Duane Browne Tilghman, Sr. was born to parents Maurice Clayton Tilghman and Gretchen F. Browne Tilghman on January 5, 1925 in Saginaw, Michigan. suane was the older of two children. He departed life on Friday, august 29. 2008 after a lengthy illness. Duane was preceded in death by his parents, sister Yvonne T. Clements and wife Marian Brown Tilghman. Duane accepted Christ at an early age. Duane attended Saginaw High where he excelled and earned letters in track. On August 3, 1943 he was inducted in the United States Army where he served until his honorable discharge on Febuary 3, 1946 as company clerk at the rank of sergeant. While in the army, he received the decorations of Victory Medal, Good Conduct Medal and American Theater Ribbin. In 1952, Duane graduated from the Detroit Institute of Technology with a Bachelor of Science degree. On September 8, 1956 Duane wed Marian W. Brown of Detroit, Michigan and shortly thereafter, they moved to Baltimore, Maryland. From 1957 to 1959 he worked as a Research Assistant at John Hopkins University School of Hygiene. In 1959, Duane became the first African American Senior Bacteriologist for Baltimore city Health Department where he worked until 1966. Duane held several jobs at all times. He got his real estate license and broker's license in 1960 and started D.B. Tilghman Realty. On September 6. 1063 Governor J. Millard Tawes commissioned him to the Special Police Force for the Baltimore Transit company where he rose to the rank of detective lieutenant. In 1966, Duane went to work included isolation, identification and research of organisms such as Salmonella. Duane retired from the Health Department in 1995 at the age of seventy and retired his broker's license in 2007 at the age of eighty-two. Duane was wed to Marian for forty-eight years until her passing. Out of this union were four children; Gretchen, Sharon, Gina and Duane Jr. He was a very dedicated husband, father and grandfather. He was affectionately called "Skeezix," "Daddo" and"Grandpa." Duane loved to eat and had special fondness for steak and seafood. He had a paaion for boating, reading, western movies and his last toy, "the red corvette convertible." He leaves to cherish many loving memories; three daughters, Gretchen T. Surry, Sharon T. Ragsdale and Gina Wood Merritt; one son Duane B. Tilghmen Jr., two sons-in-law, Ronald D. Curry and Shelly T. Ragsdale; one daughter-in-law, Stacy B. Tilghman; five grandchildren, Anthony Wood, Jr., Lenay Williams, Lauren Curry, Ethan Curry and Duane B. Tilghman III. He also leaves one sister-in-law, Carolyn B. Young and a special life long friend, Norman McRae; along with a host of nephews, nieces, cousins and friends.