The career history of Robert E. Duncan, better known in Fresno as Bob Duncan, is synonymous with Duncan Ceramics [now called iLoveToCreate]. It is the story of a garage-based family hobby, which became the largest hobby ceramic product manufacturing company in the world.
Fresno residents know iLoveToCreate as the company with the beautiful, brightly colored ceramic murals located on 20 acres just east of Clovis Avenue on Shields Avenue. It all began in 1938 when Erma Duncan took up ceramics as a hobby. Before long, her husband, Lee, and sons, Bob and Dick, also became interested and involved. They built an addition to their garage and began the serious pursuit of ceramics knowledge.
In 1940, Erma joined her son, Bob, as a student at Fresno State College and began taking all available ceramic classes. During the early 40's Erma started holding ceramic-making sessions in her garage. The entire Duncan family, including Bob, became involved. World War II came along and the family ceramic plans were interrupted as Bob joined the Army and served three and one-half years in the Army Medical Administration reaching the rank of an Army Lieutenant by the time the war ended. When Bob returned home from the war, he decided to devote his full time and attention to his mother's ceramic business. The interest in hobby ceramics among friends and relatives became so great that the garage operation was no longer sufficient to accommodate everyone.
By 1946, an official Duncan Ceramic Studio was established on Blackstone Avenue in Fresno. The ceramic business grew rapidly, catering to the retail trade, and it started to develop as a wholesale distributor with Bob handling the sales and marketing, his mother dedicated to teaching and his brother Dick ran manufacturing. In May 1953, fire destroyed the entire studio, but fortunately the business records, books and secret glaze formulas were saved. As plans were made to rebuild, the Duncan family decided to concentrate on the manufacturing and national distribution of ceramic materials rather than retail sales. Tents were set up and business began once more under canvas while the new facilities were constructed.
In 1955, the company was incorporated as Duncan Ceramic Products, Inc., with Bob as President. Continued growth once again found the business too big for its location on Blackstone. In 1961, Duncan Ceramic Products moved to its present location on Shields Avenue. By then, the company was well established. In the early 1960's, Bob was instrumental in the founding of the first national organization in the Hobby Ceramics industry. The National Ceramic Manufacturing Association, which represented 80 manufactures from across the United States, was founded in 1962 with Bob Duncan as their first three year President. He continued to serve on their Board of Directors through 1983 and has been chairman of many of the organizations' committees over the years. The company continued to expand its influence, establishing many "firsts" in the ceramics field. In 1968, under Bob's leadership, Duncan introduced the first teachers' certification program in the field of hobby ceramics. It gained immediate acceptance and still today, certification by Duncan is known as the hallmark of ceramics knowledge. Today more than 38,000 studio owners and teachers have successfully passed the stringent written and practical tests to become Certified Duncan Teachers. Duncan's monthly magazine, Ceramics, with Bob Duncan as Editor, began publication in October, 1971.
The first ceramics magazine to concentrate on the needs and wants of consumers, it gained immediate acceptance and outlived several imitators. With approximately 100,000 copies a month and worldwide circulation, the magazine was "With Ceramists Every Step of the Way," providing beautiful ceramic projects with easy step-by-step directions, "how-to" articles, and helpful special features. In 1976, the company changed its name from Duncan Ceramic Products, Inc., to Duncan Enterprises, reflecting its continued growth and diversification into the crafts industry. Bob Duncan continued as President of Duncan Enterprises, introducing a full line of electric ceramic kilns this same year. The third generation of the Duncan family took over Duncan Enterprises in 1983 when Bob's son, Larry, was appointed President of the company by unanimous decision of the Board of Directors following Bob's decision to move up to the position of Chairman of the Board.
Bob Duncan is proud to be a member of the Fresno community. He is one of the most passionate and loyal Fresno State supporters and has been honored on multiple occasions for his time, service and financial support, including the athletic facility being named the Robert E. Duncan Athletic Building, an Honorary Doctorate Degree bestowed to him in 1996 and the 1st recipient of the Bulldog Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award. He is an Honorary Life Director and currently serves on the Board of Trustees for the Boys & Girls Club of Fresno County.
A quote from a letter written by Robert S. Miner of the Fresno Regional Foundation when he endorsed Bob for the 1985 Leon S. Peters Award sums it up very well: "I have admired the leadership and community pride exhibited by Bob in his many civic activities. He is proud of Fresno and is generous with his assets, time and personal leadership in a wide variety of services. By personal contact, I give special mention to the Fresno Convention Bureau, the Bulldog Foundation, and his donation to the Roeding Park Zoo. I have worked with him at the Fresno Rotary Club and the Fresno Metropolitan Museum, where he is a director. Bob is also, currently a member of the Board of Governors of the Fresno Regional Foundation, a community-based conduit of private sector charitable funds. He is of a special service in his guidance relating to the investments of the Foundation. The mission of the Foundation is to 'enhance the quality of life in the Fresno area.' It is my observation that this statement exemplifies the personal and public example of Robert E. Duncan. He and his business activities are a prime example of enlightened and responsible free enterprise. To each organization in which he serves, he brings his expertise in business, his wide range of interest, his love for people and his pride in this community."