Robert H. Tucker Jr. was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. He was the second of three children born to the union of Robert H. Tucker Sr. and his wife, Mattie Amacker. Both his parents grew up on large self-contained farms (in Franklinton and Greensburg, Louisiana) before finding their way to New Orleans where Tucker’s father became a mortician and successful owner of three funeral homes. In later years, Robert H. Tucker, Sr. would become an African Methodist Episcopal minister serving congregations throughout the states of Louisiana and Mississippi.
This aspect of family life was developmentally significant in young Robert’s growth as he acquired an understanding of business, strong spiritual values, and a deepened understanding of life as an African American male growing up in the segregated South.
Excellent performances as a student, athlete, and leader, resulted in Tucker receiving upon graduation –in the top 5% of his Walter L. Cohen high school class – an academic scholarship to Clark Atlanta University (formerly Clark College). In the process of earning a degree, Tucker built a record as an academic leader, a mature decision maker in campus affairs, and a strong civil and student rights’ activist. It was during this period, on March 15, 1960, that he along with scores of similarly inclined young men and women, made history by participating in the first ever lunch counter sit-in at Atlanta’s commercial business district.
Tucker’s group of approximately 11 students was transported (by local funeral directors) to Sprayberry’s Federal Cafeteria where they attempted to eat, were refused service, then arrested by Atlanta police officers. The coordinated Atlanta sit-ins resulted in the arrest of a total of 83 students charged with, “Breaching the Peace”, “Refusing to Leave Premises”, “Intimidating” the restaurant owners, and “Conspiracy”.
For many years Tucker’s father carried in his wallet, the yellowing onion skin letter that his son had typed out and mailed to his parents the night before this tightly orchestrated event would take place. (See Attachment)
In follow-up to the sit-in and furtherance of the cause, Tucker and his fellow student activists braved the taunts and threats of old line Southerners to perform weekend picketing duties in front of Atlanta’s many segregated public facilities.
While demonstrating excellent academic skills, Tucker also captained Clark College’s first debate team which won tournaments over Harvard, Columbia, and Boston College. He was a consistent ‘Best Speaker’ and was a major factor in popularizing collegiate debating at Clark.
Tucker added to his undergraduate achievements by winning election to national officer status as the Second Vice Grand Basilus of Omega Psi Phi fraternity.
In May 1963, Tucker graduated from Clark College with a B.A. (Honors) in Political Science and Economics, with a minor in Psychology.
Two months prior to the May graduation, Tucker was interviewed and selected to be one of a small group of African Americans to undergo Ranger training and integrate the National Park Service. Tucker was assigned to Yosemite National Park in California and, following graduation, began work there. (This initiative was brought about by then Pres. John Kennedy’s effort to advance opportunities for African Americans in non-traditional sectors of the government.)
Subsequent to the conclusion of this historic short term position in the early autumn of 1963, Tucker took up residence in Los Angeles.
Shortly after the devastating tragic assassination of Pres. Kennedy in November of that year, Tucker decided to join the military as he pondered the link between why he was in California and what he could do for his country.
After receiving six months basic US Army combat training at Fort Ord, CA (US Army) followed by six months of advanced training at Fort Sumter, SC, Tucker was assigned first to Orleans, France and, a year later, to Korat, Thailand in Southeast Asia.
Returning to his hometown of New Orleans, LA in 1967, Tucker found nothing much had changed insofar as race relations were concerned. The local situation became even more exasperated with the brutal assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King in 1968 in Memphis, TN.
In concert with other concerned African Americans in the community, Tucker led an organized effort to launch an ecumenical march to commemorate Dr. King’s death, culminating in the delivery of a set of empowerment demands to City Hall, the seat of a totally segregated governmental structure led by all white, male elected officials.
While none of the elected officials responded to the marcher’s request(s), one city councilman by the name of Moon Landrieu quietly observed the protesters visit to City Hall.
A few months later, Moon began to speak with various members of the Black community to express his intent to seek the office of Mayor in the upcoming municipal elections.
Not only did then Councilman Landrieu enter the very crowded field of candidates seeking the mayor’s chair, he won the primary and, ultimately the run-off after committing to hire African Americans to meaningful positions, if elected.
Tucker was the first African American assistant hired by Mayor Landrieu in 1970, when he became one of 3 Executive Assistants to the Mayor.
Over the ensuing 8 years (1970-1978) of the Landrieu administration, Tucker played a pivotal role in assisting the Mayor to manage and resolve a variety of municipal challenges.
Never one to shrink from confrontation, Tucker was the critical force in achieving a peaceful solution to an 8 hour standoff between heavily armed members of the New Orleans Police Department and the local Black Panther Party. Tucker’s role in the historic 1970 event was captured in great depth in a book by Orissa Arend entitled, “Showdown in Desire – The Black Panthers Take a Stand in New Orleans (2009).”
The Landrieu administration blazed an exciting trail of innovation and creative initiatives for an old American city badly in need of diversity, capital improvements, new ideas, vision, and imaginative thinking. Thanks to Mayor Landrieu and the able support provided by stalwarts like Bob Tucker, New Orleans successfully negotiated a major course correction at a critical point in its 250 year old history.
In 1978 after completing another record of high achievement, Tucker left government and entered the world of business, first as a consultant and, 2 years later, as the CEO of his own firm.
Over the next 14 years, Tucker would build a small business, that specialized in providing support services primarily to Department of Defense agencies, into a major employer of over 300 individuals.
Along the way, Tucker reciprocated in service back to the community through his charitable participation on a plethora of boards and commissions that included, CAU Board of Trustees, Tulane University President’s Council, Distinguished Lecturer Loyola University College of Business, College of Business Visiting Committee, Loyola University, Board of Commissioners, Accrediting Commission of Education for Health Services Administration, Health Education Authority of Louisiana, Executive Education Center, Tulane University School of Business, University of New Orleans Metropolitan Learning Center, New Orleans Super Dome Commission, USF&G Sugar Bowl Association, Boy Scouts of America, Junior League, Ochsner Medical Foundation, Metropolitan Young Men’s Christian Association, Children’s Hospital, Commission on the Future of the City of New Orleans, to name a few.
Tucker served as Chairman of, the New Orleans Port Authority, the Regional Transit Authority, the United Negro College Fund, Inc. Telethon, and the Louisiana Special Olympics.
His professional affiliations include:
International Business Fellow, London Business School, Member Black/Jewish ADL Delegation to Israel, Life Member NAACP Member, Blue Key Honor Society, Advisory Board Unity Temple, Omega Psi Phi (Former National Officer)
Honors and awards to Tucker include:
Heroism in Race Relations 2003 – Presented by the Mayor’s Office to Commemorate the Peaceful Resolution of the 1970 Confrontation between the Black Panther Party and the New Orleans Police Department; Citizen Hero Award 1994 – Presented by Victims & Citizens Against Crime for Actions in Confronting an Armed Convicted Felon; First Citizen of the Learning Society for 1993- University of New Orleans Metropolitan College Dean’s Award; Who’s Who Among Black Americans; Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities; U.S. Small Business Administration Minority Small Business Person of the Year – State of Louisiana; Entrepreneur Role Model of the Year, Young Leadership Council; Governor’s 1990 Pacesetter Award; Louisiana 1990 Minority Business Person of the Year; Outstanding Community Service – Kiwanis International, 1983, Outstanding Man of the Year – New Orleans Jaycees, 1971.