Celebrity roast celebrates Bob and Carolyn Tucker, owners of Shoe Show

By Joanne Gonnerman
Kannapolis Citizen
Raising money for Kannapolis City Schools has never been so much fun.
Even Bob and Carolyn Tucker, owners of Shoe Show Inc., and the target of jokes and anecdotes last Thursday evening, laughed and smiled as stories were told about them during the seventh annual Kannapolis Education Foundation Celebrity Roast, where they received the 2008 KEF Distinguished Community Service Award.
“This is our main fundraiser of the year,” said Ellen Boyd, director of community relations for Kannapolis City Schools. “We will probably make $20,000, give or take. It’s the largest crowd we ever had.”
Since its inception in 1993, the Kannapolis Education Foundation has donated nearly $300,000 to Kannapolis City Schools. Funds have purchased books and technology including computers, software and laptops. Investment in biotechnology was also made before the announcement of the North Carolina Research Campus.
“The Kannapolis Education Foundation has been extremely supportive of Kannapolis City Schools and has responded to whatever our students have needed,” said Dr. Jo Anne Byerly, Kannapolis City Schools superintendent.
“That’s what makes me most proud. Several years ago, we had a need for technology, so the Education Foundation supplied computers and software for our classrooms. Now, our community is shifting toward biotechnology, and the foundation is providing advanced science equipment. It’s a wonderful partnership that makes our schools and children more successful, and I’m grateful for the foundation’s support.”
Family, friends, employees, KCS personnel and board members, as well as civic leaders and shoe vendors attended the event that honored the Tuckers for their generosity to the community.
“This is a great American family,” said Ernie Macon, former Kannapolis City Schools assistant superintendent and member of the team who roasted the Tuckers. “They are strong in their religious faith and truly care about their community.”
John Atkinson, a Nike shoe representative and roaster, echoed that message.
“Bob Tucker is a man of very strong faith, as is Carolyn Tucker,” said Atkinson. “They are not afraid, in fact, are proud to say that the Lord Jesus Christ is their savior. I have the utmost respect for them.”
Atkinson told about the time he and Bob went on a hunting trip to Texas. Bob had offered to take the company plane. What should have been a quick flight turned into a day-long schedule as Tucker had his pilot stop at 14 different places along the way so he could check on his businesses.
“I was exhausted by the time we got to Texas,” Atkinson said.
He also told of a time Tucker took him to lunch … at Subway.
“I ordered a six-inch sub and was just about ready to tell the clerk what toppings I wanted when Bob stepped up to the counter and said, ‘Make that a foot-long and cut it in half.’ He then gave the clerk a coupon. I think she ended up paying him to take the sandwich.”
Atkinson concluded his roast by telling about a meeting they attended with management from other shoe companies. Each manager discussed the company’s mission statement.
“When asked about the mission statement for Shoe Show,” said Atkinson, “Bob said the company didn’t have a mission statement. He then explained it in pretty basic terms … ‘Customers have our money and we have their shoes and we want to swap.’ ”
Carolyn laughed during the stories about her husband but soon found herself in the roasters’ spotlight.
“Carolyn was known for driving a fast, orange Corvette,” said Macon. “People would tell her to blow her horn several blocks before getting to her destination so the car and the sound of the horn would get there at the same time. She was also teased for having more shoes than Imelda Marcos.
“The Tuckers should have their own Horatio Algier Award for Kannapolis,” Macon added.
Beginning with their first shoe store 48 years ago, the Tuckers now have the largest privately-owned shoe company in the U.S., with more than 1,081 stores. When construction is completed at company headquarters, more than 1 million square feet of office and warehouse space will be under one roof. That is the equivalent of nearly 17 æ  football fields.
“They give because they believe it is the right thing to do, not for the attention,” said Lisa Tucker, one of the Tuckers’ four children and business employee. “They very quietly give, not to be in the paper, not for the recognition.  I’ve had managers in stores I visit say to me, ‘So, you’re Bobby’s daughter. Your dad did this for me. … Or, I got the prettiest flowers from your mom.’ That’s just them.”
Bob and Carolyn’s other children include daughter Jackie Snipes, and sons Greg and Bobby Jr. All work at Shoe Show, where Lisa shared there aren’t any job titles.
“We don’t have titles at Shoe Show,” said Lisa Tucker. “Why? What’s a title mean? Your job is your job.”
In closing for the evening, Carolyn Tucker thanked guests for attending the celebrity roast. Bob Tucker gave glory to God and acknowledged the work of Shoe Show employees through the years.
“I thank God for all he has done and for the help of all the people,” said Bob Tucker. “You don’t do something like this all alone.”
Previous recipients of the Kannapolis Education Foundation Distinguished Community Service Award are Tom Dayvault, J. Carlyle Rutledge, Troy Day, Bill Whitley, Millie Hall and Bachman and Mabel Brown.
Master of ceremonies for the night was Dr. Ed Tyson. In addition to Atkinson and Macon, roasters included Gladys Puntch, Leon Lackey and Bobby Tucker Jr., who won his chance to roast his parents during an open floor auction.
Contact Joanne Gonnerman at 704-932-3336 or jgonnerman @kannapoliscitizen.com.