The Fraternity is saddened by the passing of longtime SigEp volunteer John Tyler. Brother Tyler joined SigEp while attending the University of Texas and transferred to Southern Methodist University to complete his degree. He spent several years as a systems engineer at IBM before deciding to attend law school. After earning his law degree, Tyler established his own firm, managing a successful practice for over 35 years.
Even with the demands of building his practice and helping raise his family, SigEp remained near and dear to Tyler’s heart. For years, he faithfully led the Texas Alpha housing corporation as president and later served as a founding trustee of the chapter’s educational foundation. In appreciation for Tyler’s dedication to the chapter, Texas Alpha named its Balanced Man Scholarship in his honor. Extending his commitment to the Fraternity beyond his home chapter, Tyler also served as a district governor, recruiting and advising volunteers for several chapters in Texas.
For his decades of commitment to the Fraternity, Tyler was honored with the Order of the Golden Heart, SigEp’s highest honor, in 2003. He later served on the nominating committee for the award, ensuring other deserving brothers would likewise be recognized for their hard work. Tyler was also a two-time recipient of the Distinguished Alumnus Award.
Some of the many brothers who knew and loved Tyler shared their thoughts on how he impacted their lives:
“When I think of John, the word that comes to mind more than any other is ‘kind.’ He was simply one of the kindest people I’ve ever known. There are, of course, many other ways to describe him as well: loyal, caring, unassuming, and tremendously devoted to his wife, his family, and his beloved Fraternity.
“I succeeded John as district governor for South Texas in the late 1990s, and in so many ways, John not only paved my way as a SigEp volunteer for the last several decades, but he guided and accompanied me along the way. Simply put, my SigEp experience would not be what it has been without John. For that, I am eternally grateful, and I will miss him dearly.” — Jay Hurt, Davidson ’88
“John was the quintessential SigEp alum: mentor to undergraduates, advisor to national Fraternity leaders, organizer, funder and gracious host of alumni events, John was always giving but never asking.
“John Tyler was an Order of the Golden Heart recipient because we have no higher honor to bestow. And, if we had an Order of SigEp Family recognition, John’s wife, Meta, and daughter Mary Beth would wear their medallions proudly, always working for SigEp and Texas Alpha at John’s side.” — Gary Griffith, Texas-Austin ’70
“John innately understood and carefully nurtured the most essential component of a robust brotherhood: the people. John appreciated that it’s the people that make the Fraternity great, and his decades of personal outreach and friendship to countless SigEp men was a heartwarming achievement.
“During my own undergraduate years, a chance encounter with John both resulted in a rich, long-lasting friendship and expanded my SigEp horizon to see a nationwide brotherhood that wasn’t confined to my campus.
“The fraternal record will importantly detail John’s many accomplishments: local volunteer, district governor, a founding donor of the Board of Governors and a rightful recipient of the Order of the Golden Heart. But for those that knew him, he will likely be regarded with a more distinguished decoration in their SigEp heart … a friend.” — Matt Parrish, Georgia ’07
A celebration of his life will be held at St. John the Divine in Houston on Thursday, January 9, 2025, at 3:00 PM with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial gifts to the SigEp John K. Tyler Balanced Man Scholarship or St. John the Divine.
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