Fred C. Tucker III mostly leads from afar from his Indianapolis F.C. Tucker Co. headquarters. But officials of F.C. Tucker Emge Realtors — an affiliate of the company in Evansville — appreciate that he is always very accessible.

“We can call him at home, or on his cell phone or at the office and he’s always anxious to help us, if we need help,” said F.C. Tucker Emge co-owner Kevin Eastridge.

Tucker, 63, announced Tuesday he will retire, effective April 1, after 33 years of growing the F.C. Tucker Co. into the state’s largest independently owned Indiana-based residential real estate firm -- with more than $2.2 billion in annual sales.

Kathy Briscoe, also an F.C. Tucker Emge co-owner, said Tucker “is first a gentleman, and always a student of real estate law.”

Both Briscoe and Eastridge described Tucker as “very much in touch with agents and managers.”

“He’s very kind and thoughtful,” said Briscoe.

In a prepared news release, Tucker’s retirement was hailed as marking “a pivotal and positive day” in the company’s 92-year history.

It marks the time when the company’s two leaders and sole owners — Tucker and H. James Litten, 63 — will shift responsibilities to maintain leadership continuity and the company’s continued growth and success, said the release.

Tucker, president of the F.C. Tucker Co., will retire and sell his ownership interest to his longtime business partner Litten, president of F.C. Tucker Co. Residential Real Estate Services.

Eastridge said he looks forward to continuing an amicable and friendly business relationship with Litten.

“It’s been wonderful ... We have confidence in Litten’s ability to run the F.C. Tucker Co.”

Tucker said “Jim Litten will provide the passion, drive and business intellect needed to carry F.C. Tucker Co. to the next level.”

Litten praised Tucker for creating “a one-stop shopping convenience experience for customers and significantly boosting F.C. Tucker Co. sales year after year.”

Besides becoming president of F.C. Tucker Co., Litten will assume the responsibility of managing both Tucker’s Residential Real Estate Services and Tucker’s family of additional businesses, including:

• Home-Link Services

• Title Services, LLC

• Tucker Associates, Inc. (franchising)

• Tucker Insurance Agency

• Tucker Mortgage LLC

• Tucker Referrals Inc.

• Tucker/Schrader Auction Co. LP.

• Tucker School of Real Estate (licensing)

Litten will also oversee the company’s two strategic alliances, HMS Home Warranty and The BryantCo. (residential leasing and management).

Tucker is a third generation of Tuckers to run the F.C. Tucker Co., following his grandfather, the founder, and his father.

Said Tucker: “When Jim Litten, David Goodrich and I bought the F.C. Tucker Co. from my father and his partners in 1986, we wanted to strength and enhance the company’s position as the dominant real estate company in Indiana.

“Our strategy was to provide superior customer service, to develop our employees and sales associates and to grow and mentor the leadership necessary to create long-term financial stability and growth for the company.”

They, indeed, accomplished all that.

F.C. Tucker Co. grew from $300 million in sales in 1986 to more than $2.2 billion in sales in 2009.

The company now oversees 45 offices and more than 1,500 sales associates and employees throughout Indiana and in select Kentucky markets.

Source: http://www.courierpress.com/news/2010/mar/23/fc-tucker-co-president-retire/