Robert H. Tucker, Jr.
Robert H. Tucker Jr. (born in New Orleans, Louisiana) is an American businessman, civil rights activist and politician.
Atlanta sit-in[edit]
Tucker participated in the first lunch counter sit-in at Atlanta’s commercial business district, following the Greensboro sit-ins of 1960. Tucker’s group of approximately eleven 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”.
In follow-up to the sit-in, Tucker and his fellow student activists were taunted and threatened while picketing at the weekends in front of Atlanta’s many segregated public facilities.
Career[edit]
In May 1963, Tucker graduated from Clark College with a B.A. (Honors) in Political Science and Economics, with a minor in Psychology.
He was the first African American assistant hired by Mayor Moon Landrieu in 1970, when he became one of three Executive Assistants to the Mayor for the ensuing eight years (1970-1978) of the Landrieu administration.
He worked for a peaceful solution to an eight-hour standoff between heavily armed members of the New Orleans Police Department and the local Black Panther Party.[1][page needed]
Tucker served on the Clark Atlanta University Board of Trustees, Tulane University President’s Council, Distinguished Lecturer at Loyola University's College of Business Visiting Committee, 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 Super Dome Commission, USF&G Sugar Bowl Association, Boy Scouts of America, Junior League, Ochsner Medical Foundation, Metropolitan Young Men’s Christian Association, Children’s Hospital, and the Commission on the Future of the City of New Orleans.
He was Chairman of the New Orleans Port Authority, the Regional Transit Authority, the United Negro College Fund, Inc. Telethon, and the Louisiana Special Olympics.
Professional affiliations[edit]
International Business Fellow, London Business School, Member Black/Jewish ADL Delegation to Israel, NAACP Life Member, Blue Key Honor Society, Advisory Board Unity Temple, Omega Psi Phi (Former National Officer)
Awards and recognition[edit]
- 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 Business Person of the Year – State of Louisiana
- Entrepreneur Role Model of the Year, Young Leadership Council
- Governor’s 1990 Pacesetter Award
- Louisiana 1990 Minority Business Person of the Year
- Outstanding Community Service – Kiwanis International, 1983
- Outstanding Man of the Year – New Orleans Jaycees, 1971
References[edit]
- ↑ Orissa Arend, Showdown in Desire – The Black Panthers Take a Stand in New Orleans (2009)
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