Inducted, 1998

Karl Tucker's very successful golf teams at Brigham Young University brought national and international acclaim to the state and elevated Utah golf to world class status. His program attracted some of the best young golfers in America, and the association with those golfers planted a seed of excellence that has raised the level of expectations of all golfers in the state. He has shown to others that the 'Impossible Dream' is neither impossible, nor a dream.

During Tucker's years as coach at BYU the Cougars were perennial contenders for the national championship, winning the NCAA title in 1981, finishing second twice, in 1976 and 1980, third twice, in 1969 and 1970, fourth three times, and fifth five times, for a total of 13 top five finishes. On four other occasions the Cougars finished in the top ten, for a total of 17 top ten finishes in 20 years.

His teams won 19 Western Athletic Conference champions and 16 individual WAC championships. His teams won 170 tournaments. He coached at BYU from 1961 through 1992.

He is a member of the National Golf Coaches Hall of Fame, the Utah Sports Hall of Fame, and has received the Dale Rex Award, the Bob Poulsen Award, and the UGA Gold Club Award.

Johnny Miller and Mike Reid are his most famous players. Both were first team All Americans at BYU. After graduating Miller went on to win the U.S. Open, the British Open, and wide acclaim as one of the greatest golfers in history. Reid won the World Series of Golf, finished second at the PGA, third in the Masters, and has had a long and successful career on the PGA Tour.

John Fought (1977) and Bobby Clampett (1978) two other products of the BYU golf program, were named U.S. Amateur of the Year. Pat McGowan (1978) and John Fought (1979) were named PGA Tour Rookie of the Year.

First team All Americans under Tucker were Miller, Reid, Clampett, Mike Brannan, Keith Clearwater, Rick Fehr, Ray Leach, Lance Suzuki, and Brent Franklin.

Many other BYU golfers have become professionals and are leaders in the golf industry throughout the country. Many of Utah's professionals played under Tucker and have been influenced by him.

His players will be making significant contributions to golf for many years to come, not only in the state, but the nation, and throughout the world, and many future inductees into the Utah Golf Hall of Fame will have roots with his BYU golf program.

Tucker was born Nov. 18, 1926 in Orem, Utah and has lived in Orem his entire life. He graduated from BYU in 1952 and received a Masters Degree from BYU in 1964. He married Joanne Eliason in 1952, and they have four children, Jackie, Shellie, Larry, and Phillip.