Jack Woodrow Tucker

July 15, 2014

Our beloved Coach, Jack Woodrow Tucker, age 88, passed peacefully in his sleep on July 15, 2014 at 12:15 a.m. from Russellville Health Care Center to his eternal home in Heaven where he reunited with his wife of “32 wonderful years”, Doris Kerby Hargett; his parents, Dallas and Edley Turner Tucker of Cullman; and many other family and friends. Coach is survived by two stepchildren, eight step-nieces and nephews, over 20 cousins, and thousands of adoring team players, fellow teachers and coaches, students, fans, and friends who love him as Coach, mentor, teacher, role model and dad.

At age 17 Jack volunteered for Air force Pilot School in the last days of WWII.  Once

Enlisted, he was diverted to training as a “Belly Gunner” in B24 Bombers and stationed on Guam.  Upon returning to his hometown of Cullman, Jack finished high school playing on the basketball team.  In 1952 he graduated with honors from The University of Alabama where he was a member of Delta Sigma Phi fraternity.  He worked one year in a Detroit automobile factory before returning to Cullman High School to begin his illustrious coaching career.  He went on to coach at Hanceville, and to Warner Robins High School, Ga.  Then in 1963 Head Coach Bill Doty recruited him to Russellville High School as assistant Football Coach and Head Basketball Coach.  He taught American History, Physical Science and PE and coached the Golden Tigers until his retirement in 1988. He launched the girls’ basketball and golf programs at Russellville. Stats from his career as Head Coach: 533 wins, 242 losses, nine state tournament appearances, one State Championship (Basketball 1982). He was inducted into Alabama High School Sports Hall of Fame in 1995. Area Coach of the Year five times, State Coach of the Year two times, coached the Alabama High School basketball All Stars once.  His teams had fifteen 20-win seasons and one 30-win season.  Due to his spectacular success his players have crowned him as “the Bear Bryant of Russellville”. He is remembered fondly as manager, swim instructor at City Lake Park in the 1960’s and 70’s.  He loved fishing the gulf and rivers of the south.  An avid golfer, he played throughout his life at Twin Pines Country Club and at courses across the southeast.

He was a member of First Baptist Church in Russellville until his marriage in 1973 when he became a member of First United Methodist Church in Russellville for 40 years until his death.

Services will be held at Pinkard Funeral Home, Russellville, on Friday, July 18^th.  Viewing will be from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m., service following.  Pallbearers will be announced.  Honorary Pallbearers will be all of Tucker’s Tigers.