrolled at the University of Texas in Austin and
earned a degree in Radio-Television-Film.
After a couple of years in radio, Deborah made the switch to television as a
reporter at the CBS station in Austin and then became an anchor at the ABC
station. She later moved to Dallas, where she started a talk show called "Good
Morning Texas" at WFAA-TV, the sister station of KHOU-TV. Deborah and her
co-host were eventually asked to anchor the morning news.
After three years, Deborah moved to New York City to co-host a talk show for
Lifetime Television called "Our Home." Although she loved New York City, her
heart was still in Texas. When ABC executives approached Deborah about doing
a talk show for possible national syndication, they wanted her to do the show
out of New York or Los Angeles. Eventually, they agreed that it could start in
Houston. When she finished her contract with ABC, Deborah decided it was time
to return to her roots in the business, and that was news.
In December 2002, Deborah joined KHOU-TV Channel 11 as an anchor on 11
News This Morning. After six years at the news desk, she returned to the talk
show format as host of Great Day Houston. The show, produced locally by
KHOU-TV, airs weekdays at 9:00 a.m. on Channel 11.
Deborah Duncan is the recipient of many local and national awards for television
excellence, including four Emmy Awards, three AWRT Star Awards, two Gracie
Allen Awards and a Telly Award, amongst other honors. Her achievements
on the air, however, are transcended by her commitment and dedication to
community service. Deborah is passionate about many causes and chairs
numerous community events. In addition, she serves on the National Board of
Directors for Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and is a Board Member for
the Palmer Drug Abuse Program (PDAP).
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