Dairy Metabolism Group

H. Allen Tucker (1936-2009) enriched the lives of family, students, colleagues and friends, and leaves an impressive scientific legacy. “Tuck”, as he was known to most, obtained his BS degree from the University of Massachusetts and his MS and PhD degrees from Rutgers University under the guidance of Ralph P. Reece. He then joined the faculty of the Department of Dairy Science at Michigan State University, from which he retired 38 years later, in 2000.

Research

During his career, Allen Tucker distinguished himself as a prominent animal scientist, who made seminal research contributions to the fields of mammary gland biology and endocrinology. His research on photoperiod demonstrated that long day-length increased prolactin secretion and milk production in dairy cows. This research was soon adapted by the dairy industry, so that regulation of photoperiod is now an important component of effective dairy cattle management. Tuck’s evaluation of mammary growth relative to general body growth pointed to the importance of the prepubertal period of mammary gland growth. This led to subsequent studies which concluded that excessive nutrition during the prepubertal period inhibited mammary gland development and reduced milk production later in life. In the area of animal health, Tuck was an early pioneer in establishing protocols to accurately measure the content of leukocytes in milk as an index of udder health. This laid the foundation for the current monitoring system to assess milk hygiene and ultimately provided a phenotype that is being used for genetic selection to increase resistance to mastitis.

Allen Tucker’s impact extended beyond the animal sciences. Using a variety of animal models (rats, mice, cattle, sheep, pigs; in vivo and in vitro systems) and developing numerous radioimmunoassays, he expanded knowledge about regulation of hormone secretion. Allen Tucker’s research accomplishments are numerous, as evidenced by his publication of more than 300 scientific articles.

Mentorship

Tuck was a particularly effective mentor, who was the major advisor for 45 graduate students, post-doctoral trainees and visiting professors. In the classroom, he conveyed his enthusiasm for science to his students and provided them with current information in well-prepared lectures. Outside the classroom, Tuck was a demanding and effective mentor, challenging those around him to excel. Tuck was an adamant proponent of hypothesis-driven research. If you could not formulate a testable hypothesis, your research proposal would be rejected at the weekly research seminar. Tuck invested considerable time editing and critiquing written and oral presentations. He accepted criticism as readily as he gave it and believed that any presentation, research proposal or manuscript could be improved by the critical analysis of others. He believed in collaborative research in which everyone involved contributed and benefited. The extent of collaboration that was fostered within Tuck’s lab and with his colleagues was truly astounding. Tuck’s commitment to career guidance did not end when a student or post-doc left his laboratory. He was a reliable sounding board and counselor, who actively tracked the careers of his former charges. He was truly committed to ensuring the success of others. Finally, one cannot think of Tuck’s scientific family without a sense of gratitude to his true family. Ann, his wife of 50 years, and their “boys” welcomed students and colleagues to their home to celebrate holidays, football games and other events.

Awards

Tuck was the recipient of numerous prestigious awards including the Sigma Xi Research Award at Michigan State, the Borden Award, the Morrison Award, Cyanamid Animal Physiology and Endocrinology Award, MSU’s Distinguished Faculty Award, the Upjohn Physiology Award from the American Dairy Science Association, the Casida Award for excellence in graduate training and Rutgers Graduate School’s Distinguished Alumnus Award. Room 1240 in Anthony Hall on the Michigan State University campus is known as the "Tucker Room," and contains information about his career.

Adapted from: Capuco, A.V. In Memoriam: H. Allen Tucker (1936–2009). J Mammary Gland Biol Neoplasia 14, 363–364 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10911-009-9156-2