Rib-joint founder, musician dies at 85

FAYETTEVILLE — Herman Tuck, a rockabilly musician who owned Herman’s restaurant in Fayetteville, an institution in the college town, died Monday at age 85.

Tuck played drums with Ronnie Hawkins’ first band in the early years of rock ’n’ roll; opened Herman’s Ribhouse, which is still serving steaks and ribs, on New Year’s Eve 1964; and, befriended people from all walks of life, including leaders in industry and politics, for more than half a century.

“If there ever was an individual who could be called ‘one of a kind,’ it was Herman Tuck,” Johnny Tyson said. “He was a good friend of mine, my dad’s, and Tyson Foods.”

Tuck and the late Don Tyson — president and chief executive officer of Tyson Foods — both attended Kemper Military School and remained friends for life.

Dash Goff, a Fayetteville businessman who knew Tuck most of their lives, called Tuck a legend who loved people and music.

“He knew everybody, and everybody who was anybody wandered through Herman’s at one time or another, even presidents,” Goff said.

Goff remembers nights when Hawkins, Tuck and Harold Pinkerton, who played guitar, would play at a gas station across Dickson Street street from Jug Wheeler’s Drive-in. Pinkerton died Friday.

“They’d unplug the Coke machine, plug in their guitar amplifiers and play in the parking lot,” Goff said.

Tuck also loved playing music with a group of his buddies at the restaurant after hours.

“He used to close Herman’s and they’d play in there until all hours of the night,” Goff said.

When Tuck started making money off the restaurant, he didn’t really know what else to do with it other than buy Tyson stock, Goff said.

“When it was worth $1 million, he had a party at Herman’s,” Goff recalled.

Woody Bassett, a Fayetteville attorney, said photos lining the walls of the restaurant are a testament to the wide range of people Tuck knew.

“Herman was a friend to everyone, people from all walks of life went in there,” Bassett said. “They ran a great restaurant. I know people who lived up here or went to school up here and moved away but when they come back, that’s the first place they want to go.”

District Judge William Storey said Herman’s started as a tavern. Then, Tuck and Irene, his wife, started selling hamburgers. Gradually, they added menu items, becoming a place to see and be seen.

“They really epitomized the American dream,” Storey said. “They started with nothing, worked tirelessly every day and were ultimately very successful.”

Herman’s Ribhouse opened at 2901 N. College Ave. in Fayetteville in 1964, and he ran the eatery until retiring in 1990. The restaurant remains open under other owners.

Herman Ashby Tuck Jr. was born in Fayetteville on Feb. 23, 1929. He was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Clara Irene Mayes Tuck.

Tuck attended Washington Elementary School and Fayetteville High School, until his junior year, when he transferred to Kemper Military School, graduating in 1947.

Growing up, he worked for his grandfather at the Sinclair Gas Station at College and Spring. His true work ethic was instilled there.

In his words, “There are only two reasons to not show up for work — one is death, the other a nuclear bomb.”