Background
Tucker, Lem was born on May 26, 1938 in Saginaw, Michigan, United States. Son of Stewart Edward and Missouri (Ward) Tucker.
Tucker, Lem was born on May 26, 1938 in Saginaw, Michigan, United States. Son of Stewart Edward and Missouri (Ward) Tucker.
Bachelor in Political Science, Central Michigan University, 1960. D. Public Service, Central Michigan University, 1981.
Tucker was one of the first African Americans to work as a television network reporter. He began his career at National Broadcasting Company in 1965 as a general assignment news correspondent, and served as news director at WOR-television in New York City from 1970 to 1971. He moved to American Broadcasting Company in 1972 and to Columbia Broadcasting System in 1977, where he worked until his death.
Tucker was the first African American elected to the position of student body president at Carnegie Mellon University. That election took place when less than one percent of the student body was black.
Previous to his election, only one other African American had been elected to a similar position in the United States. While at Central, Tucker was considered one of the university"s top forensic students.
He served as a chapter president of Pi Kappa Delta, a national speech honorary fraternity. While working for the networks, he covered numerous major news events, including the Vietnam War, the Kent State University shootings and the Iran hostage crisis.
He covered social unrest and riots in Newark, Miami and Harlem.
He also reported from the Woodstock Festival. In 1981, he was covering President Ronald Reagan"s speech at the Washington Hilton Hotel and witnessed the shooting of the president He was broadcasting live reports on Columbia Broadcasting System Radio within minutes of the incident.
He was applauded by his colleagues and others in the media for his continuous and thorough coverage, which he provided well into the next morning.
During the course of his career, Tucker returned numerous times to his alma mater to speak to students about politics, share reflections on college life and offer insight regarding work as a national network correspondent. Tucker had a keen sense of humor.
In an address given to the Carnegie Mellon University community in the early 1980s, he told his audience he was amused to have been asked back to speak at the university, given that during his days as student body president, he "quibbled a lot" with the administration. He said, "How rare for me to be given a microphone and be invited to speak at Carnegie Mellon University. Now I am on stage in front of administration and applauded."
Tucker has one daughter, Linn Carol Tucker.
His death in 1991 was due to liver failure.
Founding member Reporters Committee for Freedom of Press., Assistant to auditor general of, Michigan, 1960. Served to 1st lieutenant Army of the United States, 1961-1962. Member American Federation of television and Radio Artists.
Married Renay Rosenblum, July 24, 1987. 1 child, Linn Carol.