When Trajan Langdon was at Duke, we were well aware of his parents, Steve and Gladys. Steve is a professor of anthropology at the University of Alaska-Anchorage and he and Gladys named their son after Rome’s Emperor Trajan. A highly successful ruler, Trajan was in power from 98 AD to 117 AD.
We understand that Gladys was not thrilled with Trajan’s Duke nickname, the Alaskan Assassin. We did a lot to help popularize the nickname and so to Mrs. Langdon, we say: we thought it was cool as hell. We hope it didn’t upset you too much.
The Langdons also had a daughter, Trista, also an athlete.