2010 | images-tyler.com ®
What’s Online Tour the Campus of the University of Texas at Tyler
tyler, texas
BLISSFUL THINKING Downtown gets busy on revitalization efforts
MULTIPLE CHOICES Students lucky to have three college options
So When’s the Next Party? City hosts energetic festivals
sponsored by the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce
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th anniversary issue
2010 edition | volume 5 ®
Tyler, Texas
co nte nt s F e at u r e s 12 Festival City Natural beauty, music and sports: Tyler has plenty to celebrate.
16 Healthy Attitude Award-winning health-care services are within reach.
24 A Steady Beat Tyler’s downtown emphasizes arts and revitalization.
58 Everything Old Is New Again Past meets present through Historic Tyler’s preservation work.
20 Arts Smart Live theater, music performances and exhibits offer inspiration and entertainment.
on the cover Photo by Antony Boshier The square in Tyler
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Tyler BUSINESS 34 Travel Plans Tyler moves forward with comprehensive transportation projects.
40 Biz Briefs 43 Chamber Report 45 Economic Profile
d e pa r tm e nt s 8 28 46 51 52
Almanac: a colorful sampling of Tyler culture Photo Essay Image Gallery Local Flavor Portfolio: people, places and events that define Tyler
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Health & Wellness Sports & Recreation Education Community Profile: facts, stats and important numbers to know
This magazine is printed entirely or in part on recycled paper containing 10% post-consumer waste.
Please recycle this magazine
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Turn the pages of our
Digital Magazine 2010 | IMAGES-TyLEr.COM ®
What’s Online Tour the Campus of the University of Texas at Tyler
TyLEr, TExAS
BLISSFUL THINKING Downtown gets busy on revitalization efforts
MULTIPLE CHOICES Students lucky to have three college options
So When’s the Next Party? City hosts energetic festivals
SPONSOrEd By THE TyLEr ArEA CHAMBEr OF COMMErCE
Live Links Hot links allow users to quickly link to other sites for additional information, and an ad index allows you to easily locate local advertisers in the magazine.
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images-tyler.com The definitive relocation resource
What’s Online
picture perfect We’ve added even more of our prize-winning photography to the online gallery. To see these photos, click on Photo Gallery.
relocation Considering a move to this community? We can help. Use our Relocation Tools to discover tips, including how to make your move green, advice about moving pets and help with booking movers.
Videos In our Interactive section, watch quick videos by our editors and photographers featuring people, places and events.
facts & stats Go online to learn even more about: • Schools • Health care • Utilities • Parks • Taxes
Local Flavor From the simple to the sublime, the delicious offerings here are guaranteed to satisfy every appetite.
About this magazine Images gives readers a taste of what makes Tyler tick – from business and education to sports, health care and the arts. “Find the good – and praise it.”
– Alex Haley (1921-1992), Journal Communications co-founder
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Almanac
The Science of Fun
Relaxing Waters A day at the lake is a lure Tyler residents don't have to resist. Tyler State Park and Lake Palestine offer peaceful waters, good fishing and lush surroundings. Located just north of Tyler in Smith County, the park hosts approximately 250,000 visitors each year for everything from boating to bird watching, making it the area’s No. 1 tourist attraction. The 64-acre lake features a swimming area, paddle boats and fishing. The clarity of the lake draws scuba divers, while cyclists favor the 12 miles of multi-use trails.
Digging up a dinosaur, or at least a piece of one, isn't hard to do at Discovery Place Science Center. A new exhibit, The Dig Pit Adventure, features a pit where children can dig around and search for fossils and explore how dinosaurs lived millions of years ago. The Discovery Science Place features more than 85 hands-on exhibits and three interactive, imaginative exhibit halls. Named one of the Top 25 Science Centers in the nation by Parents magazine, Discovery Science Place is a nonprofit, learning environment whose purpose is to open young minds to science, technology, math and cultures to meet the challenges of the future. The center is supported by grants, donations, admissions, memberships and special events.
Happy Trails The Rose Rudman Recreational Trail is a beautiful setting for jogging, walking, biking and roller-blading. Picnic areas are available under tall shade trees. For cyclists looking for more of a challenge, the Tyler Bicycle Club is open to new members. The group organizes rides each week, including the popular Beauty and the Beast ride, which has been recognized by Bicycling Magazine as one of the best club rides in the country. The ride leaves from UT Tyler at 2 p.m. on Sundays and ranges from 12 to 64 miles.
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Fast Facts n Tyler State Park is a 985-acre refuge that opened in 1939 and has a 64-acre lake.
Peer Into History It's a Tyler first. The GoodmanLeGrand Home, located on North Broadway Avenue, is Tyler's first property ever to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The home is now known as the Goodman Museum, and it originally began as a one-story, four-room house constructed by Samuel Smith in 1859. The home is named for the family of its third owner, Dr. W.J. Goodman. The family lived in the home for more than 70 years. The residence underwent several additions and renovations to give it a Classical Revival look by the 1920s, and the mansion has remained largely unchanged since. The museum is open for public tours, with many of the Goodman family’s antique furnishings on display.
It's Wild Here
n Famous Tyler area natives include Chicago Bears head coach Lovie Smith, Heisman Trophy winner Earl Campbell, actress Sandy Duncan and White House correspondent Sarah McClendon. n In 1985, the International Adopta-Highway movement originated in Tyler. The first road adopted for cleanup purposes was a two-mile stretch of U.S. Highway 69. n The city’s No. 1 tourist attraction is the Tyler Municipal Rose Garden, with 38,000 rose bushes and more than 500 varieties.
What began as a petting zoo in the 1930s is now one of the most interesting facilities in Texas. Tyler's Caldwell Zoo houses more than 2,000 animals from around the world. Its most recent addition is an orphaned cougar captured in Oregon and transferred to the Tyler Zoo in December 2009. The cougar joins other species of cats including lions from Africa, mountain lions from North America and White Tigers from India. Other animals range from rhinoceroses to macaw parrots. All of the animals live in natural habitats within the 85-acre park.
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Almanac
Tyler At A Glance Population (2008 Estimate) County Population: 201,277 City Population: 101,106 Location Tyler is in northeast Texas, about 90 miles east of Dallas and 90 miles west of Shreveport, La. Beginnings Tyler, named after President John Tyler, was officially incorporated in 1848. It is the county seat of Smith County and has the distinction of being the only city in America named for the 10th U.S. president. For More Information Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce 315 N. Broadway Tyler, TX 75702 Phone: (903) 592-1661 Fax: (903) 593-2746 www.tylertexas.com
Tyler
Meet the Big Cats Here kitty, kitty. The cats at Tiger Creek aren't for petting, but they are quite content. The Tiger Creek Wildlife Refuge is home to more than 40 rescued animals that have been abused, neglected or displaced. The facility houses tigers, lions, bobcats, leopards and cougars, and is continuing to expand to offer a more natural habitat for the big cats. The refuge's goal is to provide the best living environment attainable for the animals, and also to provide an enjoyable and educational experience for visitors.
Star Power
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There is plenty of star power to be found at Hudnall Planetarium, which is located on the campus of Tyler Junior College. Built in 1963, the planetarium has an educational exhibit room and domed viewing theater that are used for educational multimedia presentations geared toward groups of people of all ages, as well as monthly “star parties” that are hosted by the Astronomical Society of East Texas. The planetarium offers a variety of programs geared toward students in grades K-12 and adults.
Bullard
What’s Online Take a virtual tour of Tyler, courtesy of our award-winning photographers, at images-tyler.com.
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Festival City
Natural beauty, music and sports: Tyler has plenty to celebrate
Story By Suzanne B. Bopp Photography By antony boshier
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hat a difference a trip makes. In the 1930s, some of Tyler’s town leaders attended a world’s fair and returned home inspired to find ways to bring tourists to Tyler. Roses seemed like a natural place to start, since Tyler had plenty of them. So began the Rose Festival, an event that celebrates both the natural beauty of the flowers and all of the good things that the city has to offer. The Rose Festival, which marked its 75-year anniversary in 2008, is held each October during harvest season for the rose industry. That, says Henry Bell, chief operating officer of the Tyler Chamber of Commerce, is how Tyler became known as the Rose Capital of America. In addition to Tyler’s municipal rose garden – at 14 acres, it’s the largest in the country – there are thousands of rose bushes in and around the Azalea Trail
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Jeff Adkins
From left to right: Rose City Jazz Fest; Gowns from the Rose Queen and her court, along with portraits of previous rose queens, at the Tyler Rose Museum in Smith County.
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town; at harvest time, the blooms go to the festival “to use however they want,” Bell says. The festival features a rose queen and her court, a parade and tours of the rose fields; a museum commemorates rose festivals past. The Rose Festival has become such a popular attraction, Bell says, that it brings in approximately $2 million to the town annually. Although the town is known for its roses, its azaleas also demand attention. The Tyler Azalea Trail that celebrates their beauty will mark its 50th anniversary this year. Held each spring, when azaleas are at their peak, the centerpiece of the festival is an 8-mile trail featuring thousands of azaleas, dogwoods and other flowering trees and shrubs. “It was started by homeowners looking for a
plant to beautify their yards at a different time of year than the roses,” Bell says. “They traveled to Georgia and brought azaleas back. It’s all over the city now. People come by the busloads.” Because it’s a trail that anyone can drive or walk through, the festival is free. Lots of events have sprung up around the trail, including craft shows and charity runs and the Main Street Flower Market. “We wanted an event to bring people to the historic sights downtown,” says Beverly Abell, director of the City of Tyler Main Street Department. “We realized they must like gardening and historic sites, so we brought those together.” The market is held outside the Goodman Museum, the first Tyler building to make the National Register of Historic Places.
Festivals & Events Azalea Trail Junior Golf Classic March 2010 www.tylertexas.com/ sportyler/juniorgolf Attracts junior golfers and their families from across North and East Texas to Tyler and serves as the kickoff for the annual junior golf season. Four Winds Renaissance Faire March 6-April 25, 2010 www.fourwindsfaire.com Step back into history at the Four Winds Renaissance Faire, which features jousting, arts and crafts, music from a bygone era and more.
Todd Bennett
Tyler Azalea & spring flower Trail March 19-April 4, 2010 www.tylerazaleatrail.com Two trails travel through eight miles of residential gardens and historic homes sites allowing visitors to see as many flowers as possible while enjoying this outstanding celebration of spring in East Texas. Tyler’s Komen Race for the Cure May 8, 2010 http://komentyler.org
Although the Rose Festival and the Tyler Azalea Trail are among Tyler’s best-known festivals, many other events keep Tyler lively all year long. Several music festivals are held in the area, many of which take place in the city’s historic downtown square, that feature a variety of music styles ranging from symphonies to jazz to country. Sporting events include a regional junior golf tournament and various races throughout the year, and a renaissance fair, a state fair and several gala events as well. All of them add to the uniqueness of Tyler, Abell says. “You don’t have to go to another state, or even another town. There’s all this creative, vibrant stuff going on. We’re fortunate to have people creative and visionary enough to put all these things together right here.”
Annual walk/run to benefit breast cancer research. Tyler Jaycee’s Fourth of July Celebration July 4, 2010 www.tylerjaycees.org The Tyler Junior Chamber of Commerce “Tyler Jaycees” are a volunteer group of young men and women ages 21 through 41 with a focus on leadership development through community service. Since 1963, the Jaycees have sponsored the largest fireworks show in the region, along with children’s activities and live music.
Mexican independence day concert September 18, 2010 www.cityoftyler.org Enjoy the flavor and sounds of Mexico as Downtown Tyler celebrates the anniversary of Mexican Independence Day. Authentic music, food, and other attractions will be part of the event. Proceeds benefit Tyler Main Street, a department of the City of Tyler, which is dedicated to downtown revitalization. texas music concert October 9, 2010 www.festivalonthesquare.com Enjoy a Texas music concert under the stars and on the brick streets of Downtown Tyler. Food, amusements and music will be some of the attractions. Proceeds benefit Tyler Main Street, a department of the City of Tyler, which is dedicated to downtown revitalization. East Texas State Fair September-October 2010 www.etstatefair.com Competitions, demonstrations and other events committed to agricultural heritage, families and service to the community. Texas Rose Festival October 14-16, 2010 www.texasrosefestival.com Event held annually celebrating the role of the rose-growing industry in the local economy. The festivities draw thousands of tourists to the city each year. Cattle Barons’ Gala June 12, 2010 www.cattlebaronsgala.net Dining and dancing to support the American Cancer Society.
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Healthy
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Attitude
Award-winning health-care services are within reach
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Story By Betsy Williams | Photography By antony boshier
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yler residents have top-ranked options when it comes to making health-care decisions. Services are provided by the 454-bed East Texas Medical Center, Trinity Mother Frances Hospital, the University of Texas Health Science Center and the Texas Spine and Joint Hospital, making Tyler a regional health-care hub. These centers are staffed by more than 600 physicians, an impressive number in a county of under 200,000 residents, says Angela Driggs, executive director of the Smith County Medical Society. “We have every major medical specialty available here,” Driggs says. “Our health-care facilities offer excellent quality, with an extremely talented and well-trained support group of health-care professionals. Plus, Tyler is an attractive community with a superior quality of life, which is why we have been so successful in attracting
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the impressive number of physicians and professionals here.” With a medical society that has been in existence for more than 100 years, the medical roots in Tyler run deep, Driggs says. “It’s very much like a family of medicine,” she says. “Our doctors share close personal relationships, and in many cases we have third-generation Tyler physicians practicing here.” Growth and a continued quest for excellence are the hallmarks of Tyler’s medical facilities. The University of Texas Health Science Center Tyler marked a milestone in 2009 when it launched the construction of a new $67 million academic center that will include a cancer center, residency program classrooms and a medical library. “The academic center will serve as a destination point in the Piney Woods of East Texas for students and young
physicians seeking new knowledge, for the sick seeking new and advanced treatment, for those wanting to teach and for those seeking new discoveries through hard work and innovative research,” says Dr. Kirk Calhoun, UTHSCT president. The new expansion is expected to help meet the state’s demand for residency slots. East Texas Medical Center Tyler, the regional referral facility at the center of a growing group of mini-systems throughout East Texas, is one of the first 14 hospitals in Texas to be designated as a Primary Stroke Center by the Texas Department of State Health Services. It was recognized in 2009 as a silver annual performance award winner for the treatment of stroke patients and was spotlighted in a recent issue of U.S. News and World Report. For four consecutive years, Trinity Mother Frances Hospital has been
recognized as one of the nation’s top hospitals for having the highest quality and image in the community, a designation made through the National Research Corporation by consumers. In 2009, the hospital joined forces with Tyler Cardiovascular Consultants P.A., thereby streamlining heart care in the region with quality preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic cardiovascular services. Spine surgery at the Texas Spine and Joint Hospital is consistently ranked nationally in the top 5 percent, with 2009 as the sixth consecutive year the hospital has maintained this standard. The five-star facility boasts an infection rate below 1 percent, which is well below the national average. TSJH includes a 20-bed, acute-care hospital, an outpatient surgery and ancillary imaging center, and a medical staff of more than 196 doctors and 220 employees.
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theater, music and visual arts exhibits offer inspiration and entertainment
Story By Betsy Williams
Antony Boshier
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ith almost a dozen museums, numerous profes sional and amateur performance groups and a host of topshelf venues, Tyler residents have plenty of opportunities for entertainment and inspiration. Choices of activities include a visit to the Tyler Museum of Art, one of a handful of accredited museums in the nation; a performance by the East Texas Symphony Orchestra, the Tyler Youth Orchestra, Ballet Tyler or the Tyler Civic Chorale; or tickets to a presentation by a guest artist at the UT Tyler R. Don Cowan Fine and Performing Arts Center or a play at the Tyler Civic Theater Center. “Tyler is fortunate in that we have a lot here,” says Kathy Housby, director of patron services for the ETSO. “It enhances our quality of life.” Having so much activity also calls for a cooperative arts community. “We The Coawan Center on the University of Texas Tyler campus
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From left to right: An art show at Gallery Main Street; Ballet Tyler
partner with each other a lot,” Housby says. “It’s a real community-oriented group. We are always looking for creative ways to work together.” That sense of camaraderie was recently evident in the Tyler Public Library’s selection as a site of The Big Read, a national project funded by the National Endowment for the Arts to encourage reading. The Grapes of Wrath was selected as the book, and various performance and visual arts groups, including the ETSO, participated in music and arts presentations that were reflective of the book’s theme. The ETSO is currently in the midst of raising funds for the adaptive reuse of the Liberty Theater in downtown Tyler, a former movie house built in the 1930s, into a performance hall that
will offer varied programs. “This will be more of an intimate performance space, only about 400 seats,” Housby says. “It will not accommodate the full orchestra. This is really a space for us to present different kinds of music that will bring in a broader audience to complement the full orchestra.” The hope is that the Liberty will open in 2011, especially if significant gifts continue to come in. Also in fundraising mode is the Tyler Museum of Art, which has outgrown its current space of 15,000 square feet and is planning the first phase of a 40,000-square-foot LEED-certified building on a wooded 14-acre site. “We will have more exhibit space and the library will be more accessible to scholars,” says museum
director Kim Tomio. The museum hosts international exhibits and those that draw from the museum’s permanent collection. Tomio is especially excited about a recently received major gift of Mexican folk art that will make it the region’s largest collection of that type. “I think Tyler is very fortunate to have a really unique wealth of cultural arts in a community of this size,” Tomio says. Housby agrees. “You hope you encourage people to appreciate the arts and live performance,” she says. “Sometimes in our high-tech world, we forget the joy of communal experience of live performance. There is something about that shared experience that you hope stirs people in a way we aren’t otherwise. We’re just glad to be a part of that expression.” T y le r
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Steady Beat tyler’s downtown emphasizes the arts as well as its revitalization
Story By Betsy Williams Photography By antony boshier
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fter 20 years in the Texas Main Street program, downtown Tyler has a new look and a renewed energy. Under the direction of Beverly Abell, a veteran Main Street manager with awardwinning efforts in Colorado and Oklahoma, Main Street Tyler and Heart of Tyler Inc. are feeling just fine, thank you. The public-private partnership formed between the city and HoT in 2008 has been reaping results, says Abell. “Each does what it does best. It has provided us with a lot of programmatic stability, while putting a real emphasis on downtown and recognizing it for the economic necessity that it is.” Part of that emphasis has been on what Abell describes as a “living learning lab” for adaptive
reuse of old buildings. “We have our home right on the street, right on the square,” Abell says of the program’s 2009 move to its new home. “On one side of the building is our office for the Heart of Tyler Inc. and Main Street Tyler, but on the other side is Gallery Main Street, a municipally supported art gallery that is administered by our program volunteers and the Downtown Tyler Arts Coalition.” It’s that emphasis on the arts that is really making downtown’s pulse race these days. Gallery Main Street features juried art exhibits with works by professional and hobbyist artists. A new show goes up every six weeks, and every show is juried and managed by professional artists who volunteer their services with DTAC. DTAC is expanding, working with groups in film-making, theater, music, photography – all
What’s Online Find out more about downtown’s amenities at images-tyler.com.
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The Bishop T.K. Gorman Catholic School Community Congratulates our Class of 2010 National Merit Scholars
Luis Fernandez, son of Judy and Luis Fernandez, is a 2010 Commended Scholar. Luis is an AP Scholar, a Gorman athlete and a volunteer for Operation Lone Star, which works to provide free health care to south Texas residents.
Kalon Stephen, son of Deborah and Albert Stephen, is a 2010 National Achievement Scholar. Kalon is an award-winning TMEA State Band member, a Gorman athlete and a participant in the Oxford University Summer High School Student Exchange Program.
Bishop T.K. Gorman Middle and High School Recognized as a Top 50 US Catholic High School for Six Consecutive Years, 2005-2010 Celebrating 51 Years in 2009-2010 as the Oldest Private High School in Smith County Grades 6-12 : 1405 E.S.E. Loop 323 : Tyler, TX 75701 : (903) 561-2424 : www.tkgorman.net
St. Gregory Catholic School
areas of the arts, Abell says. “This all ties back to Tyler 21 and the plank of the arts in the master plan for the city of Tyler,” Abell says. Public investment is a catalyst to private investment, she says. Proof? A new private art gallery and a new coffee shop with an emphasis on art are new additions to downtown. “This is also on the heels of another major arts development downtown, and that is the adaptive reuse of the old Liberty Theater as the new home of the East Texas Symphony Orchestra,” Abell says.
With Friday art walks, downtown concerts, original art banners and special window displays, Downtown Tyler is artfully in the middle of the activity. And, as Abell points out, that’s just on the arts end. Downtown Tyler is capturing opportunity with the thousands of visitors who come for the Azalea Festival each year, holding the Main Street Flower Market in the Goodman Museum, and continuing with traditional promotional events. What’s in the future?
“For downtown as a whole, I see more emphasis on property rehabil itation,” Abell says. “I think we’ll see more people take advantage of the 20 percent investment tax credit. They are seeing more and more the economic advantages of being downtown.” Constant evaluation and program tweaking are critical to a successful downtown program, Abell says. “If you’re static, you’re dead. No matter how good your program is, you’ve got to respond and retool to move with the times. We’re doing that.”
Clockwise from top: The Balance Studio has won many awards for its adaptive reuse of the historic building in which it is housed; Beverly Abell, director Tyler’s Main Street Department; Ye Olde City Antique Mall Flea Market
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Photo Essay
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Charming
Charnwood take a look at tyler’s first historic district
Story By jill wyatt Photography By antony boshier
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nown in the 19th century as South Tyler, the Charnwood Residential Historic District is Tyler’s first historic district. It was officially listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1999 after Austin-based architectural historian Diane E. Williams conducted a historic resources survey there. Located approximately one-half mile south of the Smith County Courthouse, the Charnwood Residential Historic District is now considered part of the central city. It consists of 12 blocks making an “L” shape of late 19th and early 20th century residential development, with the visual and historical focal point being Charnwood Street. The historic buildings developed sporadically between about 1870 and 1950 by local carpenters and contractors for middle and working class families. They are known for their architectural design and high levels of craftsmanship. Now the Charnwood Residential Historic District includes a variety of expansive and humble Tudor Revival, Classical Revival, Colonial Revival, Craftsman, Queen Anne and Ranch style homes on brick paved streets. Landscape features such as low walls of stone, concrete or brick are found throughout the district and reinforce its historic character. Visit images-tyler.com to see more of Tyler’s charming Charnwood Residential Historic District.
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Travel Plans tyler moves forward with comprehensive transportation projects
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Business
Story By betsy williams Photography By antony boshier
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imes are tough, but Tyler keeps moving – and transportation leaders here are working on progressive projects aimed at keeping people and products moving into the future. “Tyler is in an older part of Texas, because the eastern portion was settled earlier,” says Randy Hopmann, Tyler district engineer for the Texas Department of Transportation. “It has an older transportation system, which creates some challenges in Tyler’s traffic movement. Everything has been built off the state’s major arterials, so now we are working on the minor arterials and collector roads. It has to be well-planned and the local and state governments have to work together to have an effective transportation network.” Flexibility and creativity in finding solutions are key to solving future transportation challenges, Hopmann says, adding that goals are within reach. Tyler is implementing a plan that includes Toll 49, a toll road that will circle the city and allow residents in southern Smith County to access I-20, the major corridor that connects Tyler to DallasFt. Worth. Within Tyler, this project is commonly referred to as the “outer loop.” “That’s going to be huge for Tyler,” Hopmann says. “It’s been discussed and planned, and we have completed construction on certain sections and it is now operating as a toll road.” Tyler received federal stimulus dollars to help with the $38 million section that is currently under construction. The next phase of construction begins in the first quarter of 2010. This long-term project will get another boost in the summer of 2010 when the An American Eagle regional jet lands at Tyler Pounds Regional Airport.
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In 1953, a group of Smith County educators chartered Cooperative Teachers Credit Union. Their purpose was to offer financial services to educators and their families, as well as all other school personnel. Though we have grown in assets and members, we have maintained a warm atmosphere and remained true to the credit union philosophy of “not for profit, not for charity, but for service.” Our membership is open to anyone who lives, works, attends school or worships in Smith County. Come by today or call and see why we were voted Best Credit Union of 2008 by the Tyler Morning Telegraph readers for Choice Awards.
1424 WSW Loop 323 • Tyler, TX 75701 (903) 561-2603 • Toll-free: (877) 662-2828
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Northeast Texas Regional Mobility Authority will issue bonds for the third phase, which will run from State Highway 31 to Interstate 20. Funding for a transportation project running in the hundreds of millions of dollars can raise concerns during these tight times, Hopmann admits. “Dollars are very limited, and if this were not a toll road, we probably would not be building the road right now,” he says. “We are very fortunate in Tyler to be moving forward with the development of an outler loop in this area of the state. I think this is going to help the East Texas economy and have it available for economic development purposes in the future.” The Tyler Pounds Field regional airport also got a boost in 2009 from federal stimulus funds. The airport, which currently serves 150,000 travelers each year, received a $5.9 million grant that will be used for an extensive rehabilitation of one of the facility’s three runways. The runway rehabilitation project includes base repair, overlay and grooving of the runway pavement and does not require a local funding match, which makes the numbers work for the community. The airport and roadway improvements are part of an overall multimodal transportation system, Hopmann says, and several rail initiatives are under way, including research into bringing high-speed rail through East Texas. “We have some exciting things happening in transportation,” he says. “The public and private entities are coming together to see good things happen in Tyler and Smith County.”
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Business
Biz Briefs Businesses – both large and small – that help define tyler’s economic climate
Scorecard Tyler’s cost of living index at the first quarter of 2009 was 94 of 100, and has consistently been 90-96 percent of the national average for the past five years. Cost of living indexes measure the relative price levels for consumer goods and services compared against the national average. The national average is always 100. Indexes below 100 indicate lower prices (less expensive) than the national average.
Estes, McClure & Associates Biz: engineering and consulting services Buzz: Awarded Small Business of the Year by the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce, Estes, McClure & Associates has provided engineering and consulting services for educational facilities for more than 35 years. Founded in 1974, EMA provides innovative mechanical, electrical, plumbing, technology and energy design services to its clients. www.estesmcclure.com 40
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Sealtite Building Fasteners Biz: wood and steel fastener manufacturer Buzz: Awarded Large Business of the Year by the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce, Sealtite’s sales grew by 10 percent in 2009 despite the downturn in the economy. Founded in 1992 in Tyler, Sealtite is a leader in its industry, thanks to its adherence to strict quality standards for all of its engineered fasteners. www.sealtite.com Andy’s Frozen Custard Biz: frozen treats Buzz: Reviewers on the popular Urban Spoon Web site say Andy’s has the best ice cream in East Texas. Fresh fruit including seasonal blackberries and strawberries help make this frozen treat special. “One trip and you’ll have a lifetime craving for this custard,” according to one reviewer. From root beer floats to malts and signature sundaes, Andy’s custard is made fresh hourly. www.eatandys.com Batten Photography Biz: photography Buzz: Batten Photography emphasizes quality, flexibility and enthusiasm. Its photographs are creative and fun, and Batten’s planning ensures its clients don’t experience stress. The result is a relaxed sitting that captures natural expressions. There are no unnecessary props or busy studio backgrounds, just a focus on individual personalities to create timeless, classic portraits. www.battenphotography.com Mentoring Minds Biz: educational publisher Buzz: Mentoring Minds partners with educators to create valuable teaching tools for use by teachers in the classroom. With a focus on the success of students, the product development team creates materials that address relevant issues in the classroom such as critical thinking, vocabulary development, prevention of bullying and classroom management. www.mentoringminds.com
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Room to relax … Room to breathe … A place to call …
Home Away From Home!
3303 Troup Hwy. Tyler, TX 75701 (903) 595-5188 www.residenceinntyler.com
First Presbyterian Church Pastor: Rev. Dr. Stuart Baskin Worship Sun. 8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. Church School Sun. 9:30 a.m.
Rooted in a compassionate faith
Contemplative Communion Wed. 5:30 p.m.
230 W. Rusk St. Tyler, Texas 75701 In the heart of Tyler’s Azalea, Brick Streets and Charnwood Historic Districts Voice: (903) 597-6317 www.fpctyler.com church@fpctyler.com
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Antony Boshier
Business | Chamber Report
Henry Bell, chief operating officer, Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce
Growing Strong Chamber’s programs, events lead to rapidly growing membership
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pin the online radio dial in Tyler and you’re likely to get a traffic report, a local newscast, maybe a weather update and … a five-minute business feature? The last item is courtesy of the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce, which has partnered with Internet broadcaster Toginet Radio to produce a 30-minute weekly show that includes short interviews with chamber members about their businesses and services. The show, which also is available for download as a podcast, is just another way for chamber members to network, and it also shows how willing the organization is to try the newest and best ways to communicate its message, says Henry Bell, chief operating officer. “I do an interview every week about some sort of chamber activity or service that helps connect our members to the community,” Bell says. “We allow five members a week to do an interview to go with the piece we produce as a staff. Every member gets e-mailed once a week about the new show, which stays at the Web site permanently. It’s a really innovative tool for marketing.” Finding creative ways to boost its members’ businesses is the chamber’s main goal, and it’s no surprise that the organization is tapping a new way to use the Internet to do so. “It’s all about trying to do member-to-member referrals, and we want to facilitate the communication between all of our
members so that they know what’s available in their own back yard,” Bell says. “We don’t want them taking those dollars outside the community for certain goods and services.” The new show joins the annual business expo, held on the third Thursday in January, and is so popular that it’s now been joined by two related events that are targeted to Tyler’s rapidly growing senior-citizen population: quarterly luncheons and breakfasts with presentations on topics of interest, and monthly business-after-hours mixers that are so well attended that host duties have been booked through 2010 – with a waiting list. And then there are the golf tournaments, skeet shooting and other fun events that allow for business and fun to mingle. Ensuring its members get plenty of face time with each other has led to very satisfied members, so much so that a 2008 chamber pledge drive blew away existing records when it brought in 647 new members. The chamber is now more than 2,300 businesses strong, which shows what can be done when creative thinking is allowed to flourish, Bell says. “When times are a little tougher and more challenging, we work to get businesses to understand the importance of what we do,” he says. “We’ve been able to show them the advantages of being a member, and how we can make their jobs easier.” – Joe Morris T y le r
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Serving Tyler and East Texas Since 1991 Special Health Resources is committed to excellence in programs serving youth, adults and families. We promote positive family communication; professional drug and alcohol prevention, intervention and treatment; client-centered HIV/AIDS education, outreach, testing, intervention and treatment; and indigent health care.
Living AND Loving •Chandler, Texas•
1308 Clinic Dr. Tyler, TX 75701 (903) 597-7558 (800) 853-9689 Toll-free (903) 597-9107 Fax 44
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410 Hwy. 31 E. • Chandler, TX 75758 (903) 849-6497 tel • (903) 849-3927 fax
Business | Economic Profile
Tyler economic overview Tyler is considered the advanced manufacturing, health care, educational and retail center of East Texas. Tyler offers companies a quality, centrally located, middle-market location with many of the advantages of a major market. Tyler is part of the Tyler MSA, which includes all of Smith County, Texas.
Tyler Pounds Regional Airport 700 Skyway Blvd. Tyler, TX 75704 (903) 531-2343 www.cityoftyler.org
City Manager’s Office 212 N. Bonner Ave. Tyler, TX 75702 (903)-531-1250 www.cityoftyler.org
Industrial Sites Economic Resources
Taxes
1.5% City Sales and Use Tax
0.5% County Sales Tax
6.25% State Sales Tax
8.25% Total Sales Tax
Transportation Tyler Transit System www.visittyler.com/ travel_public.php Service hours are Monday to Friday, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Night service is available with advanced scheduling. Tyler’s fixed route buses are also equipped with racks for bicycle transport.
Tyler Economic Development Council 315 N. Broadway Ave. Tyler, TX 75701 (903) 593-2004 www.tedc.org Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce 315 N. Broadway Ave. Tyler, TX 75702 (903) 592-1661 (800) 235-5712 www.tylertexas.com Texas Engineering Extension Service 301 Tarrow College Station, TX 77840 (979) 458-6800 (877) 833-9638 www.teex.org
Government Offices
Tyler Industrial/Business Park www.tedc.org The Tyler Economic Development Council has owned and managed 150 acres within the Tyler Industrial/Business Park since 1994. The park is located at the intersection of west Loop 323 and Robertson Road and is occupied by a variety of manufacturing, office, distribution, and retail businesses.
MORE ONLINE images-tyler.com More facts, stats and community information, including relocation tools and links to resources.
City Clerk 212 N. Bonner Ave. Tyler, TX 75702 (903) 531-1106 www.cityoftyler.org County Clerk 200 E. Ferguson, Ste. 300 Tyler, TX 75702 (903) 590-4670 www.smith-county.com
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Image Gallery
A rural scene outside Tyler
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Photography By antony boshier
A wrought-iron bench located in the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce’s building.
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Image Gallery |
Photo By antony boshier
What’s Online  Visit images-tyler.com to see more award-winning photography highlighting the places and people in Tyler. The moon sets over a boat dock on the calm water of Lake Palestine.
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Connecting with Tyler has never been easier ‌
images-tyler.com
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SIMPLY SEARCH: In a hurry? Find the exact info you need quickly with our enhanced search capabilities.
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SMOOTHER SURFING: Explore the site and interact with us more easily with our reorganized navigation bar.
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JUST THE FACTS: Get a quick snapshot of the community with our greatly enriched Facts and Stats section.
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WATCH AND SHARE: Experience first-hand views of the community in our video gallery, then share them with friends.
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VIRTUAL VIEW: Flip through pages of the digital magazine, an enriched online version of the print publication.
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MOVING MUSTHAVES: Visit our new Relocation Tools section for many useful tips and information to make your transition go smoothly.
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MORE EYE CANDY: Check out our enhanced Photo Gallery for more stunning photos of the community.
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OUTSIDERS WELCOME: Read about the best places to play in this community.
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IN GOOD TASTE: Get the dish on local flavor from favorite restaurants, noted area products and farmers markets in our new Food section.
Local Flavor
Egged On to Success breakfast and lunch-only restaurant proves popular
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lunch while employing the same wait staff that can work all of the hours. But what The Egg and I prides itself on most is its menu. Breakfast items include a veggie benedict, crabcake benedict and a hiker’s benedict, which features diced ham, asparagus, tomatoes, portabella mushrooms and two poached eggs stacked on two English muffin halves. Other breakfast selections have interesting names such as the Mediterranean crepe eggs, Texas skillet, cordon bleu skillet and Wisconsin scramble. Meanwhile, the lunch menu is just as intriguing with items such as the Arizona turkey, English tuna melt, 6-ounce cheddar cheeseburger, chicken apple walnut sandwich and fajita chicken salad. The Egg and I also offers a veggie Greek wrap that has sun-dried tomatoes, fresh spinach, artichoke hearts, kalamata olives, red onions, havarti dill cheese and feta cheese, all wrapped in a tomato tortilla. – Kevin Litwin
Antony Boshier
n 1987, a couple of entrepreneurs started The Egg and I company with only one restaurant, and now there are 30 franchises located throughout Texas, Colorado, Utah and Wyoming. One of those franchises is in Tyler, on East 9th Street. In addition to Tyler, other Texas cities that feature The Egg and I franchises are Dallas, Houston and San Antonio. All of The Egg and I restaurants serve only breakfast and lunch, with daily hours of 6 a.m.-2 p.m. “The Egg and I is a concept that combines a great dining experience at a great value, with equally great unit economics,” says Bill Baumhauer, chairman and chief executive officer. “It’s a recipe that has kept our guests coming back for more, while generating an outstanding return on investment.” Each of The Egg and I restaurants earns at least $1 million a year, and the company prides itself on making food fresh to each customer’s specifications. The eight hours of daily operation also allow each franchise to serve breakfast and
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Antony Boshier
Portfolio
Retiring, But Not Shy Tyler Is Texas’ First Certified Retirement Community
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city with excellent health care, plenty of recreation, low cost-ofliving and a high quality of life: It all adds up to a great place to retire. The city of Tyler has the distinction of being the first certified retirement community in Texas. To become a certified retirement city, a community must meet high standards for retiree living that include a low crime rate, affordable housing and an excellent health care system. Tyler officials have certainly been looking to woo retirees in recent years, and to promote the community to baby boomers who will soon be eligible for 52
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retirement. In fact, a “10 Reasons to Retire in Tyler” campaign was launched several years ago and has already resulted in thousands of retirees moving to Tyler and Smith County during the past decade. The campaign’s 10 reasons to choose Tyler as a retirement community are climate, recreation, education, financial services, housing, health care and medical facilities, cultural attractions, dining and shopping, spiritual opportunities and cost of living. In addition to those 10 reasons, Tyler and Smith County officials point out that this part of East Texas is also attractive
for being within close proximity to the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex, and natural beauty is sprinkled throughout the area thanks to its multiple city and state parks. The campaign continues to work because retirees are still taking note of this part of East Texas. Smith County now has the second highest percentage of senior citizen residents ages 65 and older in Texas, with more than 30,500 seniors among the county’s 201,000-person population. In 2008, the community was trumpeted even more when U.S. News & World Report placed Tyler on its list
2104 Grande Blvd., Ste. 100 • (903) 581-4141 • Tyler, TX 75703
The Cornerstone for all your real estate needs
Back row: Don Stanley, Joan Burns, Donna Shay, John Owen Middle row: Mary Anne Davis, Andy Guinn, Vicki Waldron Front row: Lorri Loggins, Audrey Pongetti, Mary Simpson, Brandy Sawyer
Jeff Adkins
(903) 581-4141 www.cornerstonebrokerage.com
of the 10 Top Places to Retire. Also in recent years, the Tyler Chamber of Commerce has undertaken an aggressive promotional campaign geared toward retirees, including overseeing advertisements placed in well-read popular publications such as Where to Retire, Retire Texas, Senior News and Travel 50 and Beyond.
What’s Online For more stories on the people, places and events that define Tyler, visit images-tyler.com.
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Portfolio
Manor of Speaking T
Historic Landmarks. The house is mostly known for being the birthplace of noted Washington, D.C., news correspondent Sarah McClendon, the nation’s longest-serving White House correspondent for 50 years. She passed away in January 2003. In 1988, the Bonner-WhitakerMcClendon House was opened to the public as the Designer Showcase Home for that year’s Azalea Trail Spring Heritage Tour. Now in 2010, the
Todd Bennett
yler is proud of its history and its landmarks, even to the point of establishing a Tyler Historic Landmark program to preserve and honor its impressive structures. However, the long-standing BonnerWhitaker-McClendon House is much more than a proud landmark enjoyed by the city of Tyler. The two-story structure, which was constructed in 1877 and 1878, is also a Texas State Historical Landmark and is listed on the National Register of
The Great Outdoors Classroom C
amp Tyler officials designed and opened their 400acre rural facility in Whitehouse, Texas, for children who have limited opportunities to experience the outdoors. The spacious camp along the shoreline of Lake Tyler offers school children, scout troops and families the chance not only to have fun, but also to learn about nature at the same time. Overnight camping is welcome, and five cabins with regular twin-size bunk beds can comfortably accommodate up to 24 campers. Attractions at Camp Tyler include a swimming area and a boating area equipped with canoes, rowboats and sailboats. Fishing on the lake is always good thanks to the
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structure on West Houston is not only open for tours but is also available to rent for a variety of special occasions. It is considered one of the finest examples of Eastlake Bracketed Victorian architecture in the entire southwestern United States. “Gala events, political strategy sessions, major business transactions, births, deaths and a lot of good living have taken place in this historic house,” says Daye Collins, board president of the Bonner-Whitaker-McClendon House Society, a nonprofit organization that oversees operation of the house. The society has cared for the house ever since the early 1980s, when the McClendon family made the decision to donate the landmark for historic preservation. Today, the nonprofit society is dedicated solely to the upkeep of the majestic structure. These days, the Bonner-WhitakerMcClendon House is rented out often for weddings. If a couple is interested in a small, private ceremony, the wedding can take place either in the McClendon House or in the garden, and the reception and catered meal can also occur on the premises.
periodic stocking of channel catfish and hybrid sunfish. Also on site is Camp Tyler Farm, where children can see and learn about animals such as horses, cows, pigs, rabbits, goats and chickens. There are also 10 miles of hiking trails that wind throughout the entire facility. A large dining hall, with a capacity to hold 128 people, overlooks Lake Tyler and offers the feel of a logging camp from the late 1800s. It is decorated with knotty-pine paneling, open rafters and a huge stone fireplace. There is also a library on the premises that houses a large collection of books focused on young people. The library also serves as a warm, dry place during inclement weather and a meeting room for small groups. The outdoors at Camp Tyler also feature an amphitheater with wooden benches and a concrete-floor stage, and the camp is also equipped with an Adventure Challenge Area designed to build confidence in individual students and build team spirit among classmates. Elements include the Black Hole, X-Traverse, Balance Beam, Spider Web, Nitro Crossing, High Beam, TP Shuffle, Devil’s Finger, Mountain to Mountain, Triangle Traverse, Climbing Tower and a popular zip line.
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olf courses in Tyler are way above par, and that’s a good thing. Golf Digest magazine has named Tyler the No. 1 golf city in Texas, and it's no wonder why. There are 17 public and private courses within an hour’s drive of the downtown district. “There are all sorts of opportunities for golfers around here,” says Darrell Chase, head pro at Peach Tree Golf Club in Bullard, a public facility that features two distinct 18-hole layouts. One of the top-rated layouts in East Texas is Hollytree Country Club, a championship golf course in a private setting. Ex-PGA golfer Bruce Devlin designed the venue, which opened in 1983 and boasts four sets of tees ranging from 5,102 yards to 6,805 yards. Meanwhile, Pine Springs Golf Course is noted for its oversized greens and lights on every hole for night golfing. The course was recently redesigned and is now 500 yards longer. One of the most beautiful luxury communities in Tyler is The Cascades, home to the Cascades Golf Club that measures 6,930 yards and is known for its elevation changes. It features a Jack Nicklaus Academy of Golf and hosts the annual Texas State Open, the largest non-PGA golf tournament in the country. Willow Brook Country Club opened in 1953 and hosted the Women’s Texas Amateur Championship in 2006, while Eagle’s Bluff Golf Course is a 7,000-yard layout that features a pair of island greens. Garden Valley Golf Club in Lindale has 27 holes, and Twin Lakes Golf Course in Canton is one of the longest courses in the area, measuring 7,171 yards. Embassy Hills Golf Course in Big Sandy has nine holes with a variety of hazards, while Pine Dunes Resort & Golf Club in Frankston is a venue that Golf Digest called “a genuine joy to play” for its variety of holes. – Stories by Kevin Litwin
Antony Boshier
The Club Scene
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(903) 509-1313
www.Childrens-Therapy.net
Physical, Occupational & Speech/Language Therapy At ETCTS, we are dedicated to providing quality services to the children and families of East Texas including the provision of support services to family members and resource information to assist in improving the quality of life for each child and their loved ones. The services my daughter has received have been wonderful! The staff is so knowledgeable regarding her condition and offered many tips on stretching and exercising that we could do at home. They also made therapy SO FUN for my daughter, she looks forward to going every appointment. ~ Jamie D.
We provide a variety of specialty services including: Interactive Metronome™, Vital Stim Therapy™, Sensory Integration, Equipment Clinic, Serial Casting, Kinesio Taping, LiteGait™, Theratogs™, Certified DAFO Fitting™
www.Childrens-Therapy.net
1001 WSW Loop 323 • Tyler, TX 75701
We accept Medicaid, CHIP and most private insurance. Contact our office regarding eligibility.
The People’s Health & Wellness Clinic Emphasizing health education, health promotion and disease prevention Christie C. Osuagwu, RN, MSN, MPA, FNP Family nurse practitioner and managing provider in collaboration with an experienced internist SERVICES:
Primary care, including routine physicals (for ages 12 and up) Chronic Disease Management Special Post-Partum Program Specializing in: Hormone Therapy with Bio-identical and Natural Hormones Clinically Supervised Weight Management Call today for an appointment or more information: Phone: (903) 581-5515 • Fax: (903) 581-5506 E-mail: pplshealth@sbcglobal.net www.pplshealthandwellness.com
WALK-INS ARE WELCOME!
Your Health is Our Business 1404 Rice Rd., Ste. 300 Tyler, TX 75703
(across from the Reunion Plaza) Se Habla Español
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Antony Boshier
Health & Wellness
South Side Trail
Hearty Portions Diet, exercise, information efforts score city heart healthy designation
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esidents of Tyler can take heart, quite literally, in the city’s devotion to their health and welfare. In 2009, Tyler received the Heart and Stroke Healthy City designation from the Texas Department of State Health Services’ Council on Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke. The recognition was the culmination of multiple efforts across the community to boost Tyler residents’ access to and scope of healthrelated services, says George Roberts, chief executive officer of the Northeast Texas Public Health District. “We achieved a 40 out of 40, giving us gold-level recognition,” Roberts says. “It really says a lot about our community, and all the organizations that worked together to make this happen.” Several key areas were scored, including how well informed residents are about the risk of heart disease and stroke. Tyler’s various media outlets all offer public-service announcements on
the issue, and the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce’s “Healthiest Community in Texas” committee produced materials for the campaign. The chamber also added a “healthy options” marker to its online restaurant guide and menus. For its part, the city of Tyler has beefed up its physical-activity areas, opening and maintaining more than eight miles of walking/biking trails, as well as promoting healthy food options at farmer’s markets and other lifestyleoriented activities in the area. Many other groups also got in on the act by providing data and services to boost the overall effort. “The Red Cross trained more than 3,400 people last year in CPR,” Roberts says. “We also compiled information about how quickly our EMS responds to those situations, including the transport times from an incident site to the hospital. We now have health sites in the community with information on
various health-related topics, and have more than 100 public defibrillators for use in an emergency.” Another major win for the city’s hearts, and lungs, was the passage of a smoking ordinance banning smoking in all public buildings. But just as important has been the fact that residents have not only embraced the new amenities, they have also worked to expand them. “We have more than eight miles of trails and 26 community and neighborhood parks, and the city has actually opened new trails since we got this designation,” says Stephanie Taylor, director of community outreach and assistance. “It’s not like we were awarded this and then things went to a standstill. This shows us that Tyler is very interested in working on ideas and programs that will help our community become even healthier.” Next up is the Healthy Tyler Initiative, which will further boost citizen interest in exercise and fitness. “People are realizing that pubic health is more than just safe food, clean water and vaccinations,” Roberts says. “It’s a whole lifestyle. We are very excited about what’s going to come.” – Joe Morris T y le r
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Arts & Culture
Everything Old is New Again Past meets present through Historic Tyler’s ongoing preservation work
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n the mid-1970s, much of Tyler’s past had been bulldozed or renovated beyond recognition. Historic homes and commercial buildings were gone or threatened, and many members of the community knew that something had to be done. That something was the Historic Tyler organization, which was founded in 1977 and has led the charge to save literally thousands of the city’s noteworthy structures. And along the way, it’s helped entire districts and neighborhoods, even some brick streets, retain their character and find their way to the National Register of Historic Places. “We sort of cover all the bases,” says Janie Menegay, executive director. “We have an active board and great community support, and we have accomplished a lot. When I first got this job in 1989, we had only five properties listed on the National Register; now we have almost 3,000. We’ve definitely come along way.” The successes include the Charnwood Residential Historic District, which made the register in 1999. Just south of the Smith County Courthouse, Charnwood’s homes were built between 1870 and 1950 and have many unique indoor and outdoor features. The National Azalea District, approved in 2003, gave another noteworthy part of town its own distinction, and in 2004 the Brick Streets Historic District was designated to recognize 29 blocks of residential, commercial and industrial structures,
some dating back to 1848. Even with all of this to show for its efforts, Historic Tyler’s work is hardly complete. The organization is gearing up for another property survey to start bringing in buildings that are newer than the 1950s, but still more than 50 years old, for register consideration. “We have a lot of buildings and neighborhoods that weren’t 50 at the time of the first survey, and we want to bring those in,” Menegay says. “It’s going to be an ongoing effort from now on so that we can keep up to date with all our buildings and neighborhoods.” To maintain a high profile, Historic Tyler hosts the annual Historic Tyler on Tour to showcase homes, gardens and buildings during the Azalea Trails festival in March, and also presents a yearly Preservation Award to an individual or group who has gone above and beyond the call of duty when it comes to historic preservation. Historic Tyler also now is partnering with other groups to offer seminars on how to rehab a historic structure, something that the group hopes will get more homeowners and others involved in identifying and restoring properties all around town. “We try to educate the public about what is historic and why it’s worth preserving,” she says. “If a structure is threatened with demolition or neglect, we have to be ready to advocate. We’re not always successful, but at least we’re a voice there for preservation. And we always keep trying.” – Joe Morris
The Brick Streets National Historic District in Smith County
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Todd Bennett
Living green starts from the ground up.
Living green is making sure the air in your home is healthy for your family to breathe. Test your home for radon and build radon-resistant. It's easy. That's living healthy and green.
Just call 866-730-green or visit www.epa.gov/radon
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Sports & Recreation
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Let the Competition Begin Tyler’s reputation as tournament city grows
Antony Boshier
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utdoor recreation is literally big business in Tyler, as a growing number of national athletic tournaments are calling the city home. Tyler’s many sports fields and facilities are the backbone of local leagues and events, but in the mid-1990s an effort got underway to market those properties to people outside of the area. The thinking then, and now, was that sports tourism is a great way to bring visitors to the area, says Cindy Smoak, vice president of SPORTyler, which promotes sports events in the area. “Tyler made a bid to get the Dallas Cowboys to come here for their training in the early 1990s, and the organization was very impressed with what Tyler had to offer,” Smoak says. “They told our committee that we really had the facilities to bring a lot of sporting events to town.” Little time was wasted getting the ball rolling, and early successes included taking over operations for the Beauty and the Beast bike tour and race, along with the Azalea Run. Those were followed by a community sports luncheon around the opening of football season and the first of a growing number of junior golf tournaments. “We continue to grow our relationship with the local colleges, high schools and local sports clubs to provide support for events and help in the bid process for other events,” Smoak says. “I think our biggest success has been at the junior-college level, where we have managed to bring in several national championship tournaments for
several years at a time.” Those tournaments include the National Junior College Athletic Association Division III National Baseball Championships and NJCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Soccer National Championships. On the juniorgolf front, the city has established three annual tournaments in conjunction with the Northern Texas PGA Junior Tour, the Texas Legends Junior Tour and the Texas Junior Golf Tour. Another feather in SPORTyler’s cap is the Texas State Little League Tournament, which the organization has held for several years. Approximately 350 players plus their families descend on Tyler for several days, and the event has an annual economic impact of more than $250,000. Another big winner is the Rose City Classic Gymnastics Invitational, which brings in more than 400 participants from around the United States, and has a similar positive bottom line. Like the other tourneys, these events continue to build in their own right as well as help to boost Tyler’s reputation as a great sports event destination. “Youth sports is one area that has stayed consistent or continued to grow despite the tough economic times,” Smoak says. “SPORTyler will continue to support events already here on all levels, youth through adult, and continue to improve our partnerships with our local colleges to bring regional and national tournaments to our area.” – Joe Morris
A pick-up soccer game at the University of Texas at Tyler campus
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Education
Head of the Class Tyler is a destination for higher education
s the home to several opportunities for higher education – such as the Tyler Junior College, the University of Texas at Tyler and Texas College – Tyler truly earns the designation of a “college town.” These schools not only provide continued learning opportunities and professional development for residents and visitors, but they also provide local businesses with a skilled, educated workforce. Tyler Junior College, established in 1926, is a publicly assisted, open enrollment community college that began as a transfer institution, providing the first two years toward a bachelor’s degree. Today, in addition to a variety of two-year associates degree programs, Tyler Junior College offers distance learning, specialized workforce training and certificate programs. The school makes an effort to develop a vibrant student community. “We’re a bit unique for a community college: we have 1,000 units of campus housing, 11 intercollegiate sports and competitive forensics,” says Fred M. Peters, director of marketing and public information. The college has experienced student population growth of 30 percent since 2007, and its applied studies, such as welding and surveying, have been growing particularly fast. In the last year and a half, the school has added facilities in Jacksonville and Lindale, which have the potential to grow into full campuses. Tyler Junior College’s offerings are not just for degree-seekers. “We are the largest provider of continuing education courses in northeast Texas,” Peters says, pointing to courses in workforce training and business leadership. The college also offers onsite, customized corporate training to area businesses. All of these offerings are part of the college’s mission. “A community college has a responsibility to be responsive to the demands of the region,” Peters says, and the college’s advisory committees reach out to the
community to gather suggestions and help develop the curriculum. Students looking for a four-year institution can also find that in Tyler. UT Tyler expanded to a four-year institution in 1997, and now boasts an enrollment of more than 6,000 students from 45 countries. That wide reach also extends abroad because UT Tyler students also have opportunities to study abroad in Europe, Asia and Latin America, or they can enjoy the 210-acre Tyler park-like campus, arranged around two large lakes, which is said to be the most beautiful campus in Texas. Another choice in Tyler is Texas College, which awards both
Antony Boshier
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baccalaureate and associate degrees and was founded in 1894 by a group of ministers who were interested in offering a quality education to African American students. Today Texas College operates under the auspices of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, and has approximately 1,000 enrolled students. The library’s important Black Studies Collection is one of the largest collections in East Texas, and it is also available to the general community. These are just some of the many ways that these schools benefit the larger Tyler community – in the case of Tyler Junior College, serving the area is actually written into their mission statement, Peters says. “We stress the importance of helping the region grow,” he says. “We are part of this community.” – Suzanne B. Bopp
Tyler Junior College
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Tyler’s Largest Convention Hotel Our Hotel Offers: • 183 finely appointed guest rooms and suites • Two concierge levels for VIP guests • Outdoor saltwater pool, sun deck • Exercise room with nautilus equipment • Over 9,000 sq. ft. of meeting space • Full-service restaurant and lounge with nightly entertainment • On-site guest laundry facilities • Complimentary high-speed Internet • Business center and ATM in lobby Our Rooms Offer: • Clean, crisp comfortable bedding with choice of pillows • Large work desk with ergonomic chair • 32” flat-screen TVs with premium movie channels • In-room iron/board and hair dryers, coffee makers • Upgraded bathroom amenities • Complimentary high-speed wireless Internet
5701 South Broadway Ave. Tyler, TX 75703 (903) 561-5800 Fax: (903) 561-9916
Please contact our Sales Department for more information or group rates. For reservation, please call (800) HOLIDAY or visit us online at www.holidayinn.com/tylertx
visit our
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First Federal Bank Texas DBA www.ffbtx.com
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Austin Bank www.austinbank.com
First Presbyterian Church – Tyler www.fpctyler.com
The People’s Health & Wellness Clinic www.pplshealthandwellness.com
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Holiday Inn www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/hi/1/en/ hotel/tyrsb
The University of Texas Health Science Center www.uthct.edu
Residence Inn Marriott www.residenceinntyler.com
Trinity Mother Frances Hospitals and Clinics www.tmfhs.org
Cooperative Teachers Credit Union www.coopteachers.com Cornerstone Brokerage www.cornerstonebrokerage.com Crestview Properties www.crestviewproperties.com East Texas Children’s Therapy Services www.childrens-therapy.net East Texas Medical Center www.etmc.org East Texas Symphony Orchestra www.etso.org Express Employment Professionals www.expresspros.com Eye Care Associates of East Texas www.eyecaretyler.com 64
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Southside Bank www.southside.com Special Health Resources www.shrt.net Swann’s Furniture Gallery www.swanns.com Texas Bank & Trust www.texasbankandtrust.com Texas Spine & Joint Hospital www.tsjh.org The Brook Hill School www.brookhill.org
Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce www.tylertexas.com Tyler Catholic School System www.tcss.info Tyler Independent School District www.tylerisd.org Tyler Junior College www.tjc.edu University of Texas at Tyler www.uttyler.edu
The Granite Girls
Community Profile
Tyler Community Overview Tyler’s charming brick streets lead visitors to an array of family attractions, quaint antique shops and unique specialty stores. Special events throughout the year include the Texas Rose Festival, Azalea & Spring Flower Trail, Festival on the Square and Movies Under the Stars in Bergfeld Park.
Educational Climate Tyler’s climate is hot during summer when temperatures tend to be in the 80s and cold during winter when temperatures tend to be in the 40s. The annual average precipitation at Tyler is 45.27 inches. Rainfall is fairly evenly distributed throughout the year. The wettest month of the year is October, with an average rainfall of 5.14 inches.
37.7 F January Low Temperature
57.2 F January High Temperature
73.1 F July Low Temperature
93.6 F July High Temperature
As the largest school district in Northeast Texas, Tyler ISD encompasses 193 square miles, maintains a total of 35 campus and auxiliary facilities, and serves an enrollment of approximately 17,500 students. The district is made up of two high schools, six middle schools, 16 elementary schools, two alternative schools and one special education campus.
Medical Services
Home Turnover Percentage
17.3% MORE ONLINE images-tyler.com More facts, stats and community information, including relocation tools and links to resources.
One of the fastest growing and significant industries in Tyler is the medical community. With three primary hospitals and vast number of supporting clinics, practices and specialty hospitals, Tyler has become the regional medical hub of East Texas.
Average Home Price
$99,800 This section is sponsored by
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TYLER JUNIOR COLLEGE 1232 E. Fifth St. (Across from TJC) (903) 592-4112 • www.collegebookstx.com
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Ad Index 7 AMERICAN STATE BANK
19 EYE CARE ASSOCIATES OF EAST TEXAS
44 AUSTIN BANK 65 COLLEGE BOOKS INC.
10 FIRST FEDERAL BANK TEXAS DBA
38 COOPERATIVE TEACHERS CREDIT UNION
42 FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH – TYLER
53 CORNERSTONE BROKERAGE
64 HOLIDAY INN
44 CRESTVIEW PROPERTIES
42 RESIDENCE INN MARRIOTT
56 EAST TEXAS CHILDREN’S THERAPY SERVICES
59 SOUTHSIDE BANK
C4 EAST TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER 42 EAST TEXAS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA 66 EXPRESS EMPLOYMENT PROFESSIONALS
44 SPECIAL HEALTH RESOURCES 5 SWANN’S FURNITURE GALLERY 36 TEXAS BANK & TRUST 41 TEXAS SPINE & JOINT HOSPITAL 55 THE BROOK HILL SCHOOL
Ad Index (cont.) 53 THE GRANITE GIRLS 66 THE HOSPICE OF EAST TEXAS 56 THE PEOPLE’S HEALTH & WELLNESS CLINIC 2 THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER C2 TRINITY MOTHER FRANCES HOSPITALS AND CLINICS 49 TYLER AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 26 TYLER CATHOLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM 6 TYLER INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT 4 TYLER JUNIOR COLLEGE 62 UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT TYLER
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T yler , Tex as Project Manager ari surdoval Proofreading Manager Raven Petty Content Coordinators Jennifer Graves, Erica Hines Staff Writer Kevin Litwin Copy Editors Lisa Battles, Joyce Caruthers, Jill Wyatt Contributing writers Suzanne B. Bopp, Joe Morris, Betsy Williams Media Technology Director Christina Carden Senior Graphic Designers Laura Gallagher, Jessica Manner, Janine Maryland, Kris Sexton, Candice Sweet, Vikki Williams Media Technology Analysts Chandra Bradshaw, Yamel Hall, Alison Hunter, Marcus Snyder Photography Director Jeffrey S. Otto Senior Photographers Jeff Adkins, Brian McCord Staff Photographers Todd Bennett, Antony Boshier Web Content Managers John Hood, Kim Madlom Web Design Director Franco Scaramuzza Web Designer Leigh Guarin Web Developer Jeremy Dickens Ad Production Manager Katie Middendorf Ad Traffic Assistants Marcia Miller, Patricia Moisan I.T. Director Yancey Bond I.T. Service Technician Ryan Sweeney Regional Sales Manager Charles Sweeney Sales Support/Community, Business, Custom Rachael Goldsberry Senior Accountant Lisa Owens Accounts Payable Coordinator Maria McFarland Accounts Receivable Coordinator Diana Guzman Office Manager/Accounts Receivable Coordinator Shelly Miller Senior Integrated Media Manager Joe Thomas Sales Support Manager Cindy Hall Chairman Greg Thurman President/Publisher Bob Schwartzman Executive Vice President Ray Langen Senior V.P./Sales Todd Potter, Carla Thurman Senior V.P./Operations Casey Hester Senior V.P./Client Development Jeff Heefner V.P./Content Development Teree Caruthers V.P./Custom Publishing Kim Newsom V.P./Visual Content Mark Forester V.P./Content Operations Natasha Lorens V.P. Sales Charles Fitzgibbon, Herb Harper, Jarek Swekosky Controller Chris Dudley Content Director/Travel Publications Susan Chappell Content Director/Business Publications Bill McMeekin Marketing Creative Director Keith Harris Distribution Director Gary Smith Recruiting/Training Director Suzy Simpson Executive Secretary Kristy Duncan Human Resources Manager Peggy Blake Receptionist Linda Bishop
Images Tyler is published annually by Journal Communications Inc. and is distributed through the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce and its member businesses. For advertising information or to direct questions or comments about the magazine, contact Journal Communications Inc. at (615) 771-0080 or by e-mail at info@jnlcom.com. For more information, contact: Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce 315 North Broadway • Tyler, TX 75702 Phone: (903) 592-1661 • Fax: (903) 593-2746 www.tylertexas.com Visit images Tyler online at images-tyler.com ©Copyright 2010 Journal Communications Inc., 725 Cool Springs Blvd., Suite 400, Franklin, TN 37067, (615) 771-0080. All rights reserved. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in whole or in part without written consent. Member
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