Thomas Richard Tucker Sr.

October 27, 1922 – February 24, 2012

Thomas R. Tucker, Sr. was born on October 27, 1922 in San Diego, California. He moved to Taft, California, when he was two years old; then moved to the Mariposa area when he was 13. Tom graduated from Mariposa County High School in 1940 and started working on the Trail Crew in Yosemite National Park. He moved with his family to Richmond, California in 1942 to work in the Kaiser Shipyards. Tom left the shipyard for service in the Army in 1943, becoming a Platoon Sergeant in an Ordnance Ammunition Company. He landed at Utah Beach on D+16, and served in the European Theater for the remainder of the war; where he participated in the battles of Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland and Central Europe; and earned the European-African-Middle Eastern Medal with four Battle Stars and the World War II Victory Medal. Tom continued to serve in Europe after the war, gathering and disposing of munitions until he returned to the United States in late 1945 as a Master Sergeant and awarded the Good Conduct Medal for his service. Following Discharge from the Army in 1946, he worked for the Yosemite National Park Forestry Department on Blister Rust Control and Insect Control. He was Camp Superintendent for the Chinquapin Blister Rust Control Camp. In February 1947, Tom married Evelyn Buschlen of Glendale, California. Tom started as a National Park Ranger in June 1949, working in the Wawona District of Yosemite National Park. He moved to Yosemite Valley in 1954, and then was selected as the Mather District Ranger in 1958. As Mather District Ranger, Tom distinguished himself as a Fire Fighter, becoming one of only four holders of an Unlimited Red Card for managing large campaign forest fires in the Western Region of the National Park Service. The National Park Service recognized Tom’s final two years performance as Mather District Ranger with the Outstanding Professional Services Award. Tom transferred to Cabrillo National Monument in San Diego in 1962, serving as Chief Ranger, then Superintendent. While Tom was Superintendent, Cabrillo National Monument became one of the recognized showplaces of the National Park Service. Tom oversaw the completion of the new Visitor Center, expansion of Cabrillo National Monument and its programs, and outreach to the community, including the notable growth of the annual Cabrillo Festival to international significance. Prior to his retirement in 1980, Tom received the Department of the Interior Meritorious Service Award and Distinguished Service Award and was knighted by the Portuguese government for his contributions to Portuguese-American relations. Tom was designated National Park Service Regional Coordinator for the Southern California Area. Tom’s wife, Evelyn, passed away in 2004. Tom’ is survived by his sister, Alva L. Branson; sons Thomas R. Tucker, Jr. (Helen Tucker) and James C. Tucker (Kim Tucker); daughters Mary Jane Tucker Martinez (Frank Martinez) and Eva Linda Tucker de St Croix ( J.P. de St Croix); eight grandchildren and seven great grandchildren (all great-grandsons). Tom was looking forward to the arrival of another great- grandson and a great-grand daughter this summer. Tom was a 50 year member of the Mariposa Masonic Lodge. Over his life, Tom enjoyed fishing and hunting. He always enjoyed music, particularly Big Band era music, and loved to sing; was a fan of classic movies; and enjoyed a scenic drive, particularly through country he had not previously seen.