Long-time Houston journalist Lee Alexander Tucker passed away peacefully on Oct. 19, 2024. Lee was born in Fort Worth, Texas, to Alice D. and Charles F. Tucker, an attorney, on Dec 16, 1931.

As a young boy, his family moved to several major cities, finally settling in Houston. During his teen years, Lee’s brother, Charlie, served as a U.S. Navy medic. Lee began studies at the University of Houston, graduating in 1954.

In 1955, he was drafted into the U.S. Army and appointed the editor of the base newsletter. Following service in the Army, Lee was a general assignment cameraman and then on-air reporter for KPRC-TV, the NBC network affiliate in Houston.

He interviewed many notable personalities including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Muhammed Ali and Margaret Mead. He reported on many historically important events including the assassination of President Kennedy, the first heart transplant, Civil Rights events and Watergate.

Lee became KPRC’s primary reporter covering manned space exploration on the national news.

Aside from the memorable Apollo 11 lunar landing, he reported on the almost catastrophic Apollo 13 mission for both NBC and BBC. At the completion of the Apollo program, Lee left television.

The remainder of Lee’s career included civic positions with the city of Houston. In his executive capacity, he worked with the U.S. State Department to coordinate visits for various heads of state.

Lee participated in trade missions and economic initiatives in Belize, Japan, Europe and the U.K. He represented Houston in numerous congressional hearings on infrastructure, aviation and trade.

Lee was a devoted and loving husband, father and grandfather. His delightful sense of humor, profound wisdom and appreciation of nature will be greatly missed by his loved ones.

Mr. Tucker is survived by his wife of 48 years, Marsha Carr Tucker; two daughters, Lauren Tucker Taylor and Blythe Tucker Zemel; three grandchildren, Xander and Phoenix Zemel, and Kelsey Taylor; and sons-in-law Daniel Taylor and Ryan Zemel.

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, at Ebensberger and Fisher Funeral Home. The family sends gratitude to Priscilla Baker and Frances Rivera of Transcend Hospice for their loving care.