Obituary published in The Oklahoman, April 14, 1988
Joseph Gibson Rucks, an Oklahoma City attorney and civic leader, died Wednesday at the age of 75.
Rucks was born in Guthrie and attended Webb School in Bell Buckle, Tenn. He later received his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Oklahoma.
Rucks was a senior member of the law firm McAfee & Taft at the time of his death. He also was the past president of the Oklahoma County Bar Association and served on the Board of Governors of the Oklahoma Bar Association.
Rucks, a retired colonel, served five years in the Army in World War II as commander of the 243rd Field Artillery Battalion directly under Gen. George S. Patton. Rucks received the Bronze Star, Presidential Unit Citation, Medal of Commendation, and French Croix de Guerre awards for his military service.
In 1967, Rucks was chairman of the Governor’s Advisory Council of Capital Expenditures and in 1968 he was selected as king of the Beaux Arts Ball.
Rucks served as a member of Town Council and as Mayor of Nichols Hills early in his career. He served as a board member of the State Fair Association, Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce, and the Oklahoma Heart Association, where he was also the past president.
Rucks is survived by his wife, Mary Durand “Bobbie” Rucks; a daughter, Martha Rucks-Perry of Oklahoma City; and a son, Charles Durand Rucks, of Illinios.