Dr Stan Labanowich would often quote NWBA founder Dr. Timothy Nugent who said, the game of wheelchair basketball will always belongs to the players who play the game. Julie Duncan learned this early on in her career at the University of Kentucky and would spend a lifetime of service and dedication in support of wheelchair basketball athletes.

As an intern in then Commissioners Labanowich NWBA Office at the University of Kentucky, Julie would learn the skills and talents of wheelchair basketball sports management and event planning. In 1982 and for 11 years after, Julie would serve on the steering committee of the Bluegrass Invitational Tournament, the most prestigious wheelchair basketball event next to the National Championships.

In 1987 Julie would take her talents to the California and the Golden State Warriors where, along with her late great husband Bill Duncan, she would become teams, scorekeeper, statistician, and become the teams general manager. 

Her service to wheelchair basketball was local, regional and national in scope. From 1987-1990 she served as Assistant Commissioner of the Northern California Wheelchair Basketball Conference. In 1992 she headed the LOC for the PVA National Wheelchair Basketball Camp and Team USA Training Camp at San Jose.

In 2002 she was elected Treasurer of the NWBA and would serve on the NWBA’s Executive Committee for the next six years. During her tenure she developed the NWBA’s annual budget that included grassroots efforts to develop new teams and support conferences. She had an integral role in the development of the NWBA’s officials association. She further managed the funds and travel arrangements for US team competing in international competitions in coordinated efforts with US Paralympics and the USOC.

Julie returned to her hometown of Lexington, KY in 2002 and developed the position of Wheelchair Sports Director at Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Hospital. In her position Julie would develop and coach both men’s and women’s NWBA teams. In 2008 she led the Hill on Wheels men’s team the NWBA Division III national championship. 

It was a coworker at Cardinal Hill who summed up Julie’s spirit and gift, “Julies unwavering dedication to the game of wheelchair basketball opened up doors for not only those dealing with life changing adversity, but for us non-players who saw the many positives of having a wheelchair basketball program at our rehabilitation facility. Julie taught us the process of restoring the opportunity for a kid from Kentucky to play basketball again.” 

Julie Barnett was born on May 24, 1959 in Lexington, KY. Julie Barnett Duncan passed away on February 24, 2009 after a courageous battle with cancer. She made the game better for the players who played the game.