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2 Councilmember Kenyan R. McDuffie
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6 A CEREMONIAL RESOLUTION
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10 IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
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14 To posthumously recognize and honor the life of Alfred Arvin Tyler, Jr. for his exceptional
15 resilience and impact on the greater Washington, D.C., area.
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17 WHEREAS, Alfred Arvin Tyler, Jr. was a native of Clifton Forge, Allegheny County, VA,
18 and the eldest child of Alfred O. and Blonzetta Thompson Tyler, with siblings Margrey, Nannie
19 E., Robert L., and Barbara Eldene Tyler;
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21 WHEREAS, he graduated from Jefferson High in Clifton Forge;
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23 WHEREAS, he joined the Army in September 1959, where he attained the rank of
24 Specialist Fourth Class;
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26 WHEREAS, he matriculated at Livingstone College in Salisbury, NC, where he graduated
27 in 1967; during his time at Livingstone, he led the nation in passing in 1966 with a record of 2,499
28 passing yards and 29 passing touchdowns. He passed for 4,630 yards and 54 touchdowns over the
29 course of his collegiate career;
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31 WHEREAS, Alfred Tyler is listed as Livingstone's all-time leading passer; he led the
32 nation's smallest college in total offense during his senior year and signed professionally with
33 Montreal of the Canadian Football League;
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35 WHEREAS, Mr. Tyler played with the Washington Redskins' farm team for four years;
36 his jersey number 17 was retired on April 17, 1967, and in 1989, he was inducted into the CIAA
37 Hall of Fame. He was also inducted into Livingstone College's Hall of Fame in 2002;
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39 WHEREAS, his love for sports propelled him to begin teaching in the DC Public School
40 System, starting at Evans Jr. High School; while at Evans, he coached basketball and football for
41 the East Capitol Jets. He was also a part of the football staffs at Eastern and Ballou Sr. High
42 Schools, as well as a member of the National Youth Sports Program at UDC;
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44 WHEREAS, Mr. Tyler married the late Joneal Richardson Tyler, a union that lasted 45
45 years before her passing in 2014; together, they had two children, Thalia Zenaide Turner and
46 Shannon Anell Tyler, and six grandchildren: Praise, Xavier, Micah, Samuel, Joshua, and Elijah;
47 WHEREAS, Mr. Tyler was a deacon at Peace Baptist Church;
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49 WHEREAS, Mr. Tyler spent countless hours mentoring, counseling, and using sports to
50 engage the minds of youngsters in the East Capitol Dwelling Neighborhood; no words can
51 adequately capture the labor and service Mr. Tyler dedicated to the East Capitol Dwelling
52 Neighborhood. He was a coach to some, a friend to all, and a hero to East Capitol;
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54 WHEREAS, Alfred Tyler, Jr. joined the heavenly sports team in October, 2024;
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56 IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF
57 COLUMBIA, that this resolution may be cited as the “Alfred Tyler, Jr Posthumous Recognition
58 Resolution of 2024”.
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60 Sec. 2. The Council of the District of Columbia recognizes and honors the life and legacy
61 of Alfred Tyler, Jr.
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63 Sec. 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately.