Minneapolis Spokesman

Former Basketball Pro James Tucker Joins Hallie Staff

James Tucker, former basketball professional, has joined the Hallie Q. Brown Community House staff in the capacity of Group Worker. He will be in charge of the Teen - Young Adult programming.

Mr. Tucker, who comes to Hallie Q. Brown from the Pennsylvania State Welfare Department in Pittsburgh, is a native of Rose Hill, Virginia. A graduate of Paris Western High School, Paris, Kentucky. Mr. Tucker holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Deferred from the armed service because he was one half inch too tall (6'7½"), Mr. Tucker went from college into the professional basketball ranks. He has played professionally with the Syracuse Nationals in the NBA league, the Harlem Stars and the Harlem Magicians, a team which has gained international acclaim under the leadership of Goose Tatum and Marquis Haynes. Mr. Tucker's last professional basketball affiliation was with the Eastern Professional League. Mr. Tucker spent 12 days this past summer touring Cuba with a pro basketball team. He relates many exciting incidents which occurred during that tour. Other basketball tours have taken him through 48 states and 12 foreign countries. As soon as Mr. Tucker is able to find a house for himself and his family, his wife, Lyda Jo, his four year old son, James D., II and three year old daughter Barbara Jo will join him here in the Twin Cities.