Mr. Charles Everett Duffie was born June 13th, 1929 in Ocean Springs, MS. He graduated Notre Dame High School in 1946, Perkinston Junior College in 1948 and the University of Southern Mississippi in 1952.  During his College years he was Captain of the Tennis Team and was affectionately known as one of the top Tennis players and Coaches along the Coast. He married Christine Wieht on May 26th, 1952. He served in the Korean conflict from 1952-1954 and was honorably discharged with the rank of Staff Sergeant US Army.

 

Among his many accomplishments he taught Piano at Ocean Springs High School, and English at St. Martin High School.  He became Junior and Senior High School Principal 1969-1970 and Principal at St. Martin in 1976.

Charlie was known as a generous person, freely donating his time and assets to charitable organizations. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.  Charlie was a primary founder of the 1st annual Elks walk-a-thon. He was very active in the Elks receiving numerous awards and selected as Elk of the year in 2004.  Charlie was an original founder of the Ocean Springs Lodge #2501 and served as Exalted Ruler 1975-1976 and 1979-1980. Charlie had also previously served as Exalted Ruler of Biloxi Lodge #606 from 1972-1973 and again in 1989-1990. Charlie served as Secretary of the MS State Elks Association. He was appointed District Deputy Grand Exalted Ruler MS South 1996-1997.  He was posthumously elected to Life Membership in December of 2006. 

Charlie and his wife Chris donated all the materials necessary to construct the first cabin at the Mississippi Elks Camp. He always had the spirit of Elkdom in all that he did and was a true and valuable member of our order. He was inducted into the Mississippi State Elks Hall of Fame in 1993. At the time of his death in 2005 he had been a member of the BPOE for 43 years.
The Charlie Duffie award was conceived and first awarded in 2006 by Past Special Deputy Grand Exalted Ruler Michael K. Gordon of Greenville MS. Lodge #148.

​

The "Duffie" is considered one of the most prestigious awards an Elk can receive in the State of Mississippi.