Deborah Duncan, the 7-time Emmy Award-winning TV host, has been a familiar face on Houston TV for the past two decades. The host of Great Day Houston, an award-winning show that airs weekday mornings on KHOU 11 News, Duncan is celebrating her 20th year with the station.
She has been at the forefront of radio, broadcast news, and talk shows that have relied on her versatility, quick-wittedness, and being in tune with what viewers want to know. Her style has earned her a loyal fan base that keeps increasing as she continues to deliver news that is both entertaining and informative.
Our founder, Samir Becic, has been her friend for 15 years, has appeared numerous times on Great Day Houston, and was asked to record a video that aired today on her surprise 20th-anniversary celebration episode! In the video, Samir says of his longtime friend and sister: “Congratulations Deborah on 20 years at KHOU. As a Houston icon, you have not only positively impacted my life but also those of millions of Houstonians. You are an incredible professional, and an even better human being!”
Congratulations to my dear friend, Emmy-winning TV Host of @GreatDayHouston, and Houston icon Deborah Duncan on celebrating 20 years at @KHOU! You positively impacted my life and gave me a chance to share my message with hundreds of thousands of Houstonians over the past 15 yrs. pic.twitter.com/IwjHBdhnTY
— Samir Becic (@SamirBecic) December 9, 2022
Deborah Duncan is a seasoned veteran in the field of broadcast journalism. Her career began with radio, but she has since made great strides in the talk show genre. She has worked at KEYE-TV and KVUE-TV in Austin, WFAA-TV in Dallas/Fort Worth, and KHOU-TV. She is currently a co-host on Great Day Houston with Richard Hunter.
Deborah is known for her wit and her ability to connect with people—both on screen and off. In addition to her time as a news anchor, Deborah hosted WFAA’s “Good Morning Texas,” “Our Home” with Lifetime Television, and the “Debra Duncan Show” on ABC. She has also been recognized for her community service work throughout her career.
When you look at how Deborah Duncan grew up, it is no surprise that she ended up in the communication business.
Raised in a military family, her early years were spent in Taiwan and Japan. As her family constantly moved around, young Deborah attended five different elementary schools. She credits this experience with helping her overcome shyness and become comfortable talking to strangers—both skills that would serve her well as a reporter.
With a career that spans more than two decades, Deborah is one of the most experienced personalities in Houston television.
In December 2002, she joined KHOU-TV Channel 11 as an anchor on 11 News This Morning. After six years at the news desk, she returned to the talk show format as host of Great Day Houston. The show, produced locally by KHOU-TV and airing weekdays at 9:00 a.m., has been nominated for several awards.
When she started Great Day Houston, she stated how much she appreciated the format “There are so many untold stories that don’t fit into a newscast, this is a great venue for celebrating Houston’s heart and at the same time giving our business community another avenue to tell us what they do.” And since then, she has had immense success at the helm of the daily show.
Duncan is the recipient of many local and national awards for television excellence, including seven Emmy Awards, two Gracie Allen Awards, and a Telly Award, amongst other honors. Her achievements on the air, however, are transcended by her commitment and dedication to community service.
Congratulations on 20 years with KHOU, Deborah!
