Historical highway marker commemorating Bruce Oliver Tucker unveiled in his hometown
The public marker serves as a permanent reminder of Tucker’s lasting contributions to medicine and patients' rights.
June 03, 2025
Gayle Turner, Tucker Family representative, stands by the historical highway marker unveiled for Bruce Oliver Tucker. Without the consent of his family after his death, Tucker’s heart was removed and put into a white man, making it the first heart transplant in Virginia and the 16th in the world. (Allen Jones, Enterprise Marketing and Communications)
By Danielle Pierce
A new Virginia historical highway marker honoring Bruce Oliver Tucker was unveiled during a private ceremony on Friday, May 30. Hosted by VCU Health, the dedication brought together members of Tucker’s family, local officials, community members and health system leaders.
Tucker, an African American man, who grew up in nearby Dinwiddie County, died on May 25, 1968. Without the consent or knowledge of Tucker’s family, surgeons at the Medical College of Virginia removed his heart and kidneys and placed his heart into a white man – Virginia’s first, and the world’s 16th human cardiac transplant. The case raised important questions about consent in health care and contributed to growing awareness of ethical standards in medicine.
Members of Bruce Oliver Tucker’s family were present for the highway marker’s unveiling, which is close to his family church, Little Bethel Baptist Church. (Allen Jones, Enterprise Marketing and Communications)
“It is important, not just for VCU and VCU Health, but for the broader community to know and understand the significance of Mr. Tucker’s’ life and legacy,” said Michael Elliott, chief operations officer at VCU Health. “This journey has been about learning from the past and understanding how to move forward together — ensuring that we serve everyone with respect, and that we use the lessons of history to build a better future for everyone.”
Approved by the Virginia Department of Historic Resources, the highway marker is in Tucker’s hometown of Stony Creek (Dinwiddie County) and in close proximity to his family church, Little Bethel Baptist Church. It outlines the events that occurred in May 1968 and acknowledges Tucker’s role in the broader conversation about medical ethics and patient rights.
Bruce Oliver Tucker (1913-1968)
Bruce Tucker, an African American man and oldest son of Spencer and Emma Tucker, grew up near here and is buried at Little Bethel Church. On 24 May 1968, Tucker suffered a head injury from a fall. Physicians at the Medical College of VA (later VCU Health) declared him dead on 25 May. Without the consent or knowledge of Tucker’s family, surgeons removed his heart and kidneys with a medical examiner’s permission and placed his heart into a White man in VA’s first, and the world’s 16th, cardiac transplant. Tucker’s brother William filed a wrongful-death lawsuit; the jury, instructed to consider the concept of brain death despite its absence from the Code of VA, found for the defendants in 1972.
"The marker now serves as a public reminder of the importance of informed consent and transparency in health care,” said Gayle Turner, Tucker Family representative. “It also serves as a permanent acknowledgement and memorial tribute to the life and legacy of our beloved Bruce Oliver Tucker and the impact his story continues to have on medicine and ethics today."
The event is part of VCU Health’s ongoing efforts to recognize Tucker’s legacy. Earlier this year, a mural and auditorium dedicated to Tucker was unveiled at VCU School of Medicine. Additional initiatives include the installation of commemorative plaques that acknowledge his legacy throughout VCU Medical Center, the creation of a healing garden, the establishment of scholarships in his name, and several initiatives related to educating future medical professionals.
Members of VCU Health’s leadership team, state officials and Tucker’s family were present for the ceremony. The event is part of ongoing efforts to commemorate Tucker’s legacy. (Allen Jones, Enterprise Marketing and Communications)
