Tribute

In our lives we run into many people that make some sort of difference. There are those that enter our lives that make up a big part of what we are and who we become. Of course parents and family usually play a huge part in that and I would never take away from them. I, however; am talking about people who are at first strangers and then go the extra mile to make a difference in our lives. These strangers can often play a vital mentor role; frequently these mentors get taken from us before we feel we are ready.

Dave and I have met many people that have made a huge difference in our lives, but I would like to pay tribute to a dear friend of ours that has passed away a year ago last week...Mr. Terry Tucker. Mr Tucker was Dave's choir teacher in high school. (Many of you who read this quite possibly had him for your choir teacher as well) He also approached David and asked him to be apart of Cloggers West. It was a dance group at his high school.

Dave came from a school in California where teachers told him he wasn't good enough, smart enough, or didn't try hard enough. Mr. Tucker, having many personal trial of his own, took David under his wing and brought some confidence back into his life.

Below is an entry to a tribute site for Terry written by David during Terry's last few months of life:

I moved to Utah from California attending Pleasant Grove High for my Junior and Senior year. I was having a hard time adjusting. In California I was nothing special and often felt second class. I struggled with learning disabilities and many teachers made me feel as though I were dumb and couldn't’t amount to much. I met Mr. Tucker a week before school started and auditioned for the A Capella choir. He then talked me into joining Chamber Choir and Cloggers West. Terry and I spent a lot of one-on-one time getting me up to speed with the rest of the Cloggers. I struggled at first but soon found myself enjoying something I have never even heard of… clogging. He made me feel like I was really appreciated in there, and helped me feel comfortable with being who I was. I had three classes with him a day for two years solid. Terry became not only a teacher that finally believed in me, but became a friend. We have kept in touch all of these years. After my mission he would call me on various occasions to help clog for events. I was there in 2003 when he dissolved Cloggers West. It was truly a sad day for many!!! Terry still however found an excuse to work with me. I participated with Terry in his yearly entertainment commitment to the State Hospital NAMI for the fundraising program. I was the comic relief between Bluegrass Thunder and Rocky Mountain Express doing Elvis impersonations and the infamous skit called “P for Pleasure.” Whenever I expressed my personal frustration or anxiety he would share his struggles and triumphs and encourage me that I could do anything. Terry would always let me know how proud he was of me. I particularly struggled with college and felt as though I might not make it. Most teachers told me, while growing up, I should stick with a trade and that I really wouldn’t make it as much else. I majored in Psychology and Terry told me that I could do it. I eventually graduated after 6 long years. Many times, because of his disabilities with Tourettes Disorder, he was told he could not become a teacher. He kept working and he became one of the most inspiring teachers at Pleasant Grove High. He has inspired not only my life, but the lives of many others.



Mr Tucker and his lovely wife would also put on countless fundraisers with Cloggers West. They were and are amazing people. They provided opportunities for
high School students to travel. Tuck would always push them far and beyond their limits knowing they could always do better. Dave was sad to graduate and leave behind Cloggers West, and Mr. Tucker behind. Lucky for him he didn't have to.

I met Mr. Tucker when he had asked Dave to help with a clogging performance to raise money for the Cloggers. I still remember what he first said to me, "Oh, my are you gorgeous. What are you doing with an ugly guy like him?" LOL. He always had a way of making the girls blush and giggle. There were several times he asked Dave and many others to help out with clogging. Dave ate it up.



Tucker was a good friend to Dave and I. We were fortunate enough to have done some more fundraisers with him before he got sick. He was later diagnosed with Kidney Cancer. Dave and I were just heart broken. Lucky for me I worked in the hospital and was able to visit him and then take Dave to visit him. Tuck fought hard and would say that the only thing that makes him sad is knowing all of the stuff he will miss with his kids and grand kids. He was a trooper and his family said he never complained.

Dave and I were also lucky to go visit him at his home a few weeks before he died. We were able to show him our son Kimball. Dave was so happy to visit and didn't want to leave. We finally had to because Tuck was getting quite tired. Dave doesn't cry all that often, but as soon as we got into our car the tears started to come.

He died March 26th of last year. His funeral was amazing. There was no parking. It was lined up for blocks. The seating stretched all the way back to the cultural hall stage. There was plenty of laughter and tears. One of the most uplifting and inspiring funerals we have ever gone to. There are so many people's lives that were touched by Mr. Tucker. I am indeed grateful he came into Dave's life and I was lucky enough to be apart of that.

It is funny...Dave and I every once in a great while will go to McDonald's to eat a hamburger and get a Coke in Honor of Tuck. Mr Tucker loved McDonald's and he loved Coke. David has many fond memories of going to McDonald's on tours, trips, and even in Europe. Here's to you Tuck...Thanks for everything.