Jules LaDuron

Jules Fernando LaDuron (June 8, 1893 – February 14, 1980) was an American physician and professional football player. He was a doctor for 55 years, primarily in Muncie, Indiana. A World War I veteran and the son of a Belgian glassblower, LaDuron attended Muncie High School, played college football at Indiana University Bloomington, and graduated from the University of Louisville School of Medicine. LaDuron was also an early National Football League player, then known as the American Professional Football Association, appearing in the league's second season with the Muncie Flyers in 1921. His first wife died of suicide in 1927 while he was away in Chicago, during which time he married his second wife. LaDuron was in the hospital with an eye injury in 1937 when his second wife disappeared. It was variously reported that he had an eye infection, or had his eye punctured while treating a patient. However, decades later, LaDuron said he was hit by a tree branch.

LaDuron's medical career was marked by numerous controversies. He was charged with assault and battery at least six times during his life but never convicted. In 1950, LaDuron fatally shot two brothers during a fight at his office and was charged with manslaughter. This reignited suspicion towards LaDuron in the disappearance of his second wife. He was found not guilty of both manslaughter charges. In 1969, after 17 years of no legal issues, LaDuron was arrested for selling dangerous drugs and trying to stab a police officer with a bayonet. He was once again acquitted of all charges. He was arrested for the fifth time in 1970 and convicted on a misdemeanor drug charge. His medical license was revoked in 1976 and he died four years later.

Early life and football career Jules Fernando LaDuron was born on June 8, 1893, in Muncie, Indiana, United States. In May 1911, during a baseball game between the sophomores and juniors of Muncie's High School League, LaDuron hit an opposing junior player, breaking his jaw and knocking out several of his teeth. LaDuron was arrested and charged with assault and battery and mayhem. LaDuron graduated from Muncie High in the class of 1913, and gave a speech at the graduating ceremony. He received college football interest from Earlham, Wabash, DePauw, and Purdue.

LaDuron decided to enroll at Indiana University Bloomington, where he was a tackle on the Indiana Hoosiers freshman football team during the 1913 season. LaDuron was also on the wrestling team at Indiana University. In August 1914, LaDuron, who was taking summer classes at Winona College, left without telling anyone and went to New York to go to Belgium and join the Belgian Army during World War I. The Muncie Evening Press said that LaDuron had been communicating with "strange men" who were believed to be Belgian or French agents. On September 25, 1914, before the start of the 1914 football season, it was reported that LaDuron would not be on Indiana's team that year as he was transferring to Notre Dame. However, he returned to the Hoosiers several days later as a fullback. The Indianapolis Star noted that LaDuron was "one of the beefiest men in the line" during Indiana's 1915 season. LaDuron then "called" him on this remark and, between acts, the dispute was renewed outside the theater where LaDuron knocked Johnson down three times and Johnson then stabbed LaDuron. He then served in the United States Army Ambulance Service during World War I. He was listed as a fullback/linebacker while with the Flyers.

Medical career and personal life Early career and first wife's suicide LaDuron graduated from the University of Louisville School of Medicine. He practiced as a doctor in Louisville, Kentucky, for a while after serving an internship at a hospital in Chicago, during which time he met his future second wife Freda Swanson. In 1922, Dr. LaDuron was the Democratic Party candidate for Delaware County, Indiana, coroner. He lost the election 10,598 votes to 7,129. On October 3, 1924, he established his own hospital, the 15-bed LaDuron Hospital, on Williard Street in Muncie for general surgical cases and non-contagious diseases. In 1925, he was a candidate for Democratic councilman in the 8th ward.

On August 26, 1925, LaDuron was arrested on charges of assault and battery filed against him by Kathleen Armint. LaDuron ordered her out of his office after an argument. In August 1926, LaDuron was charged with assault and battery on a Muncie taxi driver named George Baughn. On December 4, 1926, it was reported that LaDuron had filed suit against the Muncie Ice Machine Company and Mr. W. O. Longhecker, alleging breach of contract and asking for $1,000 . LaDuron said that a refrigerator installed in his office had not lived up to expectations.

At the age of 33, LaDuron married Edna Duerr, the daughter of a wealthy Louisville couple. At the time of her death, LaDuron was away on special work at a Chicago hospital. In 1929, LaDuron was named the physician for both the Delaware County infirmary and the county jail. During the Great Depression, he traveled to other states to find work as a doctor. States he worked in during this time included Florida, Alabama, Michigan, and Arizona. They had also been separated twice during that timespan. In 1943, LaDuron pled not guilty to a charge of assault and battery against Ray Wills, a tenant on the LaDuron farm. In September 1945, LaDuron filed for divorce from Swanson. It was granted in March 1946 on the ground of desertion. Around 1950, LaDuron opened his own home office at Liberty Street in Muncie.

On November 6, 1950, LaDuron fatally shot Seibert and Ralph Carter at his home office during a fight. His 20-year-old son Jacq was also involved in the fight. LaDuron asserted self defense and said that the two brothers were trying to blackmail him over his wife's disappearance. He was released on $10,000 bail. Police thought it might be the remains of Swanson. The verdict "brought the crowd of 600 spectators to their feet cheering, whistling, and clapping their hands in approval."

Later life, drug arrests and death The rest of the 1950s and 1960s were relatively quiet for LaDuron. Federal law required dispensed drugs to be marked with a prescription number and the prescribing doctor's name. Eight of the 11 police officers on scene were needed to subdue LaDuron, who also tried to grab one officer's gun. On June 9, he was released on a $5,000 cash bond. One police officer said "LaDuron was passing out drugs like peanuts." In August 1972, he was convicted of a misdemeanor and sentenced to 180 days in prison plus a $500 fine. This was the only criminal conviction in LaDuron's life.

In December 1975, LaDuron's drug registration certificate was revoked by the Drug Enforcement Administration after he provided misleading information on his application in regards to his 1972 conviction. In September 1976, his medical license was revoked by the Medical Licensing Board of Indiana for "prescribing drugs without proper examination of patients." The board stated that LaDuron had given Quaalude to three undercover policemen. LaDuron had been a doctor in Muncie for 55 years.

LaDuron died of a heart attack on February 14, 1980, at Ball Memorial Hospital in Muncie. He had been rushed to the hospital after becoming ill at his home. His grandson stated "His only conviction was one misdemeanor, and nothing was ever proven. It's just folklore. We're trying to bring it to an end. If we have to, we'll remove his ashes and be done with it."

Sometime between the 1940s and 1960s, LaDuron was serving as the ring doctor for a professional wrestling event in Muncie. After a Gorgeous George match ended the show, LaDuron stopped to talk to organizer George Maupin, himself a former heavyweight wrestler and an acquaintance of LaDuron. The two then started fighting each other for no apparent reason. The over 200-pound (91 kg) LaDuron and Maupin exchanged punches, bounced their heads off wall tiles, and hit each other with metal chairs. In 1980, The Star Press senior sports editor Bob Barnet recalled it was "one of the hardest fights ever seen in an armory that had hosted a lot of professional boxing bouts as well as wrestling matches." The two then stopped fighting, looked at each other, and left the armory.