Fred Lynch retired in 2018 after capturing images for the Southeast Missourian since 1975, in that time moving from black-and-white to color, from film to digital and to video. The blog title is a nod to an earlier era of news photography and the 4x5 Speed Graphic: It's more important to be there for the shot than to worry about technical details.

L.A. Tucker Truck Lines

Posted Friday, April 11, 2014, at 12:00 AM

The L.A. Tucker Truck Lines, Inc. was established in the early 1920s by Lester A. Tucker. It's slogan: "Let Tucker be your Trucker." It was located at 1451 Independence in Cape Girardeau.

Dec. 31, 1945 Southeast Missourian advertisement

New Year Greetings! We extend the heartiest Season's Greetings to all. Thank you for the fine support you have given us in the past year.

We pledge to "Keep 'em Rolling" in '46.

Throughout the war years, the Tucker Truck Lines met the difficulties of labor shortage, equipment maintenance and other problems to keep your freight moving regularly. In the coming year we will spare no effort to improve the existing high standards of our service.

L.A. Tucker Truck Lines

Daily trips to and from all points between Cape Girardeau and St. Louis and points south on Highway 61.

Cape Phone 1451

St. Louis Terminal Phone CH 2804

Jackson Phone 477

Sikeston Phone 99

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Sept. 25, 1958 Southeast Missourian advertisement

OVERNIGHT FREIGHT SERVICE

Memphis to Cape Nightly, Round Trip

St. Louis to Cape Nightly, Round Trip

Tucker Truck Lines

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On May 16, 1962, owner and president H.G. Schmitz announced the sale of the company to Harry Messmer, Charles N. Harris and Walter Schmidt. Mr. Schmitz had bought the business in 1933 when the line served only Cape Girardeau.

An advertisement in the Feb. 23, 1968 Southeast Missourian states the company operates 106 trailers, 35 trucks and 63 tractors from its home office and terminal at 1451 Independence in Cape Girardeau. Harry A. Messmer, president. Terminals at St. Louis, Ste. Genevieve, Perryville, Sikeston, Caruthersville, Kennett, Cairo, Ill, Blytheville, Ark. and Memphis, Tenn.

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On July 22, 1975, Tucker Truck Lines, 321 North Spring, was purchased by Kenneth W. Inman from Charles N. Harris. The company had 50 drivers and 375 employees. Mr. Inman had been associated with Tucker five years.

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Where was the building in the picture?

-- Posted by JD420 on Fri, Apr 11, 2014, at 7:39 AM

Fred Lynch
1451 Independence in Cape Girardeau.
It's where the Thorngate building is today. It turned into Landgraf Lumber, then Thorngate. My dad, Allen Rigdon, was manager of Tucker for several years in the late 1950's and early 60's, until his untimely death in 1963.

-- Posted by renewableenergy on Fri, Apr 11, 2014, at 8:39 PM
My dad was office manager and I grew up in there! He worked with Allen. Loved the office smells of typewriter ribbon, carbon paper, teletype machine and all the wood desks, chairs....and loved the big trucks and all the drivers! There was also a room of damaged goods that I could go in and see if there were any toys or something of interest to a small child. Lots of great memories!!

-- Posted by little bo peep on Sat, Apr 12, 2014, at 12:31 AM
L.A. Tucker Truck Line was started by my Great Uncle Les and my Grandpa Andrew, hence the name L.A. Tucker. My Dad has a picture of an old truck with Les sitting in the cab behind the wheel if anyone is interested.

-- Posted by meblair on Sun, Apr 13, 2014, at 6:27 PM

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