[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 23]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 32106]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING JOHN F. RUCKER

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GEORGE RADANOVICH

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 4, 2007

  Mr. RADANOVICH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of John 
Rucker for his dedication and service to his community. Mr. Rucker 
passed away at the age of ninety on November 11, 2007 at his home in 
Sonora, California.
  Mr. Rucker was born December 15, 1916 in Sacramento, California. He 
completed courses in medical technology at the Sacramento County 
Hospital, and was licensed in Medical Radiology Technology. He later 
introduced the first electrocardiogram in Tuolumne County and upon 
moving to Sonora in 1948 he established a laboratory at the Columbia 
Way Hospital. He also helped to create the laboratory and radiological 
departments at Sonora Hospital and Tuolumne General Hospital.
  During the 1950's Mr. Rucker helped to establish Sierra Hospital. 
This is where he met his wife, Patricia. Mr. Rucker was elected to the 
Board of Directors for Sierra Hospital and was Vice-President until 
1980, when the hospital was sold to Sonora Community. Mr. Rucker 
retired from the medical field in 1982. However, his service did not 
end there.
  Mr. Rucker was very involved in many aspects of Tuolumne County, and 
held numerous elected positions. He was elected to the Sonora City 
Council in 1986 and again in 1998, serving more than twelve years. He 
was twice elected by his council colleagues as mayor, serving from 1990 
to 1992 and from 1996 to 1998. He was also a member of the Sonora 
Planning Committee from 1982 to 1986 and was a member of the Sonora 
Rotary Club, serving as president in 1953 and 1954. Mr. Rucker was 
heavily involved in the Tuolumne County Republican Central Committee 
where he served as chairman in 1987.
  John Rucker is survived by his wife, Patricia Rucker; his brother and 
sister-in-law, James and Gloria Rucker; sons and daughters-in-law John 
and Janice Rucker, Daniel and Erika Rucker, and Brian Rucker; and his 
daughter, Sally Rucker.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today to posthumously honor John Rucker for his 
leadership and assistance in expanding the horizons for all of Tuolumne 
County. I invite my colleagues to join me in honoring his life and 
wishing the best for his family.

                          ____________________