Linden resident and longtime educator Dr. Betty Jean Tucker was recently honored by the University of West Alabama, having a room dedicated in her honor.

The school recently dedicated the Dr. Betty Jean Tucker College of Liberal Arts Conference Room in Wallace Hall, named in honor of the former Department of Languages and Literature chairperson.

The renovated faculty meeting space was made possible by a $25,000 gift from her son, College of Business dean Ken Tucker, to “The University We Will Be” campaign for UWA.

Betty Jean Tucker, an emeritus professor of English, served as department head for 20 years. A recipient of the William E. Gilbert Award for Outstanding Teaching, she implemented a journalism minor, established a nationally circulated literary magazine, revitalized the theatre program, founded the Livingston Press and made the division’s writing lab a model for other Alabama universities. A member of UWA’s prestigious Society of the Golden Key, she retired in 1987.

“I am especially pleased to have the conference room named in my mother’s honor,” said Dr. Ken Tucker, UWA Foundation board of directors president.

“She was truly the consummate professional during her tenure at the University, with a reputation as an excellent teacher who was tough but fair.”

Tucker earned a bachelor’s degree at Alabama College (now the University of Montevallo), a master’s at UWA and a doctorate at the University of Alabama.

Prior to her tenure in Livingston, she served as a Linden High School English teacher and a reporter for the now-defunct Birmingham Post-Herald. An award-winning writer, she published her first short story at 19, and she is now working on a novel.

Tucker has two children, Dr. Ken Tucker and Tracy Lill, and six grandchildren, Allison, Kimberly, Lara and Rachel Tucker and Corey and Jake Lill.