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| Booker Hall Rucker III |
BH’s career began as a ninety day research project in 1963 that
stretched into thirty-six years of service to Missouri’s system of state parks
and historic sites. As a graduate
student in archaeology, Booker completed his three-month study of a steam
engine shed at Watkins Woolen Mill State Historic Site. While teaching classes, Booker worked on
other research projects First State Capitol State Historic Site in St. Charles
and Washington State Park in Desoto. In
1965, the Director of Missouri State Parks, Lee C. Fine, offered him a
permanent job in the central office in Jefferson City. By 1971, Booker was promoted to Chief of
Historic Sites and three years later became the Assistant Director of the State
Parks Division.
From 1979 until 1989, Rucker served as Director of Historic Sites and
Historic Preservation. During the 1990s,
he was chief of interpretive programs until becoming director of Cultural
Resource Management in 1993. After
thirty-six years with the Missouri Division of State Park, Rucker retired in
2003.
During retirement, B.H. worked with the Foundation for Restoration of
Ste. Genevieve, Missouri in the preservation and restoration of the 1787
Memorial Cemetery and other projects in Ste. Genevieve, as part of a long term
interest in French colonial architecture. Also in retirement, he co-authored a
book on the State Parks of Missouri, which has just been released.
Before entering the world of historic preservation, Rucker’s universe
consisted of West 13th Street in the Powell Addition in Rolla. At
the time of his birth during the Fall of 1939, Rolla did not have a hospital
and Rucker was delivered at the home of Dr. Scott in St. James, Missouri. He was raised in the stone house his father,
Ray Rucker, designed at 800 West 13th Street, which was constructed
the same year he was born. During
extended correspondence with BH over the course of the years, he relayed his
childhood memories of growing up in Rolla.
A reoccurring story was visiting the elderly Tucker couple at 707 W. 13th
Street. BH stated,
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| Booker, standing, with his brother Ray in 1943 at 800 W. 13th Street. Photo courtesy of BH Rucker. |
“One of my strongest memories is
the homemade bread Mrs. Tucker used to make.
I’ve never had warm, fresh bread so good since those days. I used to carry it warm in a brown paper bag,
from their house to ours and it was all I could do not to open it up and eat it
on the way home.”*
Another story was attending West Side Elementary and the temptation to
cross “the old wooden railroad bridge.”
“One thing does resonate strongly
though, "Line's Store." Also known as the Southside Market, but
we kids all knew it as Kenny Line's store. When I went to West Elementary
School, we were allowed to leave the school grounds to walk to Line's Store for
candy. It was supposed to be a "straight there, straight back"
trip. Unfortunately, it often wasn't, too many temptations along the
way. One thing was so totally forbidden that it couldn't even be
considered, was to go on past the corner onto the old wooden railroad
bridge. Of course, we did so at every opportunity -- on the bridge,
around the bridge, under the bridge. Sometimes we got caught and there
was hell to pay with Mrs. Martin, the principal.”**
The Rucker name is deeply embedded in the history in Phelps County.
Rucker’s Great Grandfather, Major John Fleming Rucker, arrived in Rolla in 1889
with his young family and entered the tie and timber business. John Rucker won a contract to provide ties to
the Missouri Pacific Railroad and rafted timber down the Big Piney and
Gasconade Rivers. His ventured proved successful and left his oldest son,
Booker Hall Rucker I, to run the operation in Rolla.
Booker Hall Rucker I was best known for his dealings with property
across Phelps County. In 1900, he joined
David Cowan and created the firm Cowan and Rucker, abstractors, insurance and
real estate agents. Four years later, Booker
organized the Rolla Land and Investment Company. Booker was also involved with
the community in various ways. He served
as the Phelps County Clerk, was elected Alderman several terms and was chairman
of the Phelps County Democratic Committee.
In 1903, Booker married Margaret Southgate, the daughter of William
Southgate, a judge and a former Sergeant in the Union Army (which is humorous
since Booker was the son of a former Confederate Major). Together they had two
sons, Ray Rucker and Booker Rucker, Jr.
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| BH's favorite building designed by his father. The Rucker family home at 800 W. 13th Street. Photo courtesy of BH Rucker |
BH’s father, Ray Rucker, was a civil engineer who designed numerous
buildings in Rolla. Ray’s designs
included the E.E. Fiend House (1000 West 12th Street),
Tucker Dairy Building (101 W. 10th Street), Rucker House (800 W 13th
Street), the two former USO buildings (901 N Elm Street and 207 West 9th
Street) and the Rucker family home at 800 West 13th Street
constructed the same year BH was born. BH’s mother, Jessie Stark Rucker,
will likely be remembered by patrons of the Rolla Public Library where she
worked for roughly four decades.
After graduating from Rolla High in 1957, BH attended the Missouri
School of Mines before transferring to the University of Missouri two years
later. Even though he never resided in
Rolla after he left in 1959, BH was still heavily involved with his hometown. He aided in research and writing with the Phelps
County Historical Society and the Missouri State Historical Society-Rolla
Research Center. Personally, he was a constant help with the Rolla Preservation
Alliance. We would inundate BH with
questions and he seemed to never tire of telling us his recollections and
sharing his personal photos of the town he called home. We will forever be indebted for his help and
we will miss his stories about his family and the assorted characters he
encountered while growing up in Rolla.
In addition to his wife, Elaine of 51 years, B.H. is survived by two
children, John Rucker (Linda Moore), Jefferson City; Sarah Rucker Williams,
Columbia; three grandchildren, Sam Luke Williams, Emily Elaine Williams, Marnie
Jane Rucker Williams; two brothers, Ray Rucker, Rolla; Stark (Penne) Rucker,
Australia; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A remembrance service will be 2 p.m. Saturday, January 9, 2016, at
Dulle-Trimble Funeral Home with visitation following till 5 p.m.
Memorials are suggested to the Missouri State Parks Association, of
which he was a long term board member.
* Email correspondence with BH Rucker - October 28, 2013
** Email correspondence with BH Rucker - November 7, 2013
