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Continued from the story on the origin of the nickname "Wonder Boys" (Read Here)

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...If that was the end of the story, John Tucker would certainly deserve a special place in Arkansas Tech history. But there is much more.

Tucker played for the Wonder Boys through the 1924 season and accumulated an insurmountable school-record total of 443 career points scored. No other Tech player has ever scored more than 259 career points --- All-America running back Eddie Meador amassed that figure from 1955-58.

From 1920-24, Tucker led the Wonder Boys to a cumulative record of 31-3-5. Their only three losses during that span were to the University of Tulsa (1922), Army (1923) and Texas A&M (1924). 
 

The end of Tucker's playing career was merely the beginning of his service to Arkansas Tech. He went on to work at the school in a variety of roles --- including coach, teacher, athletic director and director of student affairs --- between 1925 and 1972.

Tucker took a brief sabbatical from Tech to attend the University of Alabama, where he played on the Crimson Tide team that defeated Washington State 24-0 in the 1931 Rose Bowl. 

He came back to serve as head coach for the Wonder Boys football team from 1933-41 and again from 1945-47. He won 77 games and five Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference championships as Tech head football coach. His .791 winning percentage still stands as the best of any head football coach in school history.

Today, two buildings on the Arkansas Tech campus --- Tucker Hall and Tucker Coliseum --- are named in his honor. He entered the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame in 1962 and he was part of the first class inducted into the Arkansas Tech Hall of Distinction in 1965.
           
Tucker is best remembered as the "Original Wonder Boy." But there is much more to that title of honor than the points he scored and the victories he captured.

His work on the field of play, in the classroom and in student services stands as a shining example of the balanced college experience that Arkansas Tech still offers its students today.

That is why he is still remembered as the "Original Wonder Boy" more than nine decades after he scored his last touchdown.

And that is why in 1965, toward the end of Tucker's lifelong association with Arkansas Tech, the Agricola yearbook was dedicated in his honor and these words were written about him:

If you are a relative Johnny-Come-Lately, and are not closely connected with Arkansas Tech, then John Tucker may be just a name to you --- a name dropped in awe by people who saw him as a football player, or who watched his teams from one to two decades later. If you are now or ever have been a student of chemistry at Arkansas Tech, the name John Tucker is synonymous with excellent instruction.

John Tucker has proven to be a most capable leader of youth, and has been and still is, loved and respected by all who know him.