Conversation with Patrick Duggan

Patrick Duggan, 38, has been involved with the Ringling College Library Association since 2013, helping plan security for high-profile speakers. Duggan, the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office senior assistant general counsel, has enjoyed seeing how the series works from backstage and meeting speakers face to  face. Now, he’s preparing to leave his behind-the-scenes role to serve as 2017 chairman of the series. 

How did you get involved with the Ringling College Library Association Town Hall Lecture Series?
My mother in-law, Olivia Thomas, was the chair a few years ago, and I got involved.
 I work at the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office as one of the lawyers, and I have handled the security behind the scenes over the years, most notably when President (George W.) Bush came. 
I had to coordinate with the Secret Service. That’s kind of been my role over the last few years: to make sure the events are safe, but they’re still accommodating access to people.

"I was pinching myself, saying 'How did I find myself sitting here shooting the breeze with former president of the United States?' I still kind of pinch myself about it." -Patrick Duggan

What were your interactions with President Bush like?
He told me about why he can’t run anymore and his exercise routine. He actually, the next day, was having surgery in Manhattan and was flying from Sarasota. He was joking with me about why he didn’t trust the doctors in Dallas. 
His personality immediately jumps out at you. He’s so down-to-earth and Texas through and through. 
I was pinching myself, saying “How did I find myself sitting here shooting the breeze with former president of the United States?” I still kind of pinch myself about it.

What requests have you handled for speakers? 
I had the opportunity to have dinner with Justice Antonin Scalia (in 2015), and it was an honor. It was great to meet him, and he was a super personable guy. I helped plan the security with the U.S. Marshalls, and that can be a challenge with the high season. He moved around town a fair amount — had dinner at the Field Club and went to St. Martha’s Church for Mass. The other thing that he did was go on a fishing trip. 
He wanted to go fishing out on Longboat Key. That required coordinating with Manatee Sheriff’s Office, Sarasota County Sheriff and the U.S. Coast Guard. 
It was a lot of moving parts just so one person can go fishing. It ended up being just him and the captain with the host. He had a successful day fishing. 

What’s it like behind the scenes of the lectures?
I’ve had a lot of interaction backstage, and it’s a different perspective from back there. You kind of see the real personality of the speakers, and I’m always struck by how genuine they are when they’re here.

Who have some of your favorite speakers been this year?
All of them have been interesting. Robin Roberts the other day was perfectly engaging. She’s so humble and down-to- earth. It wasn’t an act on stage. I was most excited to see David Petraeus. He’s a general, and he oversaw massive defense actions in Afghanistan. He’s worked closely with presidents, and he’ll have an interesting take on world events in 2016.

What is the overall theme behind the list of speakers for 2017?
Iconic leaders. Insightful comments and remarks about what’s going to be going on in the world in 2017.