Richard James Kenneth Tuckey, Jr. (September 29, 1913 – December 1974) was an American football player. He played on both offense and defense, mostly at the

fullback Fullback or Full back may refer to: Sports * A position in various kinds of football, including: ** Full-back (association football), in association football (soccer), a defender playing in a wide position ** Fullback (gridiron football), in Americ ...

and halfback positions. Tuckey was born in 1913 in Naugatuck, Connecticut. He attended

Naugatuck High School Naugatuck High School is a public high school (grades 9– 12) in Naugatuck, New Haven County, Connecticut, US. The old high school, now an intermediate school, was located on Hillside Ave. The new school is located at 543 Rubber Avenue. The b ...

and the Dean Academy in

Franklin, Massachusetts The Town of Franklin is a city in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. Franklin is one of thirteen Massachusetts municipalities that have applied for, and been granted, city forms of government but wish to retain "The town of" in their o ...

. He then enrolled at

Manhattan College Manhattan College is a private, Catholic, liberal arts university in the Bronx, New York City. Originally established in 1853 by the Brothers of the Christian Schools (De La Salle Christian Brothers) as an academy for day students, it was la ...

where he played

college football College football (french: Football universitaire) refers to gridiron football played by teams of student athletes. It was through college football play that American football rules first gained popularity in the United States. Unlike most ...

at the fullback position for the

Manhattan Jaspers The Manhattan Jaspers are composed of 19 teams representing Manhattan College in intercollegiate athletics. The Jaspers compete in the NCAA Division I and are members of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. Manhattan College fields 19 Divisio ...

from 1934 to 1936. He began his professional football career in the National Football League (NFL) with the 1938 Washington Redskins. Prior to the start of the 1938 season, Bill Dismer Jr. of ''The Sunday Star'' wrote:

Although Karamatic stil holds the edge in open-field running, he has yet to show that he can match Tuckey's ability at breaking through the line a la Cliff Battles. Because he can also pass -- and is improving daily under the tutelage of Baugh -- Tuckey's presence would give the Skins as versatile and deceptive a backfield as they had last season. Tuckey, Baugh and Riley Smith give the Skins three expert passers; all three can kick and Baugh and Tuckey are valuable ball carriers."

Tuckey appeared in three games for the Redskins. Tuckey was sold by the Redskins to the Cleveland Rams on October 5, 1938. He appeared in four games with the Rams. He was a triple-threat player who could pass, run, and kick, and was the last of the dropkickers in the NFL. He was placed on waivers by the Rams on November 15, 1938. After his release by the Rams, Tuckey signed in December 1938 with the Danbury Trojans of the

American Association American Association may refer to: Baseball * American Association (1882–1891), a major league active from 1882 to 1891 * American Association (1902–1997), a minor league active from 1902 to 1962 and 1969 to 1997 * American Association of Profe ...

. He played for Danbury in 1938 and 1939. He also played for the Long Island Indians of the American Association in 1940 and 1941. During World War II, he served in the United States Navy. After the war, he played Canadian football in the Ontario Rugby Football Union for the Toronto Balmy Beach Beachers (1947). Tuckey died in 1974 in West Haven, Connecticut.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tuckey, Dick 1913 births 1974 deaths Players of American football from New Haven, Connecticut American football fullbacks American football halfbacks Manhattan Jaspers football players Cleveland Rams players Washington Redskins players People from Naugatuck, Connecticut Players of American football from New Haven County, Connecticut