He's lived a life that's seen him guide football teams via the rulebook to guiding a congregation via the Good Book. The life and career of Joseph "Duke" McAlpine has taken many turns, all of them remarkable and all of them somewhat unexpected. A 1952 graduate of Hillhouse High School of New Haven, McAlpine was called "Duke" because he was a junior. A three-sport player with the Academics (football, soccer and baseball) he was also student manager of the state and NE Champion basketball team. After a 3-year stint in the Marines, he returned to SCSU before taking a position with the New Haven Police Department. It was there he got into officiating, joining the NHFOA in 1965. He quickly became a top-flight linesman, working five state championship games on the field, and later another two in the press box. In 1984 he joined the Eastern Association of Intercollegiate Football Officials, and for 14 seasons ran up and down various collegiate fields. He retired from the NHPD in 1970. From there he went into the insurance business. But he wasn't finished. He found a different calling, studying at the International Seminary (Plymouth, FL),where he earned a BS in theology. During his studies he became a licensed preacher with the American Baptist Church.