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Harry Tucker Stepping forward to serve as the 1989 President is one who is no stranger to the Valley. He has lived here on and off for a number of years. Up front is Ohio-born Harry Tucker who occasionally answers to the ring of “Farmer Tuck” or “Hardrock Harry”. The current President’s portfolio reveals an education, which included a year at Ohio State and four years of military service, the latter including a year at Syracuse University, where he studied aviation. While not equipped with a Ph.D. or other titles of merit, our Man of the Year harbors a great deal of grass-root elementary knowledge, i.e. down-to-earth, man-to-man quality seemingly fading from these contemporary times. Harry’s parents were musicians, and with harmonious sounds in his life from time zero, Harry found music a part of his life. After his military tenure he became an apprentice neon-sign glass blower and tube bender, a trade which later led to his ownership of a Santa Ana Neon-Sign Manufacturing firm. Except for his military duties in the South Pacific, Harry’s formative years were spent east of the Mississippi River, but in 1955 he “came west”. He worked both in glass blowing and music, predominantly in the realm of jazz. A life member of the Musicians Associations, Local 7(Santa Ana) Harry’s expertise-which included big band and small jazz groups, has seen him excel with the guitar, piano and vibraphones, the later now his specialty. He has provided some exciting New Year’s Eve entertainment at Stovepipe Wells. He co-founded the Death Valley Hikers Association in 1974 and led the annual hike for six years. He also was the assistant manager at Stovepipe Wells from 1973-75. The father of three children, two girls and a boy, Harry’s home was in the pristine wilderness of Eastern Mojave Desert, where he had 40 acres in Round Valley. He just recently moved to Snowflake, Arizona. He shares this homesite with his wife, Trudie, who hails from Ottawa, Canada. He is most worthy to serve as the 41st President.
Excerpts from ‘49er newsletter |
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Earl F. Schmidt Jr. Earl’s interest and involvement in Death Valley and the western desert dates back from 1941-42, when his Civil Pilot Training Program relocated from San Francisco Mills’ Field Airport to Death Valley Junction. He qualified for his pilot’s license there and moved to a secondary instruction program at Silver Lakes near Baker, California. (Before going on to a commission in the Army Air Force, with 30 combat missions over Europe in B-17’s, for which he holds the Distinguished Flying Cross). As a fourth generation Californian, whose great grandparents and grandfather arrived in 1852, he has had a lifelong avocations interest in western history. He has served in leadership roles (12 as president or chairman) with many local, state and regional preservation groups. His research and published books and articles range from the La Perouse Expedition Bicentennial and Murphy’s-California’s Irish First Family, (to edition ten Trans-Sierra trail Guides.) He was honored as a Fellow of the California Historical Society in 1989. A graduate of Stanford University in 1947, with graduate Management training at Santa Clara, he served professionally with the Boy Scouts of America for twenty years, and for another eighteen as corporate executive in food packaging. With his wife Patricia Cashel Schmidt, an active ‘49er on her own, he has been active in many Encampment roles. These included two years as Production Chairman. They raised two sons in the Bay area and proudly watch over three grandchildren. As a confirmed Northern Californian they maintain two historic homes, one in Murphy and one in Palo Alto. They set mileage records every year for the longest “commute” to ‘49er meetings.
Excerpts from letter
Earl Schmidt passed away Thursday December 29, 2005 |
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Perry Deters Perry has been a ‘49er since 1978. His prime interests are geology and preservation of the desert and mountain areas. He was born in Waterloo, Iowa and attended the University of Iowa. He served five years during WW II as a U.S. Army Captain. He retired from a career in production and administrations. His wife, Joanne served on many committees including the Ainsworth Library Committee. They reside in Monrovia, CA.
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Galen Hicks Galen was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. He came to California as a teenager and was impressed by the mountains and desert. He and his wife, Judie, attended many Encampments and had such a good time they decided it was time to pay something back to the organization. They bought a Life Membership and both got involved, Galen with Production and Judie with the Art show. The rest is history. He recently retired from the Telephone Company and they now make their home in Snowflake, Arizona.
Excerpts from letter |
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Lee CrosbyLee is a native of Bishop, California. He was introduced to Death Valley at an early age. He and his wife, Lucy, from Willesley, Maine, have made their home in Bishop since Lee retired from serving a full Army career. He graduated from the U.S. Military Academy and his military experience included construction in Alaska, command of an Engineering Battalion in Vietnam, Director of Gold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory in New Hampshire and Deputy Division Engineer of the Corps of Engineers, North Pacific Division, in Portland, Oregon. They are avid RVers and have covered more than 150,000 miles of this great land, as of this year.
Excerpts from letter |
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Mike Nunn Born in Denver, Colorado and at a young age transferred his residence to Nebraska where he was raised on a dirt farm near a small town named Blue Hill. Mike attended one-room country schools and a high school in Blue Hill and completed high school in Hastings, a nearby larger city. After completing high school he joined the Navy and was accepted into the flight program. He completed this in 1958, was accepted in the Marine Corps and at that time was the youngest officer in the Marine Corps. After a tour overseas, he was an instructor in the flight-training program at Pensacola, Florida… and was later sent to El Toro, California. He was a Search and Rescue pilot until leaving the corps, but had found the “Promised” Land in California. After leaving the Marine Corps he worked in several occupations while completing college. He has a BA and MBA from Cal State Fullerton and a Law Degree from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles. Upon completing law school he went to work for the District Attorney’s office of Orange County and was Deputy District Attorney until retiring in 1995. While working in the Deputy District Attorney’s office he met Judge Art Guy and he prompted his interest in the Zamorano Club and E.Clampus Vitus as well as the Death Valley ‘49ers. He was Treasurer of the ‘49ers for several years before becoming President in 1995. He and his wife, Lou, moved to Las Vegas in 1996. Lou had retired from nursing several years before so now both were free to enjoy retirement - and they do. Both have hobbies and interests. Lou continues to create handicraft items of a unique style. Mike has taken up the Internet in full force and has been selling books and some area postcards. You can easily recognize Mike by his distinguished white beard and his black hat.
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Dee Dee Ruhlow Dee Dee was born in Vermont and received her education there. She came to Southern California in January 1957 to visit her parents who had taken a year’s “sabbatical” from the farm. After sightseeing for a week, she decided this was the place to be and went on her one and only interview, landing a job with State Farm Insurance, where she still is employed today. Her parents went back to Vermont but Dee Dee stayed. She works as a claim specialist with State Farm Insurance involved in personal injury negotiations. She met her husband, Bill, in California, he lived in the same apartment building as her dear friend *Joan Newbro (before she was a Newbro). She was married in December 1962 and has always lived in Burbank. Included in her family are a daughter and son, three grandchildren and three great grandchildren. She and her husband share their home with 2 beloved felines. Her hobbies are collecting and reading books on Death Valley and its surrounding area, collecting art of Death Valley artist, and working with service clubs. The Newbros introduced the Ruhlows to Death Valley and the ‘49ers and it was love at first sight - in 1965. They became life members and served on many committees. Dee Dee was elected Director, Secretary and then with great pride represented the Death Valley ‘49ers as President in 1996.
*Wife of 1973 ‘49er President Bill Newbro
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Richard Tullis, MD Born in Rome, New York, Rick received his BA from the University of Rochester and his MD from Syracuse, New York. He served in the U.S. Navy in both WWII and the Korean War as a Navy Surgeon, and was Chief Surgeon on the ship “Hope” in 1971 in the Caribbean. He migrated to San Diego via the Navy in 1949 and stayed in California after his discharge in 1952. He first visited Death Valley in 1963, and later at an E. Clampus Vitus Clampout, met Capt. Gibson and Howard Chuman who promptly sold him a ‘49er membership. That was the start of his involvement in the Death Valley ‘49ers. His adorable wife, Joyce, was born in New York and also graduated from Syracuse in Fine Arts. They both love the desert, mountains, seacoast and sailing and belong to many museums and volunteer outfits. Rick must remain active at all times and dabbles in music, art, astronomy, ships, railroad, coins and computers. He is qualified as a brakeman, fireman and engineer for full sized steam locomotives for the local museum. They go for long workouts at the YMCA daily when home. The medical profession followed down to their children. Son Richard is a Ph.D. in DNA research, second son Norman an MD, and his son is also an MD. Their daughter, Jody, married an Aussie and lives in Melbourne. Rick and Joyce are a delightful couple to know.
Excerpts from letter
Rick Tullis passed away Monday December 18, 2006 |
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Lee CrosbyNo, this is not an error. Our past president did such a good job for the organization in 1994 that he’s back again by popular demand. As stated earlier, Lee is a native of Bishop, California. He was introduced to the Death Valley area at an early age. He and his wife, Lucy, from Willesley, Maine, still have their home in Bishop since Lee retired from serving a full Army career. He graduated from the U.S. Military Academy and his military experience included construction in Alaska, command of an Engineering Battalion in Vietnam, Director of Gold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory in New Hampshire and Deputy Division Engineer of the Corps of Engineers, North Pacific Division, in Portland, Oregon. They are still avid RVers, and have covered almost as many miles as there are roads on the map.
Excerpts from letter |
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