Stanley L. Tucker

Stanley Lewis Tucker, 78, of Carthage passed away June 25, 2021, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota.

Stan was born August 20, 1942 in Decatur, IL, to Lloyd O. Tucker and Lois M. (Kinser) Tucker. He married Judith A. (Leischner) Tucker on June 9, 1968 in Urbana, IL, at Wesley United Methodist Church on the University of Illinois campus. She died January 29, 2017, in his arms.

He was also preceded in death by his parents, son-in-law Michael Hirsch, and one brother Danny Tucker.

Survivors include his daughters Amelia M. (Trey) Zibutis of Springfield, and Elizabeth D.  (Gary) Hulvey of Chatham; grandchildren Madison and Tucker Hirsch, Sam and Kate Hulvey; Jack, Emma and Maggie Zibutis; two brothers Edward (Mitzae)Tucker and Lloyd Tucker; sister in law Mary Lynn Tucker, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Until fifth grade, Stan attended Prairie Hall grade school, a one-room country school in Macon County. He was a 1960 graduate of Unity High School, Mendon, Illinois. He received his B.S. in 1964 at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where he attended graduate school for two years and then received his Juris Doctor in 1969.

He was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1970 and joined the Carthage, IL, law firm now known as Tucker, Hartzell and Bryant. The firm has been in continuous existence in Hancock County serving Western Illinois since 1852.

Stan was admitted to the Illinois Supreme Court and all Courts of Illinois; the U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois; the 7th Circuit United States Court of Appeals; the United States Tax Court; and the United States Supreme Court. He was a member of the Illinois State Bar Association Civil Practice and Procedure Section Council 1981-85; the Administrative Law Section Council 1986-1990; the Judicial Advisory Polls Committee from 1985-1989, Chairman 1990; and the Judicial Evaluation Committee for many years, evaluating candidates for the Illinois Appellate Court and the Illinois Supreme Court.  

Stan was a member of the Hancock County Bar Association; Illinois State Bar Association; Appellate Lawyers of Illinois; American Bar Association; Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, The National Trial Lawyers - Top 100, and was designated a member of the Illinois Super-Lawyers in 2006. He was an elected member of the Assembly of Delegates of the Illinois Bar Association 1978-82.

He was a member of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Civil Practice Committee 1985 to present, the Amicus Committee, filing friend of the court briefs in the Illinois Supreme Court 1985 to present, and a member of the Legislative Committee 1985 to present.

Stan was a reporter for the Illinois Appellate Lawyers Association publication “The Brief,” reporting cases in that publication from 2001 to 2014. At the time of his death he had written over 100 appeals.

In March 2012, he was appointed to the Illinois Supreme Court Rules Committee by the Honorable Thomas Kilbride, Chief Justice, and served on that committee until 2021.

His case, CIPS v. Westervelt (1977), is a nationally recognized case establishing that unsightly power lines could be considered as a factor in determining damages under the “just compensation” clause of the United States Constitution.

In 2011, in a case that received national press, Stan’s work representing the Illinois State Rifle Association alongside Former Governor James Thompson representing the Illinois State Police, contributed to the prohibition of disclosure of the names of FOID cardholders after he obtained a temporary restraining order against the Associated Press.

Stan was the author of numerous articles including "Improving the Jury Decision Process", "An Appraisal of Supreme Court Rule 23", "IICLE, Administrative Law Handbook, Chapter 8, Judicial Review of Administrative Actions” and also wrote in multiple articles in the Trial Briefs ISBA Civil Practice Newsletter.

He served on the board of The State Bank of Lima from 1975 to 2014 also acting as Vice President and Chairman of the Board; and served as Special Assistant Attorney General, IL Department of Transportation-Conservation 1983-1995. He spent many years from 1970 to present serving as city attorney for Hamilton, Warsaw, Elvaston and Carthage.

Stan was instrumental in founding the Hancock County Volunteers for Diabetes non-profit. He also acted as attorney for the Hancock County Mental Health Center and served on the board of directors. Stan was Democratic County Chairperson for Hancock County for over 20 years.

In addition to his distinguished legal career, Stan was a member of the Hancock County Gun Club. He enjoyed working in his shop on his car collection. He also loved vacationing with family and friends. Stan and Judy traveled the world together but found the most enjoyment in their time spent at Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, visiting there for over 40 years, hosting their children, grandchildren, family and friends.

Visitation will be Friday, July 2, 2021 from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Printy Funeral Home in Carthage, Illinois, followed by a 7:00 pm memorial service.

A private family burial will be held in Mount Zion Township Cemetery, Mt. Zion, Illinois.

Donations may be made to Centennial Ebenezer Methodist Church, Big Neck, Illinois.

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