Gilbert Andrew Tucker Jr., known as “Andy”, a County, State, and National Leader in the Beef Industry, died February 24th, 2023, in Rockledge, FL.
He was 80. Andy was born in Ft Bragg, North Carolina, to Gilbert and Ruth Tucker. He graduated from Cocoa High School in 1960, where he is an inductee into the Cocoa Tiger Hall of Fame. Upon graduation, Andy received a full scholarship to play football for the Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Virginia, where he holds the current record for a 106-yard interception run back for a touchdown. A natural leader, Andy was elected class President for all four years. While attending VMI, Andy stole the heart of a Colonel’s daughter, marrying Caroline Dillard, after graduation, in 1964.
In the summer of 1964, Andy joined Thee United States Marine Corps. After basic training in Quantico, Andy shipped off to Vietnam as a Second Lieutenant. In Vietnam, he was awarded two Purple Hearts, and a Bronze Star, and was promoted to Captain. Weighing his options of a second tour of duty, or coming home to work with the family, Andy chose the latter. So began a lifetime of service to an industry he loved and believed in.
Andy was a past President of the Brevard County Cattlemen’s Association, Eastern Brahman Breeders Association, and Florida Brahman Association. He was chairman of the Florida Beef Council and President of the Florida Cattlemen’s Association. He was Chairman of the National Beef Board in 2003. He also served on the Wuesthoff Hospital Board of Directors for 8 years. Andy served selflessly on multiple County Soil and Water Conservation Boards and earned many honors through the County and State, such as the 2001 Farm Family of the Year from the Florida Farm Bureau. He was recognized for his outstanding contributions to the Florida Cattle industry by the Alachua County Lions Club and named Outstanding Agriculturist in 2004 by the Florida Association of County Agricultural Agents.
In his “spare” time, Andy coached little league baseball and softball, while juggling an unparalleled show string of purebred Brahman Cattle, exhibiting with his children throughout Florida, and on a national level. Andy is survived by his loving wife of 59 years, Caroline “Callie” Dillard Tucker, children Tolly (Brian), Drew (Jody), and Katie Tucker, grandchildren Tucker and Addie Nugent, Gib, Samuel, and Hayden Tucker, brothers Bert, and Fred, four nieces, and one nephew. He was preceded in death by his sister-in-law, Celestia Dillard Forpaugh, and he is survived by sister-in-law Betsy Dillard Stroud.
