Difficult time for MARS family

[Alex2614]

Many FIRSTers regionally and nationally have had the wonderful opportunity to work with Phil Tucker, co head mentor for MARS 2614 from Morgantown, West Virginia. Phil is known to many in the Pittsburgh, Smoky Mountains, North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio, and West Virginia FIRST communities.

Phil suffered a stroke after his lumbar spine fusion procedure this past weekend. The stroke resulted in a walnut-sized bleed, after which he went into a coma. He has not been awake since then. While we are waiting for him to wake back up, the outpouring of love from the MARS and FIRST community has been truly humbling.

Phil is rarely found in our pits at competitions. Rather, he dedicates himself to ensuring that every single team can make it to the field and compete. He devotes countless hours to other teams at competition, but it never stops there. During FRC build season he can be found at MARS until the last person leaves the shop (sometimes 3 or 4am). And before that, he and Earl devote even more hours and weekends to growing the FLL program in the state, from running mentoring sessions, to running events, to judging, and everything else that could be asked of him. He would give you the shirt off his back. The success of many FRC and FLL teams regionally are owed to Phil Tucker, and his long-time companion and co-coach Earl. This resulted in his Woodie Flowers Finalist Award this past year in Smoky Mountains, and MARS credits our GP awards to him.

In addition to FIRST, he is known throughout our entire community and beyond through the numerous activities he has been involved in, and the friends he makes along the way.

Please keep MARS and Phil and his family in your thoughts and prayers in this difficult time. We want him to know how much he is loved by the FIRST community and the MARS family. I don't usually post stuff like this, but if you would like to leave him with anything for when he wakes up, feel free to do so. Phil is not only one of the greatest mentors I've ever had, but he's also my uncle, and a truly great friend. I've known him ever since I was born, but I would not be in FIRST today if it was not for him. And FIRST (especially in WV) would look a whole lot different without him, too. Here's to a full recovery!