Tucker, Raymond R. (Raymond Roche), 1896-1970

Raymond R. Tucker was born in St. Louis on December 4, 1896. He was raised and resided for most of his life in the Carondelet area of south St. Louis, within half a mile of where he was born. His family has been in that part of the city for over a century. In choosing the field of mechanical engineering and later a career centered on smoke abatement, Tucker followed in the footsteps of his father, to whom he was very close. The elder Tucker was an engineer and in 1904 had participated in an unsuccessful program for the elimination of smoke in St. Louis. From 1927 through 1934 Tucker was a member of the faculty of Washington University, as an associate professor of mechanical engineering. During this period he also maintained a chemical laboratory serving local foundries. This laboratory was sold in the early 1930s. In 1934 Democratic Mayor Bernard F. Dickmann of St. Louis asked Tucker to become his secretary.

In September 1942 he returned to Washington University as head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering. During his period as Smoke Commissioner of St. Louis he had established a national reputation as a leader in the anti-pollution field and in power plant design, traveling widely in the United States as a lecturer and consultant. In the administration of Mayor Joseph M. Darst of St. Louis (1949-1953) Tucker served on the mayor's Air Pollution Committee, and also was chairman of the 1949 Charter Board of Freeholders and Director of Civil Defense.

In 1953 Professor Tucker was elected mayor of St. Louis, having defeated Mark D. Eagleton for the Democratic nomination in the primary election. He was subsequently elected twice. In 1965 he was defeated in the Democratic primary in his bid for a fourth term. During his three terms as mayor of St. Louis Raymond Tucker established a reputation for meeting the major problems of the city head-on. In 1965, Tucker became Professor of Urban Affairs at Washington University and served in this capacity until his death on November 23, 1970.