On this day, January 1, 1974, John Wayne stepped into the heart of academia to accept the Brass Balls Award from the Harvard Lampoon. Expected to be met with barbs, Duke’s honesty and wit won over the crowd of 1,600 during the Q&A—like when asked about his “phony toupee,” he replied, “It’s not phony. It’s real hair. Of course, it’s not mine, but it’s real.” A bold start to the year, just like Duke. Here’s to honesty, courage, and a little bit of wit in 2026. #JohnWayne #ClassicHollywood #NewYearsDay #CourageAndWit #LiveLikeJohnWayne