[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 45 (Thursday, March 9, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E205-E206]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     CELEBRATING THE INCREDIBLE LIFE OF ROBERT HOUSTON TUCKER, JR.

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. TROY A. CARTER

                              of louisiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 9, 2023

  Mr. CARTER of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize New 
Orleans' beloved native son, a true friend, mentor, and confidant. 
Robert Houston Tucker, Jr. was a master architect in building the city 
I love. His service to the public over multiple administrations, 
including work in the offices of Mayors Moon Landrieu and Dutch Morial, 
was transformational.
  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-
sufficient 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 percent 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''. All charges 
were subsequently dismissed as the City of Atlanta achieved peaceful 
integration.
  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.
  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 
College. 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 of 1963, Tucker graduated from Clark 
College with a B.A. (Honors) in Political Science and Economics, with a 
minor in Psychology. He later gained his master's in business 
administration (MBA) from Tulane University,
  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 devastatingly 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 U.S. Army 
combat training at Fort Ord, CA (U.S. 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 speaking with various members of the 
Black community expressing 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 through 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 then 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 
Superdome 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.
  At the time of his passing, he served as Co-Chairman of The National 
Conference of Christians and Jews (NOCCJ) and as a Commissioner to the 
New Orleans Redevelopment

[[Page E206]]

Authority (NORA). 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, and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. (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 Businessperson of the 
Year--State of Louisiana; Entrepreneur Role Model of the Year, Young 
Leadership Council; Governor's 1990 Pacesetter Award; Louisiana 1990 
Minority Businessperson of the Year; Outstanding Community Service--
Kiwanis International, 1983; and Outstanding Man of the Year--New 
Orleans Jaycees, 1971.
  I am so blessed and grateful to have known this phenomenal man, a 
real Trailblazer and Leader, my true friend.

                          ____________________