PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) -- The Peoria Riverfront Museum has received a big gift in honor of one of its longtime members.

The Rucker Family Foundation donated $1 million to establish the Mike Rucker Endowment Fund for Science, John D. Morris, president and CEO of the Peoria Riverfront Museum, announced Friday.

The gift was established by Mike's son and daughter-in-law, Derek and Diane Rucker, to honor his decades of work with the Museum, and in honor of his 85th birthday on Saturday.

"This endowment fund will generate proceeds every year, which will go on as long as the Peoria Riverfront Museum is here, and I hope that's forever," Morris said.

Rucker has been a long-time supporter of the museum and has served as chair of the museum’s Science and Technology Advisory Council and as a member o

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