While growing up in the Strong Community, Dr. Frank Tucker had career aspirations of becoming a veterinarian. However, that changed once he moved away from the small community located near Aberdeen and West Point.
"I left the country and moved to town. I still was interested in science and medicine, so it just evolved around being a medical doctor rather than a veterinarian," said Tucker, who is staff liaison officer and surgical hospitalist at Riley Hospital.
It was a decision that he has not regretted.
"Every day of my life in medicine I've looked forward to going to work," said Tucker, who began his medical career in Meridian in 1966 and has no intentions of retiring anytime soon.
"When I get to the point where I don't look forward to it (work), I'll quit," he said.
After receiving his undergraduate degree from Millsaps College, Tucker continued his studies at the University of Mississippi Medical School. He completed an internship and four years of surgical training at University Hospital.
Tucker moved to Meridian and specialized in general surgery at Medical Arts Surgical Group, a practice he shared with Drs. Bill Thornton and Richard Riley. In 2006, he left the group and began work at Riley.
As staff liaison, Tucker handles matters between hospital staff and administration. His duties as surgical hospitalist involves handling surgical problems in the hospital on a consultation basis.
Tucker said many changes have occurred during his four decades in medicine, however meeting people is the most enjoyable aspect of his job as well as the satisfaction of doing good. He proudly notes that he and Medicare are the same age in medicine.
"Medicare started July 1, 1966, and I did, too, in Meridian," he said.
His words of wisdom to others considering a career in medicine: "If you want to work for the government, then do it. Otherwise, stay out of it."
Away from the hospital, Tucker is an equestrian enthusiast, saying he has "fooled with horses all my life – I've raced them, ridden them and jumped them." He also enjoys flying. Tucker and his wife of 45 years, Ricki, have three sons – Trey, Judd and Ricks – and six grandchildren.
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Dr. Frank Tucker never tires of serving others
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City cuts payment to Watkins
The Meridian City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to cut their monthly payment to David Watkins, project developer of Meridian's new police station, by $9,999 until work resumes on the project.
The order, made during the Meridian City Council meeting Tuesday morning, included a mutual agreement between the councilmen and Watkins to reduce the project developer's monthly consultant fee of $10,000 to $1, effective Tuesday. -
Crews work on gasoline pipeline
If you hear a loud, booming sound early today, between 4 a.m.-10 a.m., there is no cause for alarm.
Workers with Plantation Pipeline will be performing maintenance work on their 30-foot gasoline pipeline in the Meridian area to accommodate the widening of Highway 493. The location of the work activity will be at Highway 493 North and Oak Hill Baptist Church, just inside the city limits. -
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High Honor
The flowers and balloons Crestwood Elementary School Principal Kimberly Kendrick received at school Monday were not an early Valentines' Day gift.
Kendrick has been named Meridian Public School District's 2012 Administrator of the Year – an announcement that both surprised and wowed the 17-year veteran educator when made by MPSD Superintendent Dr. Alvin Taylor. -
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Digital system promises better communication
Hopefully in the near future you won't hear someone in the emergency services ask over the radio, "Can you hear me now?"
A digital communications system, one which is being pushed by the Federal Communication Commission (FCC), is a few months away and, in some cases, is already in the testing phase in Lauderdale County. -
Inmate escapes custody
Mississippi Department of Corrections officials said Monday afternoon an inmate escaped from custody Friday and is still being sought.
Officials said Johnny Hall Jr. escaped from two Wilkinson County Correctional Facility officers’ custody while being escorted from his father’s wake at the Picayune Funeral Home in Picayune. Preliminary information indicates Hall left the officers and jumped into a waiting black vehicle with a white female driver. -
Citizen’s Police Academy begins today
The work law enforcement conducts on a daily basis is often misunderstood by the general public.
Officials at the Meridian Police Department developed a program to inform and educate citizens on what police do in serving and protecting the population. The program, The Citizen's Police Academy, has been gaining speed for a couple of years since it was first offered. Officials said it shows residents are interested in police work and how it is conducted. - Woman: decongestant brought meth charge in Alabama
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