Shenandoah 2003
Wally was born to Walt and Pat Duffy in Ottumwa, Iowa on July 11, 1961. He was raised in Shenandoah, Iowa and graduated from Shenandoah High school in 1979. He participated in many activities in high school. He was Salutatorian of his high school class, a member of the National Honor Society and the DAR Good Citizenship Award winner. Wally’s high school career was outstanding in both cross country and track and field. Here is a brief glimpse at his many accomplishments. Wally placed 7th as a freshmen, 4th as a sophomore, and 3rd as a junior in the State Cross Country Meet and he was the individual State Champion in Cross Country as a senior in 1978. He also won the Hawkeye 8 Conference title in 1978. Wally also enjoyed a successful career in AAU National Cross Country Championships placing 7th in 1977 and 5th in 1978. He also completed the Omaha Marathon in 1977 as a junior in high school with a time of 3 hours and 18 minutes which was good enough for 77th. Wally was a High School Cross Country All-American in 1978. His track career mirrored his success in the fall. He placed in the top ten all four years of his high school career in the 3200 meter run. He placed 8th as a freshmen, 3rd as a sophomore, and 1st both his junior and senior years. His time of 9:07.6 is still the all record. He also placed 2nd in the 1600 meter run one hour later in a time of 4:20.2. He won the 3200 at the 1979, Drake Relays after finishing 3rd as a junior and 8th as a sophomore. Wally also won the Prep International Invitational 3200 meter run with a time of 9:08 and was 6th in the Golden West Track Meet with a time of 9:21. He won the Hertz #1 award in 1979. He continued his career at the University of Illinois for two years. During this time he was 11th in the Big Ten meet as a freshman and had a 10,000 meter time of 29:41 as a sophomore. He finished his career at the University of Nebraska. During his career at Nebraska, Wally finished 4th in the Big Eight Cross Country Meet and an all-American placing 29th overall and was the ninth American in the NCAA Cross Country Meet. He improved his time in the marathon by running an outstanding time of 2 hours 19 minutes and 7 seconds. He also ended his college career with a personal best of 29 minutes and 21 seconds for 10,000 meters. Wally was an Academic All Big Eight in 1984. He was also the MVP for the Nebraska Track & Field Program and the recipient of the Boucher Award for academic excellence in 1984. Wally had a nine year career in the military and he ran for the Fort Gordon distance running team from 1991- to 1993. He received his BS degree from the University of Nebraska in 1984 and is Medical Degree from Vanderbilt University in 1989. Since 1998, Wally and his wife Rosalie with their three children Matthew, Grant and Will, have made their home in Lincoln, Nebraska. Wally is the President and owner of Premier Psychiatric Group.