FRIENDS & FAMILY
2008distinguishedalumni Dr. Gene Tucker and Joe Bill Fox were honored as McMurry University Distinguished Alumni for 2008 at the Distinguished Alumni Dinner on Thursday, Oct. 23, as part of McMurry’s Homecoming festivities. During an academic career spanning more than five decades, Dr. Gene M. Tucker has contributed greatly to the study of the Bible and to the education of young men and women preparing for the ministry. Dr. Tucker received a Bachelor of Arts degree (cum laude) from McMurry in 1957. He earned a Bachelor of Divinity degree from Yale Divinity School in 1960, a Master of Arts degree in 1961 and his Doctor of Philosophy degree in 1963 from Yale. Dr. Tucker joined the University of Southern California faculty in 1963 as Assistant Professor of Religion (Old Testament). He served at Duke Divinity School from 1966 to 1970 as Assistant and Associate Professor of Old Testament. From 1970 to 2005, Dr. Tucker served as Associate Professor and Professor of Old Testament at Candler School of Theology at Emory University. During that time, he also served as Associate Dean at Candler from 1978 until 1983. He retired from Candler in 2005 and was named Professor of Old Testament Emeritus by the school. For more than fifty years, Joe Bill Fox molded the lives of young men and women as a coach, teacher and school administrator. McMurry University has been blessed by his service as a University Trustee since 2006 and as a coach and faculty member in 1960-61. Mr. Fox received a Bachelor of Science degree in education from McMurry in 1956 and a Master of Arts degree in education from McMurry in 1958. He completed 34
M c M urr y U niversit y
post graduate studies at Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio in 1974. While at McMurry, Mr. Fox was an all-conference quarterback and was elected Chief McMurry. He was inducted into the McMurry Athletic Hall of Honor in 1987. He began his career in the public schools as Head Football Coach in the Birdville Independent School District in Fort Worth, Texas from 1956 to 1960. He returned to McMurry to serve as a coach and history teacher from 1960 to 1961 and then moved to the Northeast Independent School District in San Antonio, Texas, where he served as Head Football Coach from 1961 to 1968. In 1968, he was promoted to Athletic Director and served in that position until 1974. In 1975, he served as Director of Operations for the San Antonio Wings of the World Football League. Mr. Fox moved into school administration from 1975 to 1979 as Assistant Principal at MacArthur High School in San Antonio, Texas. He was named the Director of Athletics at Irving Independent School District from 1979 to 1980 and returned to Birdville to serve as Athletic Director from 1980 to 1982. Mr. Fox served as Deputy Superintendent for the Birdville Independent School District from 1982 to 1984 when he was elevated to Superintendent. He retired from the Birdville District in 1992.
