FLORIDA TODAY
Brevard County, Florida
Thursday, March 15, 2012


Gilbert A. Tucker, of Rockledge, a county, state and national leader in the beef cattle industry died Tuesday, March 13, 2012, at Rockledge, FL. He was 94. Mr. Tucker was born July 23, 1917, in Christmas, Florida. He was the fifth of nine sons born to Andrew and Lizzie Tucker, a pioneer Florida family. He came to Brevard County in 1946 to manage the A. Duda & Sons Ranch. Mr. Tucker grew up in the Christmas and Bunnell, Florida areas. He attended Christmas Elementary School, Orlando Junior High School and Bunnell High School, graduating in June, 1935. He also attended the University of Florida at Gainesville and graduated with a B.S. Degree in Agriculture in 1939.

Mr. Tucker's career included the following: U.S.D.A. Farm Home Administration, Supervisor; Assistant Animal Husbandman, University of Florida, Range Cattle Experiment Station, Ona, Florida; U.S. Army, Major, with service in World War II; A. Duda & Sons Ranch Manager; Mid-Florida Livestock Auction Market, Orlando, Manager and Chairman of the Board; and owner of G. A. Tucker & Sons Ranch since 1958.

Gilbert Tucker had a long and highly productive life of public service leadership at county, state and national levels. Among the areas of leadership he excelled in were: Charter member and second President of the University of Florida Block and Bridle Club-I 938; Scabbard & Blades (Honorary Military Fraternity); President, University of Florida Agricultural Club; 1939; Treasurer, Alpha-Zeta (Honorary Agricultural Fraternity); Member of the University of Florida Executive Council; 1939; Board of Director, Cocoa Chamber of Commerce; Member of Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity; Member, Rotary Club of Cocoa; Cocoa, Rockledge District 4 Recreation Board; Member, Brevard County Farm Bureau since 1946, Director 1960-1972, President 1961-1963; Livestock Committee several years; Member, Florida Farm Bureau Livestock Marketing Association 1970-1973; Member, Florida Cattlemen's Association (FA) since 1946; Member of FKA Legislative Committee 1975-1976; Chairman, FKA marketing Committee 1960-1967; FA Budget and Finance Committee 1971; FKA Allied industry Committee 1972; Marketing Committee 1973; He also served the Florida Cattlemen's Association as Vice-President, 1974, President Elect, 1975, and President, 1976-1977. He was a member of the Brevard County Cattlemen's Association since 1946 and served as President three years and served on the Board of Directors 30 years.

Mr. Tucker was a very active leader in soil and water conservation programs. He was elected Supervisor of the Brevard Soil and Water Conservation District from 1956-1980 and was Chairman in 1960 and Treasurer, 1961-1980. He was a Committeeman with the Brevard Agricultural Stabilization Conservation Service, 1961-1964. He also served as Chairman of the County Committee. He served as an original organizer of the St. John's Food Producers Association and served as its first President from 1973-1980.

Mr. Tucker has been a member of the American Brahman Breeders Association since 1950 and was the Florida Director on the ABBA; 1952-1957 and again in 1959, He also served the Eastern and Florida Brahman Breeders Association from 1951. He was President 1957-1958 and served on the Board of Directors since 1951. He was a member of the Florida Association of Livestock Markets 1960-1972, President 1963-1965 and Vice-President 1971.

 His professional leadership contributions have been numerous and have included: Farmer Home Administration Committeeman 1950-1956; Member of the Florida Agricultural Council 1961-1962; Member of the Lake Washington Study Committee 1973-1974; Upper St. John's River Water Management District Study Panel, 1980; Florida Advisory Committee for Agricultural and Technical Education in Junior Colleges, 1957; Associate Director Central Florida Production Credit Association; Director Federal Land Bank of Central Florida, 1968-1986 Member, Florida Department of Agriculture Animal Industry Technical Committee 1978-1980; Member Brevard County Extension Beef Cattle Advisory Committee 1956-1993; Member of the Brevard County Agricultural Center Planning and Construction Advisory Committee 1985-1988. Civic and Church Leadership included memberships in the Rotary Club of Cocoa, Cub Scout Leader, Charter member of the Cocoa Babe Ruth Baseball League. He was also a member of the First Baptist Church of Cocoa.

Mr. Tucker was a highly recognized and decorated leader throughout his life because of his unselfish and dedicated leadership. Among his awards and honors are these: Recipient of the Brevard County "Wildlife Conservationist Award", 1971; Recipient of the 1972 "Outstanding Man in Florida Agriculture Award" by the Florida Association of County Agricultural Agents; 1973 Brevard County Farm Bureau "Outstanding Farm Family of the Year Award"; 1977 Brevard County Farm Bureau "Distinguished Farm Service Award"; 1977 "Outstanding Cattleman Award" by the Alachua County Lions Club; inducted into the "Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame"- Tampa, 1981; Recipient of the Gamma Sigma Delta, University of Florida Chapter- "Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award"- 1981; Given the "Premier Brahman Exhibitors Award", 1982 - 1983; Presented the "Premier Brahman Breeder Clinic Award, 1983; named "Brahman Man of the Year", 1984, by the Eastern Brahman Breeders Association; Outstanding Brahman Breeder in Florida, 1984; Brevard Soil and Water Conservation District Service Award, 1984, 29 years of service; Recipient of the 1984 Florida Bankers Association "Outstanding Cattleman Award"; inducted into the "Brevard County Agricultural Hall of Fame", 1993. Mr. Tucker was honorably elected Director Emeritus of the American Brahman Breeders Association for life in 1989 and in 2010 he was inducted into their "Hall of Fame".

In his late 70's and early 80's, Mr. Tucker wrote an autobiography of his life as a Florida Cracker. The book, which was titled "Before the Timber was Cut", portrayed his life in Florida as a cowboy for 80 years. It showed how life changed over this period of time - going from horse and wagon to the space age.

Retired Brevard County Extension Service Director, Lowell Loadholtz said, "Gil Tucker was an inspiring leader, a very hard worker, an innovative agriculturist, a very generous and unselfish civic humanitarian; a man who greatly loved other people and one of this nation's great champions of soil, water and wildlife conservation; a man who strongly believed in enhancing agriculture for today and future generations. He was truly a great American".

Mr. Tucker was preceded in death, in 1999, by his beloved wife of 60 years, Ruth Tucker. Survivors include sons, Andy, Fred and Bert, of Rockledge; and brother, Leslie Tucker of Bunnell, Florida. He is also survived by daughters-in-law, Caroline, Paula and Mary Ann, of Rockledge; grandchildren, Tolly Tucker, Drew Tucker and Katie Tucker, of Rockledge, Amy Heaberlin of Kenansville, Florida, Amande Tucker Story of St. Cloud, Florida and Carrie Tucker of Brooklyn Heights, New York. Other survivors are great- grandchildren, Tucker Nugent and Addie Nugent, of Rockledge, Slade and Carlie Heaberlin, of Kenansville, and A.J., Will and Ben Kelley and Caleb and Landon Story of St. Cloud. Also, Gib IV, and twins, Samuel and Haden Tucker of Rockledge.

Calling hours will be from 6-8:00 pm on Friday, March 16, 2012, at Wylie-Baxley Funeral Home Chapel, Merritt Island, FL and also, Saturday, March 17th, from 10-11:00 a.m. at the First Baptist Church of Cocoa, Cocoa, FL. Followed by Funeral Services at 11:00 a.m. Burial will follow at Florida Memorial Gardens, 5950 S. US Hwy 1, Rockledge, FL.

Memorials may be made to Wuesthoff Brevard Hospice, 8060 Spyglass Hill Road, Melbourne, FL 32940.