“The Water Lady”

Cranfills Gap and Mustang may be small communities, but they are home to an icon the size of Fort Worth, who was recently honored for her 40 years of service to Mustang Valley Water. Just ask anyone around; they have all heard that friendly voice saying, “Sweetie, this is Ruth, your water lady.”

Ruth Tucker came to Bosque County in the 1960's with her husband Parks Tucker, and this gal from the big city decided she loved the country life. In the 60's, every rural family in Mustang still had their own water well. In true Texan form, when life was hard the Tuckers always dug in to find a solution. So, when their water well stopped working, a band of friends got together to start a water company. After a year of planning, HC Tucker, Oliver Hanson, and Ray, Albert and John Hastings, along with the first 50 members of Mustang Valley Water dug their first well in the Mustang community in 1975.

The Mustang Valley Water Supply Corporation began as a member-owned cooperative lead by a panel of six board members. The 50 members and 1 well have now grown to 768 meter connections, 7 wells and 258 miles of pipe covering a large rectangle that encompasses the rural land between Clifton, Meridian and Cranfills Gap, and as the name implies, services all of Mustang.

Ruth Tucker has been a vital part of making it all happen, because she has been running the office for about 40 years. She knows all the members and they know her. It is quite amazing to hear her describe where everyone lives, where their meter is, and how they became members. So integral is she to the company, that most members think she is the owner.

With her loyalty and selfless service in mind, the current Board of Directors, consisting of President Doug Kieta, Treasurer Tom Blossom, Secretary Gris Griswold, Myron Lee, Aubrey Richards, Harold Leigh and Nancy Bratcher, recently honored Ruth by naming the first well after her. Mrs. Tucker was quite surprised when the board had her unveil the Ruth Tucker Well sign that will forever hang in her honor. After all, she is quite deserving, Sweetie. She is Ruth Tucker, the water lady.