Duane Franklin Anderson In Memorial 12/24/74 - 10/3/92

On October 3rd 1992 Duane left his parents, Dale and Pauletta, and returned to God in Heaven. Duane always wanted to grow up to be someone special. In seventeen short years, Duane Franklin Anderson proved that he was someone very special. His life touched the hearts of many people. Duane's love was Baseball. He would sit by the hour and study baseball statistics and could answer any questions you'd ask about any Major League player. Duane loved playing baseball; his favorite position was Catcher. After the summer of 1992, Duane had completed approximately twenty-four baseball seasons. Over the years he earned numerous awards for sportsmanship and talent. Duane began the 1992 school year as a senior at Alief Hastings High School, three credits short of graduation requirements. Duane had pre-enlisted in the United States Air Force, and was to report for duty on July 1, 1993. He wanted to study computers. Duane planned to earn a degree in criminology to prepare for a future with the Federal Bureau of Investigations. Duane was a member of the Hastings Varsity Baseball team. He received his letterman's jacket only weeks before his tragic death.

The Two Duane Anderson Memorial Batting Cages At Alief Hastings High School. They Are 70' X 15" X 12' , With A Storage Facility Between Them. He had spent the morning working in the Air Force booth at the Wings Over Houston Air Show and was on his way home when the tragic accident occurred. After being informed of the accident, the high school baseball team retired Duane's jersey number (13). In his memory, Duane's teammates wore black armbands to school. Duane worked at Gerland's Food Fair after school and on weekends. After the accident, his co-workers wore the number 13 on their name badges. A batting cage was built at the Alief High School complex in remembrance of Duane. Duane would be happy to know that Alief High School baseball players will no longer need to pay for batting practice at a public facility. Duane was laid to rest at the Houston National Cemetery on Veterans' Memorial Drive in North Houston. I am proud to say that Duane was my "little" brother. His memory will live forever in our hearts. To everyone who knew Duane, you too should be proud to say that your life was blessed by knowing Duane. If Duane could say something to comfort our sorrows, he might say something like this. "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith; Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing." II Timothy 4:7-8 by Patricia Anderson Ortiz, his sister