_________________________ _____ 1
Councilmember Kenyan R. McDuffie 2
3
4
5
A CEREMONIAL RESOLUTION 6
__________ 7
8
9
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 10
11
____________________ 12
13
To posthumously recognize and honor the life of Alfred Arvin Tyler, Jr. for his exceptional 14
resilience and impact on the greater Washington, D.C., area. 15
16
WHEREAS, Alfred Arvin Tyler, Jr. was a native of Clifton Forge, Allegheny County, VA, 17
and the eldest child of Alfred O. and Blonzetta Thompson Tyler, with siblings Margrey, Nannie 18
E., Robert L., and Barbara Eldene Tyler; 19
20
WHEREAS, he graduated from Jefferson High in Clifton Forge; 21
22
WHEREAS, he joined the Army in September 1959, where he attained the rank of 23
Specialist Fourth Class; 24
25
WHEREAS, he matriculated at Livingstone College in Salisbury, NC, where he graduated 26
in 1967; during his time at Livingstone, he led the nation in passing in 1966 with a record of 2,499 27
passing yards and 29 passing touchdowns. He passed for 4,630 yards and 54 touchdowns over the 28
course of his collegiate career; 29
30
WHEREAS, Alfred Tyler is listed as Livingstone's all- time leading passer; he led the 31
nation's smallest college in total offense during his senior year and signed professionally with 32
Montreal of the Canadian Football League; 33
34
WHEREAS, Mr. Tyler played with the Washington Redskins' farm team for four years; 35
his jersey number 17 was retired on April 17, 1967, and in 1989, he was inducted into the CIAA 36
Hall of Fame. He was also inducted into Livingstone College's Hall of Fame in 2002; 37
38
WHEREAS, his love for sports propelled him to begin teaching in the DC Public School 39
System, starting at Evans Jr. High School; while at Evans, he coached basketball and football for 40
the East Capitol Jets. He was also a part of the football staffs at Eastern and Ballou Sr. High 41
Schools, as well as a member of the National Youth Sports Program at UDC; 42
43
WHEREAS, Mr. Tyler married the late Joneal Richardson Tyler, a union that lasted 45 44
years before her passing in 2014; together, they had two children, Thalia Zenaide Turner and 45
Shannon Anell Tyler, and six grandchildren: Praise, Xavier, Micah, Samuel, Joshua, and Elijah; 46 WHEREAS, Mr. Tyler was a deacon at Peace Baptist Church; 47
48
WHEREAS, Mr. Tyler spent countless hours mentoring, counseling, and using sports to 49
engage the minds of youngsters in the East Capitol Dwelling Neighborhood; no words can 50
adequately capture the labor and service Mr. Tyler dedicated to the East Capitol Dwelling 51
Neighborhood. He was a coach to some, a friend to all, and a hero to East Capitol; 52
53
WHEREAS, Alfred Tyler, Jr. joined the heavenly sports team in October, 2024; 54
55
IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF 56
COLUMBIA, that this resolution may be cited as the “Alfred Tyler, Jr Posthumous Recognition 57
Resolution of 2024”. 58
59
Sec. 2. The Council of the District of Columbia recognizes and honors the life and legacy 60
of Alfred Tyler, Jr. 61
62
Sec. 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately. 63