Willis Tucker

Willis D. Tucker (November 13, 1922 – June 30, 2000) was an American politician and newspaper editor from Washington state. Tucker was the longtime editor of the Western Sun in southern Snohomish County from 1965 to 1980. He was elected as the first Snohomish County Executive in 1980 and served three terms in the office before retiring in 1991.

Willis Tucker
1st Snohomish County Executive
In office
May 1, 1980 – January 1, 1992
Preceded byOffice created
Succeeded byBob Drewel
Personal details
Born(1922-11-13)November 13, 1922
Beards Fork, West Virginia
DiedJune 30, 2000(2000-06-30) (aged 77)
Snohomish, Washington
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)Annette Rhoades Tucker
Children3
OccupationNewspaper editor
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Army
Years of service1943–1946
Rank Technical sergeant
UnitMilitary Police Corps
Battles/warsWorld War II

Early life and military service

Tucker was born on November 13, 1922, to a coal mining family in Beards Fork, West Virginia. At the age of 14, he was sent to live with his grandparents in Coulee City, Washington, where he graduated high school. Playing as a quarterback for the Coulee City High School football team, Tucker earned himself a scholarship to attend Gonzaga University shortly after graduating.[1]

Tucker abandoned the Gonzaga scholarship and enlisted in the United States Army in 1943, during the middle of World War II, and was sent to Fort Custer to become a member of the Military Police Corps. He served under former FBI agent Melvin Purvis in Europe, investigating crimes involving American soldiers, before mustering out as technical sergeant. After returning to Coulee City in 1946, he married Annette Rhoades and worked as a concrete pourer on the Grand Coulee Dam before being poisoned by the work, entering the newspaper business instead.[1]

Newspaper career

Tucker entered the newspaper business as a print shop worker in Coulee City and Portland, Oregon, before moving to Snohomish in 1949.[1][2] Tucker became the co-owner of the Snohomish Tribune and served on the city's chamber of commerce for several years,[3] before selling his share and joining The Everett Herald. In 1965, he was named the managing editor of The Herald's Western Sun edition, covering southern Snohomish County. He continued to be involved in community politics, later joining the Mountlake Terrace chamber of commerce and the Lynnwood Koffee Klatch, a group of southern Snohomish County business leaders.[1][4] Tucker was one of the founding members of the Association of Washington Generals, along with Lieutenant Governor John Cherberg.[5]

County executive

After the approval of a new home rule charter for Snohomish County in 1979, creating the new position of Snohomish County Executive, Tucker was encouraged to run for public office by future Everett mayor Ed Hansen.[1] Deciding to run as a Democrat, despite having conservative leanings,[1] Tucker faced Republican state senator Gary A. Nelson and two independent candidates. While Tucker had no political experience, he had been a member of the County Airport Commission and touted his longtime involvement with local political issues while working at the Western Sun. In his campaign, Tucker focused on making a smooth transition to the new form of county government, while also saving the county's rural qualities in the face of growing suburbanization.[6] During the March 11, 1980 general election, Tucker defeated Nelson to become the county's first executive.[1][7]

Tucker selected former Everett councilman Gordon Hay as his first deputy executive and took office on May 1.[8] During his first year in office, the county faced a $6 million revenue shortfall that Tucker's administration solved with program and staff cuts.[1] Tucker was re-elected to a second term in 1983, beating out Everett businessman Court Sheehan in the Democratic primary and Republican Snohomish city councilman Larry E. Countryman.[9][10]

During his second term, Tucker's administration supported the selection of Everett as the site of a new naval base. Another budget crisis forced more staff layoffs and program cuts to save $6.8 million by 1987.[11] Tucker's popularity began to decline during his second term,[12] leading to a near-upset by architect Michael Glanz in the 1987 election. Tucker won a third term by a margin of 1,500 votes, which was as low as 500 on election night, and called the vote an "anti-Tucker" campaign.[13] Tucker remained personally popular, but declined to run for a fourth term in 1991 and was succeeded by Bob Drewel.[2][14]

By the time he retired in 1991, Tucker had successfully established senior-friendly policies to aid the elderly and senior centers, and also moved forward with county purchasing of wetlands in the Snohomish River delta for preservation.[2] While socially liberal, Tucker emphasized strict spending and budgeting, and other conservative policies that favored job growth.[1]

Electoral history
Snohomish County Executive election results, 1980–1987[15]
Year Candidate Party Votes Pct Candidate Party Votes Pct Candidate Party Votes Pct
1980 Willis Tucker Democratic 13,085 48.74% Gary A. Nelson Republican 11,852 44.15% Louise A. Saluteen Independent 1,910 7.11%
1983 Willis Tucker Democratic 54,756 58.28% Larry E. Countryman Republican 39,194 31.72%
1987 Willis Tucker Democratic 35,222 51.04% Michael Glanz Republican 33,782 48.96%

Personal life

Tucker was an avid golfer and spent time on local courses. During the 1990 GTE Northwest Classic, part of the 1990 Senior PGA Tour, Tucker was one of two amateur golfers to make a hole-in-one, earning lifetime dinners at Duke's Chowder House in Seattle.[1][16]

Death and legacy

Tucker died at his Snohomish home on June 30, 2000, at the age of 77, after a four-year battle with prostate cancer.[1]

The county dedicated Willis D. Tucker Regional County Park near Silver Firs in May 2000, one month before Tucker's death.[17]

References
  1. Brooks, Diane (July 2, 2000). "Willis Tucker: He led his county into new age with a smile". The Seattle Times. p. B6. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
  2. Bergsman, Jerry (November 27, 1991). "Tucker on his own terms: Snohomish County's first executive retiring amid praise and criticism, with few regrets". The Seattle Times. p. H1.
  3. Duncan, Don (April 10, 1962). "Welcome, Ponder: Snohomish To Be Hospitable, Western Style". The Seattle Times. p. 26.
  4. "Chamber Names New Officers". The Seattle Times. January 8, 1969. p. 56.
  5. Dunphy, Stephen (February 20, 1973). "General confusion: State group pulls rank for meeting". The Seattle Times. p. C7.
  6. Suffia, David (January 30, 1980). "New county government to be chosen Tuesday". The Seattle Times. p. H2.
  7. Suffia, David (March 12, 1980). "Tucker county executive; Council seat undecided". The Seattle Times. p. H1.
  8. Suffia, David (April 30, 1980). "Snohomish County ready to make historic switch". The Seattle Times. p. G6.
  9. Bergsman, Jerry (September 21, 1983). "Tucker defeats three opponents". The Seattle Times. p. E1.
  10. Bergsman, Jerry (November 9, 1983). "Tucker wins executive position". The Seattle Times. p. G1.
  11. Bergsman, Jerry (March 27, 1985). "Budget crisis pointing to layoffs, program cuts". The Seattle Times. p. H1.
  12. Bergsman, Jerry (August 11, 1987). "GOP poll not favorable to incumbent". The Seattle Times. p. B3.
  13. Bergsman, Tucker (November 6, 1987). "Tucker puzzled by narrow margin". The Seattle Times. p. B3.
  14. Bergsman, Jerry (November 1, 1991). "County-exec candidates run parallel tracks". The Seattle Times. p. C1.
  15. "Past Election Results". Snohomish County Elections. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
  16. Peoples, John (August 25, 1990). "Crowd of classic proportion—senior golfers draw estimated 25,000 for top opening-day turnout". The Seattle Times. p. B3.
  17. Brooks, Diane (May 19, 2000). "Parkland dedicated to former top official". The Seattle Times. p. B1.
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