Tommy Tucker (squirrel) facts for kids
Tommy Tucker in a 1944 issue of Life magazine.
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| Species | Sciurus carolinensis |
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| Sex | male |
| Born | c. 1942 United States |
| Died | June 25, 1949 Southwestern United States |
| Years active | 1943–1949 |
| Known for | Selling war bonds |
| Named after | Little Tommy Tucker (nursery-rhyme) |
Tommy Tucker (born around 1942, died June 25, 1949) was a male Eastern gray squirrel who became a famous celebrity in the United States during the 1940s. He was known for touring the country in fancy women's outfits, performing tricks for children, and helping his country during World War II. One newspaper writer called him "the most famous squirrel ever to come from Washington."
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A Star is Born
Tommy's life changed in 1942 when he was adopted by a kind couple, Zaidee and Mark C. Bullis. They named him after a character from the nursery rhyme "Little Tommy Tucker."
Zaidee soon discovered a fun hobby: dressing Tommy in tiny, handmade outfits. She chose to make him dresses and other women's clothing because it was much easier to fit them around his big, bushy tail. Making pants for a squirrel would have been very tricky!
A Patriotic Pet During World War II
During the 1940s, the United States was involved in a major conflict called World War II. Everyone was looking for ways to support the country, and Tommy Tucker did his part in a very special way.
Touring the Country
In 1943, the Bullis family began to travel across the country with Tommy in their car. They were often joined by their bulldog, who sometimes wore a hat called a fez.
People, especially children, loved seeing Tommy. He had a calm personality (though he did sometimes bite, like any squirrel might!) and looked amazing in his patriotic costumes. In one of his first shows, he performed for 500 elementary school students.
Helping the War Effort
Tommy became famous for helping to sell war bonds. War bonds were a way for people to lend money to the government to help pay for soldiers' equipment and other war costs. After the war, the government would pay the money back.
Tommy's fame grew so much that he even did a pretend radio interview with the President of the United States at the time, Franklin D. Roosevelt.
A Fashion Icon
In 1944, Tommy was featured in the popular Life magazine, with a whole page of photos showing off his amazing wardrobe. The article said that his owner, Mrs. Bullis, had made over 30 special costumes for him.
Some of his outfits included:
- A coat and hat for going to the market
- A fancy silk dress for when company visited
- A Red Cross nurse uniform for visiting hospitals
By 1945, Tommy was so popular that his fan club, the Tommy Tucker Club, had around 30,000 members from all over the country.
Dear Tommy Tucker, I loved all of your dresses and I liked the wedding dress best of all.
Later Years and Legacy
After the war ended, Tommy wasn't in the news as much. He ran into some funny problems, though. Once, the Bullis family was not allowed to enter California for a few days because officials said Tommy was a wild animal, not a pet.
Sadly, Tommy passed away in the Bullis's trailer on June 25, 1949. He was on a trip with his family in the Southwest United States. It was reported he had a heart attack because he was getting old for a squirrel. A radio station in Arizona announced his passing, saying that the "world infrequently notes the passing of a squirrel," showing how special Tommy was.
To preserve his memory, Tommy's body was preserved through taxidermy. This process keeps an animal's body looking lifelike. Today, the preserved Tommy Tucker is on display in a law office in Prince George's County, Maryland. The National Museum of American History also keeps a collection of photos, articles, and papers all about his incredible life.
See also
