Edwin Russell Durno (January 26, 1899 – November 20, 1976) was a physician, politician, an infantry sergeant who was awarded a Purple Heart, and a basketball player recognized in the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame. He was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives representing Oregon's 4th congressional district from 1961 to 1963.

Early life and basketball career

Durno was born on a farm in Linn County, Oregon, near Albany. He attended public schools in Silverton and attended the University of Oregon, where he starred on the Ducks' basketball team. Durno was the school's first basketball All-American and was a three-time All-Pacific Coast Conference selection. A prolific scorer, Durno led the Ducks to the 1919 conference title and was team captain during his senior year of 1921. He was inducted into the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame in 1981, and the University of Oregon Sports Hall of Fame in 1992. Durno graduated from the University of Oregon with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1921 and went on to receive M.D. from Harvard Medical School in 1927, setting up a medical practice in Boston.

Military and medical career

Durno served in both World War I (as an infantry sergeant) and World War II (in the Medical Corps) where he was awarded the Purple Heart for his service. Durno returned to Oregon after World War II where he practiced medicine in Medford and served on the Oregon Board of Medical Examiners from 1947 to 1958.

Political career

In 1958, he was elected to the

Oregon State Senate The Oregon State Senate is the upper house of the statewide legislature for the US state of Oregon. Along with the lower chamber Oregon House of Representatives it makes up the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 30 members of the state Sena ...

, and in 1960, was elected to the United States House of Representatives, unseating liberal Democrat

Charles O. Porter Charles Orlando Porter (April 4, 1919 – January 1, 2006) was an American lawyer, World War II veteran, and politician from the U.S. state of Oregon. He served in the United States House of Representatives for two terms from 1957 to 1961. Early ...

. Doubtful of reelection in a politically marginal district, he did not seek reelection to the House in 1962, instead seeking the Republican nomination for Wayne Morse's seat in Oregon's 1962 U. S. Senate election. Durno lost the nomination to former state Treasurer

Sig Unander Sig used as a name may refer to: *Sig (given name) *Sig, Algeria, a city on the banks of the Sig River *Sig Alert, an alert for traffic congestion in California, named after Loyd Sigmon *Sig River, a river of Algeria also known as Mekerra sig (lo ...

. Durno was succeeded by Democrat

Robert B. Duncan Robert Blackford Duncan (December 4, 1920April 29, 2011) was an American politician from the state of Oregon. A Democrat, he served multiple terms in the Oregon Legislative Assembly and as a U.S. congressman from Oregon. In the Oregon House of ...

and returned to his medical practice in Medford, retiring from politics. Durno died in 1976.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Durno, Edwin Russell Republican Party Oregon state senators Physicians from Oregon 1899 births 1976 deaths People from Linn County, Oregon Harvard Medical School alumni Sportspeople from Medford, Oregon Oregon Ducks men's basketball players People from Silverton, Oregon Basketball players from Oregon All-American college men's basketball players American men's basketball players Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Oregon 20th-century American politicians