State of New Jersey
Executive Order #62

Acting Governor Richard J. Codey
WHEREAS, Assemblyman Donald K. Tucker, a devoted family man, spent his entire adult life committed to public service and New Jersey is a better place today because of that commitment; and

WHEREAS, Assemblyman Tucker grew up in Newark and graduated from Central High School in Newark, received a degree in Urban Planning from Goddard College in Vermont and served in the United States Air Force from 1955 to 1959; and

WHEREAS, following his discharge from the Air Force, Assemblyman Tucker returned to Newark and became involved in the Essex County Chapter of the Congress of Racial Equality; and

WHEREAS, Assemblyman Tucker traveled to Mississippi to assist with the Civil Rights Movement; and

WHEREAS, upon returning to Newark, Assemblyman Tucker founded the Newark Tenants Council and was instrumental in the effort to desegregate Newark's public housing projects; and

WHEREAS, Assemblyman Tucker was elected in 1974 and served 31 continuous years as a Councilman-at-Large in Newark, and was Council President in the 1990's; and

WHEREAS, Assemblyman Tucker served in the Assembly since 1998, and in 2002, was named Speaker Pro Tempore, the third highest leadership position in the Assembly; and

WHEREAS, Assemblyman Tucker also served as Chair of the New Jersey Black Issues Convention, and formerly served on the Executive Board of the National League of Cities and as President of the National Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials; and

WHEREAS, it is with deep sadness that we mourn the loss of Assemblyman Tucker and extend our sincerest sympathy to his family and friends; and

WHEREAS, it is fitting and proper to honor the memory and the passing of Assemblyman Tucker;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, RICHARD J. CODEY, Acting Governor of the State of New Jersey, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and by the Statutes of this State, do hereby ORDER and DIRECT:

  1. The flag of the United States of America and the flag of the State of New Jersey shall be flown at half-staff at all State departments, offices, agencies and instrumentalities during appropriate hours on Wednesday, October 26, 2005, in recognition and mourning of the passing of Assemblyman Tucker.

  2. This Order shall take effect immediately.

GIVEN, under my hand and seal this 25th day
of October, Two Thousand and Five, and of the
Independence of the United States, the Two
Hundred and Thirtieth.

/s/ Richard J. Codey

Acting Governor

[seal]

Attest:

/s/ Mark J. Fleming

Deputy Chief Counsel to the Governor