Polly Rucker

St Thomas More celebrated 60 years of Catholic education Saturday night by honoring our prior Pastor, Msgr Bill Young! My mother, Polly Rucker, taught English at STM from the first day it opened in 1965 until her death in 2011. Over those 46 years,she introduced hundreds, maybe thousands, of students to Greek mythology, Beowulf, Shakespeare, the Iliad and the Odyssey…and term papers! She loved STM, her students and their families. It was my pleasure last night to kick off the fundraising for the library’s renovation and announce that the new library would be named in honor and memory of Polly Rucker! Wednesday was her 102nd birthday and I know she she was smiling down as paddle after paddle was raised with donations! ❤️❤️

Today I had the honor of awarding the Polly Rucker Scholarship award to Georgia Hix! This scholarship started in 1994 after she’d been teaching for 29 years and “retired”. Retirement didn’t last long and she went on to teach for 46 years; even after the diocese couldn’t pay her anymore due to her age. She so loved STM, the parish and the school, and all the hundreds of students and their families that she taught and met. She was a tough teacher but never demanded more than she would expect of herself.

I’ve been able to give the award several times since she passed away and I love it when there is a connection. Like the years when Paige M. Padgett’s daughter or Nina M. Reagins’s daughter won. She’s been gone 11 years now so the students today won’t have known Mrs Rucker. But there was still a connection… Georgia’s great aunt lived across the street from the Ruckers and we’ve been friends for 30 plus years.

And so this closes a long chapter of my life that revolves around the school (58 years!), but the faith I gained and the friendships I made will stay with me. My mother’s mantra was “Love is reflected in Love”. I know that for the 300 or so people on this page … she did love each of you. Until next year…. Becky Edmondson ❤️❤️💒💒❤️❤️

Here is one last photo album...this one from 1986..in celebration of her being awarded the Miriam Joseph Farrel award for Excellence in Catholic Education, there was a special Polly Rucker day. The pictures of the shuttle are there as part of the award sent the awardees to Florida for the Challenger launch.

As we bring this era to a close, I thought many of you might enjoy these photos from May of 1994. This was PAR's first retirement. Michael Cordua of Churascos catered the incredible party and it was a wonderful event. You'll see lots of familiar faces!

It's the end of an era. Here's a page from the 2023 STM yearbook commemorating it! Time certainly marches on. My mother's taking that job in 1965 changed our lives, brought us into the Catholic church, and provided that early education base to two generations that is so necessary to be successful. So thank you to Sally York, a transplant from South Dakota and bridge partner who told her about the job opening and to Sr Lucia for hiring her. All of our lives have been enriched by the many friendships we made at STM. She relished each and every one of you.

For 58 years, from that first bell in September of 1965 to the dismissal bell on May 19,2023, someone in the Rucker family has roamed the halls of STM. Polly Rucker taught at STM from 1965-2011; five grandchildren attended from 1984-1997: Jennifer & Mark Edmondson; Jason, Bryan & Karen Maloch; and two great-grandchildren: Hailey Falk & Connor Edmondson from 2011—2023. Connor will graduate this week and attend St Thomas High School.

Another beautiful day for Oktoberfest at STM and one that PAR would have loved. This was a favorite day for her as she loved a party. She would have loved seeing the Dominican Rally nuns and would be thrilled that the Astros are still paying in October. Jennifer and I walked over to the prayer garden to see how the tree Troop 99 planted and dedicated to her was doing. My, has it grown as you can see in the phoot below but the dedication wording has weathered away. I’m including one more photo in honor of Halloween; another favorite PAR day. I’m still hunting for the photo of the year she came as Sr. Lucia and Sr Lucia came as Polly Rucker! Those were the days. It was so good to see so many familiar STM faces that I remembered, plus the new ones I’ve met in Connor’s 10 years at STM. Blessed to be part of the STM family. 🙏🙏🙏

Connor Edmondson's 8th grade first day of school marks the beginning of the end of an era. Since 1965, from the very first day that the school opened, someone from my family has been roaming the halls of St. Thomas More. My mom, Polly Rucker, from 1965-2011; my children (Becky Edmondson) and my sister’s (Debbie Debbie Rucker Maloch) children from 1984-1997; and my grandson and grandniece from 2011-2023! We have been so blessed to be a part of this community for almost 60 years. To all of you on this page who loved PAR, thank you for sharing that love with us. Cheers to all, as another school year starts!

Today marks the 10 year anniversary of Polly Rucker's death. As I, her daughter, was looking through some of her things I found her end of the year letter to the STM Class of 1974 which included "A Morning Wish" by W R Hunt. I thought it apropos as we head into 2022 and wish one another a "Happy New Year" to share it here.

A Morning Wish
The sun is just rising on the morning of another day, the first day of the new year. What can I wish that this day, that this year, may bring to me?
Nothing that shall make the world of others poorer, nothing at the expense of others; but just those few things which in their coming do not stop with me but touch me rather, as they pass and gather strength:
A few friends who understand me, and yet remain my friends.
A work to do which has real value without which the world would feel the poorer.
A return for such work small enough not to tax unduly anyone who pays.
A mind unafraid to travel, even though the trail be not blazed.
An understanding heart.
A sight of the eternal hills and unbelting sea, and of something beautiful the individual hand has made.
A sense of humor and the power to laugh.
A little leisure with nothing to do.
A few moments of quiet, silent meditation. The sense of the presence of God.
And the patience to wait for the coming of these things, with the wisdom to know them when they come.
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Happy New Year my FB Friends! May peace, joy, happiness, and fullness of life by yours in the coming year!

In honor of the first day of school that is fast approaching I am posting these note cards that I discovered this weekend tucked into PAR’s knitting bag. PAR lived this philosophy of Love and to all of you on this page that shared in this love with her, I hope this makes you smile. Her life was enriched by knowing each of you.