Gannett Purchases Tucker Communications

Posted on October 1, 1999

Gannett Co., Inc., has purchased Tucker Communications, Inc., publisher of The Patent Trader newspaper and eight other publications distributed in northern Westchester and Putnam counties in New York and Fairfield County in Connecticut. The acquisition was announced earlier this week by Gary F. Sherlock, president for Gannett's Atlantic Newspaper Group, and Carll Tucker, chief executive officer of Tucker Communications.

"We are very pleased that Carll's company is joining Gannett," Sherlock said. "His publications have been widely recognized for journalistic excellence and community service. The Patent Trader has been an integral part of life in northern Westchester for many years and we plan to continue its long history of quality community journalism. We have no significant plans to change either the format or the editorial thrust of the newspaper."

Although he is retiring as editor and publisher, Tucker will continue to write his popular column, "Looseleaves," on a weekly basis. "All of the publications will benefit from Gannett's publishing strengths and resources," Tucker said. "Gannett gains a strong, respected, fast-growing group of regional publications, led by a terrific team of publishing professionals."

The Patent Trader was founded by Tucker's father, Carll Tucker, Jr. in 1956, as a community weekly newspaper serving northern Westchester County. Trader Publications was founded in 1986, initially to publish the newspaper the family had sold following the elder Mr. Tucker's death in 1968. The company subsequently introduced a number of other publications during the 1990s, including Trader Kids, The Bridal Book, Choices, Horse People and Trader Home. They also established the Trader Entertainment Network to publish program books for Caramoor, the Stamford Center for the Arts and Quick Center for the Arts.