Death came for Margaret Tucker October 4, 2016 in her ninety-third year. Serene in the knowledge of a life well spent, she greeted Death as graciously as she had embraced Life.
Margaret Tucker was born in 1923 in the tiny Kansas farming town of Mt. Hope to Otie and Harol Kissick. Margaret’s parents passionately believed in education. When their valedictorian daughter was offered a substantial scholarship to Colorado Women’s College, they bravely sent her off by train, despite fatherly fears she might return an educated snob. She later graduated from Kansas State Teacher’s College in Emporia, an English and speech major, innocent of the sin of snobbery.
In Emporia she met and married (1945) Duane Tucker. They moved to Wisconsin for Duane’s doctoral studies, then to Oregon for his first academic appointment. In 1959, the young family, augmented by daughter Maggie and son Todd, arrived in Bowling Green.
During the nineteen-sixties Margaret hosted a popular radio show, Coffee Time, on WFOB. Over eight years and nearly 2,000 broadcasts she interviewed local movers-and-shakers about their myriad of good causes. She covered The Agnew Tour, did live broadcasts from the Wood County Fair and interviewed visiting BGSU luminaries such as Vincent Price.
Margaret moved from radio to innovative television when she became Director of In-School TV for the Northwest Ohio Educational Technology Foundation (NWOET). Eventually 147 school districts received the latest in technological assistance from NWOET for their classrooms. In this role , Margaret created “News Six,” a weekly TV news program written, directed, produced, and delivered by area sixth-grade students, which continued for thirty-three years.
Margaret became a familiar on-camera supporter of WBGU-TV, loyally co-hosting fund drives with husband Duane, the station’s General Manager. Today an expanded station building bears the name Tucker Center for Telecommunications. Her final community mission, “Keeping the Lights on at WBGU-TV”, resulted in a series of community meetings that ultimately persuaded the BGSU trustees to preserve BG’s own public television station. “Margaret and Duane made WBGU-TV a family, a wonderful place to be and work,” explained Ron Gargasz, Director of Broadcast Services
Margaret was named BG’s Outstanding Citizen in 1985, the year of her retirement. Honored, her only regret was the complete surprise meant no new outfit for a special occasion. Margaret was named to the All-Ohio Education Board – the first woman to be appointed. She received the BGSU Merit Award and the Abe Lincoln Award for outstanding work in broadcasting.
Margaret belonged to and held leadership roles in many organizations including, League of Women Voters, University Dames, the President’s Club, BGSU Retirees Association, American Association of University Women, P.E.O., Pro Musica. With Duane, she co-chaired Wood County Library’s Capital Improvement Fund Committee which raised $800,000. She served on the boards of Wood County and Regional Council on Alcoholism, Drug Abuse, and Mental Health and PACT, the Public Advisory Council for Television. She also served as a member and as president of both the Bowling Green City Schools and Penta County Boards of Education.
“Margaret Tucker was extremely community-minded, a champion for the library as well as BG Parks & Rec, WBGU-TV, and education. Enthusiastic, positive, intelligent, and hard-working, Margaret’s legacy is evident throughout Bowling Green,” said Elaine Paulette McEwen, former Director of the Wood County District Public Library.
Margaret served many years on the BG Parks and Recreation Board and was instrumental in creating the Foundation, an independent fund raising board. While she was president of the Foundation, $800,000 was raised to fund the Simpson Garden Park. “To be on a board with Margaret meant you were expected to work and make things happen”, said Clif Boutelle who served with her on the boards of Friends of the Library and BG Parks and Recreation.
Margaret actively participated in the development of St. John’s Nature Preserve. The Save the Woods campaigns added the Bordner Meadow and the Twyman Woods. Meadows, wetlands, and wildlife habitat were preserved. The final victory was saving the nineteen acres of Tucker Woods from development.
“The effect of her support and work on the development of the park system cannot be underestimated,” said Bob Callecod, retired Director of BG Parks and Rec. Friends, associates, fellow believers in the life beautiful will remember the pleasure of shared visions and accomplishments. One of her talents was recognizing a cause or project worth believing in and then rallying supporters.
“When I reflect on my more than 45 year association with Margaret, I think of class, high standards and dogged determination. She was the personification of the best in public television and the best in our community. She led by example. She always knew how to get one’s attention in all the right kinds of ways. She was a community jewel!” said Dick Edwards, Mayor of Bowling Green.
Margaret was preceded in death by husband Duane, and granddaughter Colby Marfin. She is survived by son Todd Tucker, Bowling Green; daughter Maggie Laughlin, Tucson, Arizona; granddaughters Jamie Vorzimmer and Vanessa Meraki; great-grandchildren Viva, Susse, Varick, Joaquin and Amal.
A party to celebrate the life of Margaret Tucker will be held at the Tucker Center for Telecommunications November 13, 2016 at 4 pm. Dunn Funeral Home is handling arrangements
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Parks and Recreation Foundation Endowment Fund at 1291 Conneaut Ave. Bowling Green, OH 43402 or to the Tucker Scholarship at Office of University Advancement BGSU, Bowling Green, OH 43402.
