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CRIMSON SHIELD
THE ONLINE MAGAZINE OF BROTHER MARTIN HIGH SCHOOL |
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May 2011
Published September through May |
Dr. Stephen Tucker |
Dr. Stephen Tucker's life followed a circuitous route before landing in New Orleans.
- With every promotion his father received from the gas pipeline company he worked for, the family had to move.
- Steve attended three high schools. He spent his freshman year and half his sophomore year in Plaquemine LA - "my favorite place we ever lived in." After a year-and-a-half in Lebanon TN, he finished at Taft TX near Corpus Christi.
- He majored in history at Baylor University. "I was always interested in history from the time I was a little boy. I got that from my dad." He stayed an extra semester to earn a teaching certificate.
- Following the recommendation of his admired professor, Steve obtained a graduate assistantship in history at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. As soon as he entered his mentor's office, he knew this was the man he wanted to work with. On the walls were autographed pictures of actresses. Dr. Robert Davis specialized in cultural history and assigned his students to interview ten people. A lifelong baseball fan, Steve immediately thought of Mickey Mantle, who had a home in Dallas. Disappointed to find that his idol rarely stayed in the area, Steve decided to concentrate on his second love, music, and country music in particular.
- After earning his master's degree at SMU, Steve completed his triology of alma maters with weak football programs by enrolling at Tulane. Once again, the oportunity to study under a professor who specialized in music, Dr. Bill Malone, attracted Steve to the Crescent City. He taught several courses while completing his course work.
- Naturally, he wrote his dissertation on a subject dear to his heart, the history of Louisiana country music. He titled it "Louisiana Saturday Night."
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While working on the dissertation and being a house husband after the birth of the first of two daughters, Steve began teaching in local high schools.
- He taught history at Ganus High School for 11 years.
- He briefly served as an assistant football coach. He started as an assistant in baseball before becoming the head man in that sport.
When the Paris Avenue school closed at the end of the 1995-6 term, he applied to a number of schools with solid academic reputations, including Brother Martin.
- Brother Barry Landry, S.C., assistant principal, interviewed Steve. "I was apprehensive. I figured Brother Martin would never hire me because I wasn't Catholic."
- But Brother Barry put him at ease. "He had a great sense of humor. He asked me what I thought of cooperative education. I said, 'Where I come from, we call that cheating.'" Instead of ending the interview, the answer made Brother Barry laugh.
- When told he was hired, Steve was tremendously excited. "I was happy to teach at a school with a religious foundation that required prayer. Also, I figured I wouldn't have to worry about another school closing."
Ph.D. or not, Steve had to start at the bottom of the totem pole in the Social Studies Department.
- He taught 8th grade Louisiana Studies for several years before moving to World History and Civics. For many years now, he has taught all levels of American History.
- His extra-curricular responsibilities started with intramurals his first year, then Speech and Debate for another year before he settled into his current job as Quiz Bowl coach.
- Musing, as many do, about traveling back in time, Steve would love to experience a school year at St. Aloysius or newly-opened Brother Martin when Brothers of the Sacred Heart comprised most of the faculty. "The brothers built up so much educational capital over the years. I think we're all concerned with keeping that reputation now that the brothers won't be here much longer."
Dr, Stephen Tucker with his 2010-11 Quiz Bowl team
Dr. Tucker has written numerous articles for encyclopedias and professional journals.
- Among the publications that have published his work are The Journal of Popular Culture and Southern Quarterly.
- He has also contributed entries in the Encyclopedia of Southern Culture, including the article on Elvis Presley.
- His most recent article was a book review in The Journal of Southern History. The book was Subversive Sounds: Race and the Birth of Jazz in New Orleans by Charles Hersch.
- Dr. Tucker has also participated on many discussion panels at professional meetings, including one at the "first and only" Elvis Festival at the University of Mississippi.
As this is written, Steve is preparing for his 60th birthday celebration May 16 in a suite at Zephyr Field. His Big Day is actually the 17th, but the Zephyrs play a day game on that date, and Steve figured he wouldn't get permission to miss class.
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