Whitman Duncan Tucker[2] (November 15, 1940 – October 16, 2024) was a Canadian professional football player who spent his entire career as a flanker for the Ottawa Rough Riders of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was a CFL All-Star in 1967 and won two Grey Cup championships with Ottawa in 1968 and 1969.[3]
| No. 26 | |
| Born: | November 15, 1940[1] Windsor, Ontario, Canada |
|---|---|
| Died: | October 16, 2024 (aged 83) |
| Career information | |
| CFL status | National |
| Position(s) | WR |
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) |
| Weight | 175 lb (79 kg) |
| University | Western Ontario |
| CFL draft | 1962, round: 2, pick: 9 |
| Drafted by | Ottawa Rough Riders |
| Career history | |
| As player | |
| 1962–1970 | Ottawa Rough Riders |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
| CFL All-Star | 1967 |
| CFL East All-Star | 1966, 1967, 1968 |
| Awards | 1962 - Gruen Trophy 1968 - Outstanding Canadian player in the East Division |
| Retired #s | Ottawa Rough Riders #26 |
| Records | CFL record, highest career average gain receiving (22.4 yards/catch) |
| Career stats | |
Early life and college
editTucker was an all-star high school athlete in Windsor, Ontario. He received a track scholarship to the University of Southern California upon graduation, but decided to attend the University of Western Ontario, where he was a three sport standout.
Professional career
editPlaying for the Ottawa Rough Riders from 1962 to 1970, Tucker was an Eastern All-Star three times, a CFL All-Star in 1967, won the Gruen Trophy as best rookie in the Eastern Conference in 1962, and was the Outstanding Canadian player in the East Division in 1968. He was a two-time Grey Cup champion after helping his team win the 56th Grey Cup in 1968 and the 57th Grey Cup in 1969. He also played in the 54th Grey Cup in 1966. He holds the CFL record for highest career average gain receiving with 22.4 yards per catch over his career with Ottawa.[4]
He was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1993. He is also a member of the Windsor Sports Hall of Fame, the Ottawa Sports Hall of Fame, and the UWO Sports Hall of Fame.
Post-football
editTucker later worked as an investment executive in Ottawa, Ontario. He died on October 16, 2024, at the age of 83.[5][6]
References
edit- ^ "Whit can still take a hit | Home | Toronto Sun". Archived from the original on 2015-02-04. Retrieved 2014-09-26.
- ^ Whitman Duncan Tucker
- ^ "Whitman 'Whit' D. Tucker". Ottawa Sport Hall of Fame. 7 January 2024. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
- ^ "Canadian Football League – All-Time Records" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-09-22. Retrieved 2017-09-18.
- ^ Former Ottawa Rough Riders great and CFL Hall of Famer Whit Tucker dies at 83
- ^ Speedy Ottawa Rough Riders great Whit Tucker dead at 83 years old