Joey Potts retweetledi
An Arkansas Tech University legend for all times began on this date 125 years ago.
John Tucker, forever known as "The Original Wonder Boy," was born on April 15, 1901. He grew up to become a star football player at what was then known as the Second District Agricultural School, and his play helped inspire the coining of our distinctive and treasured Wonder Boys nickname.
But that's only part of the story. After completing his education at Arkansas Tech in 1925, Tucker remained on campus as a coach. He took a sabbatical to complete graduate study at the University of Alabama, but returned home to serve as head coach for the Wonder Boys football program from 1933-47. He continued to serve Arkansas Tech in administration and as a chemistry teacher until his retirement in 1972. He passed away on February 20, 1983, at the age of 81.
Today, "The Original Wonder Boy" is remembered at Arkansas Tech through the naming of Tucker Coliseum and Tucker Residence Hall.
This dedication from the 1965 Agricola yearbook perhaps best summarizes the influence that John Tucker had, and continues to have, on Arkansas Tech University:
"If you are a relative Johnny-Come-Lately, and are not closely connected with Arkansas Tech, then John Tucker may be just a name to you — a name dropped in awe by people who saw him as a football player, or who watched his teams from one to two decades later. If you are now or ever have been a student of chemistry at Arkansas Tech, the name John Tucker is synonymous with excellent instruction.
"John Tucker has proven to be a most capable leader of youth, and has been and still is, loved and respected by all who know him."
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