LARRY D. TUCKER JR. had a birthday the other day. It was on Wednesday, March 1. Around Tucker Paving, Inc., around Winter Haven and throughout Central Florida, Larry D. Tucker Jr. is known as “Chip” Tucker. Given his status as owner and president of Tucker Paving, Chip also often is called “Sir” and “Mr. Tucker,” which are nice salutations, too.

Among other things, Chip received a nicely decorated and construction-themed cake for his birthday, and many Tucker Paving team members came by “Cake Central” to help him celebrate his big day and offer best wishes.

We won’t share Chip’s age (not without his permission, of course), but we can share with confidence that another layer of wisdom has been added to the goodly supply he already had the last time his birthday came around. We know that because additional age brings additional knowledge and experience, and additional knowledge and experience bring new wisdom.

“Age has its own glory, beauty, and wisdom that belong to it,” Dr. Joseph Murphy, a major figure in the human potential movement, once wrote.

“Time has a wonderful way of showing us what really matters,” reads a nice quote, often found on birthday cards, from writer Margaret Peters.

This is a nice opportunity to share just a little about Chip Tucker’s personal and background. (You can learn more about the Tucker Paving executive team on our website at www.tuckerpaving.com/executives/.)

With an education from the University of Florida (he’s a huge fan and supporter of the Florida Gators), Chip has well more than 30 years worth of experience in the construction industry, with more than 22 years coming with Tucker Paving (started in 1994).

Chip’s many civic involvements and affiliations include:

• Winter Haven Hospital/BayCare (board member)
• Platinum Bank (board member)
• ABC Florida Gulf Coast Chapter
• ABC Central Florida Chapter (past chairmanship)
• Winter Haven Economic Development Council (board member)
• Greater Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce
• Haines City Area Chamber of Commerce
• Florida Transportation Builders Association

Chip’s leadership of Tucker Paving was recognized in November 2005 when the company won the Winter Haven chamber’s Gold Cup of Industry Award for large business.

“This company plays a significant role in the economic development of this area,” Todd Dantzler, then of Choice-Dantzler Properties Inc., said at the time. “Tucker Paving started out with two employees and borrowed equipment and now has projected 2005 sales of $14 million.”

On our Facebook page for March 1 (www.facebook.com/tuckerpaving), we had a birthday greeting for Chip, a photo of his very special birthday cake, and a comment that “Here at Tucker, we are lucky to have an owner who cares about getting work to feed our families.” We sincerely mean that.

We hope you had a great birthday, Chip! Here’s wishing you many, many more!