William J. Tucker

Born in Longview, Texas, William Tucker worked as an author and newspaper editor, and in 1929 became the first Executive Secretary of the Texas Game, Fish and Oyster Commission, and also volunteered in the founding of the East Texas Big Thicket Association. Tucker oversaw early game species surveys and restocking efforts, and promoted the value of camping, fishing, hunting and other outdoor activities in his public presentations. He was respected in the field (serving as president of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies from 1931 to 1932), but Tucker lost his agency position in 1944 after pressing E.L. Kurth to control effluents from his paper mill, the first built in East Texas.