Herman Tuck, Founder of Hermans Ribhouse, Dies at 85
by February 16, 2015 12:00 am 965 views
Herman A. Tuck, Jr., the founder and namesake of one of Fayetteville’s most storied restaurants, died Feb. 2. He was 85.
Tuck, a Fayetteville native, owned Herman’s Ribhouse at 2901 N. College Ave. from its founding on New Year’s Day 1964 until he sold the business in 2000 to Benny Spears. Nick and Carrie Wright have owned the restaurant since 2013.
Tuck’s namesake restaurant endures as a place to see and be seen. In her 2013 book, “Classic Eateries of the Ozarks and Arkansas River Valley,” Kat Robinson wrote that over the years, about every wall of the place has been covered with photos of various (and famous) Herman’s customers.
According to his obituary, Tuck was an accomplished musician, and was the first drummer for rockabilly musician and native Arkansan Ronnie Hawkins.
A funeral service through Beard’s Funeral Chapel of Fayetteville was held Feb. 6 at the First Christian Church in Fayetteville, with Gary Lunsford officiating.