Biography:
Jack Lamar Tyler was born in 1927. He was the youngest of five children raised on a farm in Claude, Texas. In 1944, at the age of 17, he was selected, “Outstanding 4H Club Boy in the United States.” He received a gold watch and a four-year college scholarship to the University of Texas at Austin.
Jack started college at the University of Texas at Austin but left to join the Navy in 1945 as a Seaman First Class. He served in the Navy during World War II, and he was trained as a Naval Aviator.
After completing his service in the Navy, Jack returned to the University of Texas at Austin, where he received a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He was a member of Pi Tau Sigma, an honorary mechanical engineering fraternity. He was also a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity and was elected secretary his senior year.
Jack received his Professional Engineering license in 1953. He was a PE for sixty-nine years. He founded Jack Tyler Engineering Company, along with his wife, Margaret Ann Tyler, in their home in 1963. Jack created the logo for his new company when he glanced at his JT branding iron he had used on his cows as a boy. He then chose the logo colors to be burnt orange, to represent the University of Texas, and blue, because that was his daughter’s favorite color. The original company, still owned by his daughter and son-in-law, has been in business for fifty-nine years and currently has offices in Little Rock, Springdale, and Ashdown, Arkansas.
Jack retired from Jack Tyler Engineering Company in 1992 when he was 65 years old. He had started farming on his land on Fourche Island in Little Rock in 1978 and established Jack Tyler Farms. He enjoyed farming and especially loved his pecan orchard. His beloved Golden Retriever, Maggie, rode the tractor with him every day. At age 91, he laughed and said he was now, “windshield farming.”
Jack was a member of Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church. He was a member of the Little Rock Rotary Club and served many through the Meals on Wheels program.
Jack is survived by his wife, Kay Edwards Tyler, his son, Jack Lamar Tyler, Jr. and his wife, Vicki, his daughter, Cindy Tyler Eoff and her husband, Sherman, six grandchildren who called him, “Granddad,” including Kimberly Tyler Clay, Amy Tyler Shelby, Jack Lamar Tyler III (Trey), Jeffrey McNeill Tyler, Ashley Eoff Hodges, and Stephen Tyler Eoff, as well as sixteen great grandchildren.
The family would like to thank Dr. Shannon McLaughlin and the staff at the North Little Rock Veterans Hospital for the care provided to Mr. Tyler.
The family is planning a memorial service for November 22, 2022, 11:00 AM to be held at Ruebel Funeral Home.
Jack will be greatly missed by his family.