Curtis R. Tucker, Sr., was born March 26, 1918 in Union, Louisiana. A Democrat representing Inglewood, he served in the U.S. Army during WWII and Korea. He was a West Point Academy instructor. In 1972, he was the first Black person elected to the Inglewood City Council. In 1974, he was elected to the California State Assembly, where he authored legislation to promote racial and gender equality and justice for poor and underserved residents. He supported divestment in companies affiliated with the South African government during its apartheid era. He chaired the Assembly Health Committee and focused his legislative agenda on health issues. He died in office in 1988 and was succeeded by his son, Curtis R. Tucker, Jr. He was 70 years old.