Richard "Mobe" Rucker in a 2000 photo: Most of us remember Mobe for his never-ending involvement in Perry Lake Trail. Mobe became Park Ranger at Perry Lake in 1978 and he immediately took a liking to the trail. In an article published in the Lawrence Journal World on October 29, 1985, Richard Douthit wrote: “Mobe was more involved than anybody around. He was the first ranger who got out and really worked with us shoulder to shoulder. He’s done a lot of maintenance on his own time.” At that time Richard Douthit, Mobe Rucker and others felt that there was a need to extend the trail, bringing  it to its current twenty-eight mile loop distance.

Since 1978 Mobe had been the instrumental force in organizing the Kansas Trails Council volunteers at Perry Lake. He would organize annual trail volunteers’ meetings at the lake, and bring us his famous chili. Mobe also served on the Jayhawk Audubon Society’s Board of Directors. Mobe passed away on August 8, 2002 in Centennial, Wyoming, doing what he liked to do best— hiking, birding and being with his family. He was born in 1952 in Madison, Tennessee.

The Richard "Mobe" Rucker Memorial Park Bench was installed near the shoreline across Hoover Creek Cove from the Longview Boat Ramp. The site, along Section 1, offers long distance views of the lake to the west. This is a peaceful setting along the trail in one of the "table rocks" areas. These large rocks are scattered around the location of the park bench, providing seating and a break area for larger groups. 

The park bench was installed by volunteers from the Kansas City Outdoor Club and Kansas Trails Council on March 13, 2004. This park bench is located within a few hundred feet of Mile Marker #4.

(Note: Some text above courtesy Perry Lake Park Manager Bunnie Watkins.)