David Duax


David Leo Francis "Dave" Duax was a Wisconsin politician who served in the cabinet of Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson as the State Administrator of the Division for Youth Services. He previously served as Director of the State Office of Health Care. Duax was the Chairman of the Eau Claire County Board of Supervisors, and served as Vice President of the Eau Claire City Council.

Education and career

Duax was born in Eau Claire on February 1, 1944, to Leo and Corinne Duax. He attended UWEC Campus school and Eau Claire Memorial High School. Duax participated in debate club and was the president of the Junior Classical League.

Personal life and death

In 1993, he married Kathryn Proctor. He has been a stepfather to Kathryn's two children.
Duax died on April 17, 2015 after complications from a brain aneurysm. Hundreds attended his funeral, with Tommy Thompson delivering the eulogy. He was buried at Forest Hill Cemetery in Eau Claire.

Legacy

After his death, the Wisconsin State Legislature passed a joint resolution, 2015 Assembly Joint Resolution 41, honoring his life and contributions. In 2015, The Chippewa Valley Regional Airport Commission Room was renamed the Duax Commission Room. In 2016, Wisconsin-based advocacy organization Fierce Freedom began the "Dave Duax Bipartisanship Award" to honor legislators that work across the aisle to combat human trafficking in Wisconsin.