Duncan E. Littlefair (b. 4 October 1912 in Toronto Canada – d. 2004) attended McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario and took his doctorate at the University of Chicago's Divinity School. Upon completion of his graduate work he took the pastorate of Union Church in Kenilworth, Illinois. In 1944 he was recruited by Fountain Street Baptist Church of Grand Rapids, theologically a relatively liberal church. The liberalism is traced to 1897 when the congregation hired J. Herman Randall, its first pastor trained at the University of Chicago Divinity School. After Randall resigned, the church hired Alfred W. Wishart, who remained from 1906 until 1933. Wishart brought the "social responsibility" gospel to Grand Rapids. During Littlefair's (schooled in the 1930s modern humanism) pastorate, the church became more liberal and separated from its Baptist affiliation in the late 1950s. Littlefair also increased church membership, attendance and member involvement to make Fountain Street Church a prominent local institution. Littlefair retired in 1978, but continued to serve on a part-time basis until 1980. He died in Grand Rapids Jan. 17, 2004.