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Tyler is considered the advanced manufacturing, health care, educational and retail center of East Texas. Tyler’s charming brick streets lead visitors to an array of family attractions, quaint antique shops and unique specialty stores. Tyler has an impressive youth recreation program, including active baseball and soccer leagues. Its cultural offerings include ballet, symphony and art museums. Special events include the Texas Rose Festival and the Azalea & Spring Flower Trail.
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BLISSFUL THINKING
Downtown gets busy on revitalization efforts
MULTIPLE CHOICESStudents lucky to have
three college options
So When’s the Next Party?
City hosts energetic festivals
Tour the Campus of the University of
Texas at Tyler
What’s Online
SPONSOrEd By THE TyLEr ArEA CHAMBEr OF COMMErCE
2010 | IMAGES-TyLEr.COM
TyLEr, TExAS
®
2010 EdITION | vOLUME 5
TyLEr, TExAS
12 FESTIvAL CITyNatural beauty, music and sports: Tyler has plenty to celebrate.
16 HEALTHy ATTITUdEAward-winning health-care services are within reach.
20 ArTS SMArTLive theater, music performances and exhibits offer inspiration and entertainment.
24 A STEAdy BEATTyler’s downtown emphasizes arts and revitalization.
58 EvEryTHING OLd IS NEW AGAINPast meets present through Historic Tyler’s preservation work.
ON THE COvEr Photo by Antony BoshierThe square in Tyler
®
cOntents
Features
5thanniversary
issue
T yler 3
departments
8 Almanac: a colorful sampling of Tyler culture
28 Photo Essay
46 Image Gallery
51 Local Flavor
52 Portfolio: people, places and events that define Tyler
57 Health & Wellness
60 Sports & recreation
63 Education
65 Community Profile: facts, stats and important numbers to know
tyler BusIness 34 travel plans
Tyler moves forward with comprehensive transportation projects.
40 Biz Briefs
43 chamber report
45 economic profile
TyLEr, TExAS
®
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
images-tyler.com
LIvE LINKSHot 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.
SEArCH ANd yOU SHALL FINdAn easy-to-use search function allows you to find specific articles or browse content by subject.
A dIGITAL TOOLBELTTools allow you to customize the look and function of the magazine on your desktop as well as print individual pages or save the magazine for offline reading.
MOrE OF THE SAMEAnd that’s a good thing. Inside, you’ll find the same award-winning photography and compelling content as in the printed magazine.
SHArE WITH A FrIENdE-mail individual stories using the pop-up text window.
BLISSFUL THINKING
Downtown gets busy on revitalization efforts
MULTIPLE CHOICESStudents lucky to have
three college options
So When’s the Next Party?
City hosts energetic festivals
Tour the Campus of the University of
Texas at Tyler
What’s Online
SPONSOrEd By THE TyLEr ArEA CHAMBEr OF COMMErCE
2010 | IMAGES-TyLEr.COM
TyLEr, TExAS
®
6 imageS-T yler .Com T yler 7
What’s Online
images-tyler.comThe DefiniTive reloCaTion reSourCe
pIcture perFect
VIdeOs
Facts & stats
relOcatIOn
In our Interactive section, watch quick videos by our editors and photographers featuring people, places and events.
aBOut thIs magazIneImages gives readers a taste of what makes Tyler tick – from business and education to sports, health care and the arts.
lOcal FlaVOr
Go online to learn
even more about:
• Schools
• Health care
• Utilities
• Parks
• Taxes
We’ve added even more of our prize-winning photography to the online gallery. To see these photos, click on Photo Gallery.
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.
From the simple to the sublime, the delicious offerings here are guaranteed to satisfy every appetite.
“find the good – and praise it.” – Alex Haley (1921-1992), Journal Communications co-founder
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Almanac
Happy TrailsThe 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.
Relaxing Watersa 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.
The Science of Fun
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.
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Fast Factsn Tyler State Park is a 985-acre refuge that opened in 1939 and has a 64-acre lake.
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 adopt-a-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.
Peer Into HistoryIt's a Tyler first. The Goodman-
LeGrand 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 HereWhat 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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POPULATION (2008 ESTIMATE)County Population: 201,277
City Population: 101,106
LOCATIONTyler is in northeast Texas, about 90 miles east
of Dallas and 90 miles west of Shreveport, La.
BEGINNINGSTyler, 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 INFOrMATIONTyler Area Chamber
of Commerce
315 N. Broadway
Tyler, TX 75702
Phone: (903) 592-1661
Fax: (903) 593-2746 www.tylertexas.com
tyler at a glance
What’s Online Take a virtual tour of Tyler, courtesy of our award-winning photographers, at images-tyler.com.
Almanac
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155
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SMITH
New Chapel Hill
Tyler
Lindale
Whitehouse
Noonday
DALLAS
Bullard
Tyler
Meet the Big CatsHere 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 PowerThere 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 multi-media 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.
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W 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
NATUrAL BEAUTy, MUSIC ANd SPOrTS: TyLEr HAS
PLENTy TO CELEBrATE
Festival STORy By SUzANNE B. BOPPPHOTOGRAPHy By ANTONy BOSHIEr
City
azalea Trail
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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 f lowering 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.
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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AzAleA TrAil Junior Golf ClAssiCMarch 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.
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 CureMay 8, 2010 http://komentyler.org
Annual walk/run to benefit breast cancer research.
Tyler JAyCee’s fourTh of July CelebrATion July 4, 2010www.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.
festivals & events
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.”
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AWArd-WINNING HEALTH-CArE SErvICES ArE WITHIN rEACH
Healthy Attitude
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T 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
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
STORy By BETSy WILLIAMS | PHOTOGRAPHy By ANTONy BOSHIEr
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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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W ith almost a dozen museums, numerous profes-sional and amateur
performance groups and a host of top-shelf 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
THEATEr, MUSIC ANd vISUAL ArTS ExHIBITS OFFEr INSPIrATION ANd ENTErTAINMENT
The Coawan Center on the university of Texas Tyler campus
STORy By BETSy WILLIAMS
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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.”
From left to right: an art show at gallery main Street; Ballet Tyler
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A 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 award-winning 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
TyLEr’S dOWNTOWN EMPHASIzES THE ArTS AS WELL AS ITS rEvITALIzATION
Steady STORy By BETSy WILLIAMSPHOTOGRAPHy By ANTONy BOSHIEr
BeATA
What’s Online Find out more about downtown’s amenities at images-tyler.com.
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St. Gregory Catholic School
The Bishop T.K. Gorman Catholic School CommunityCongratulates our Class of 2010 National Merit Scholars
Bishop T.K. Gorman Middle and High School
Kalon Stephen, son of Deborah andAlbert Stephen, is a 2010 NationalAchievement Scholar. Kalon is anaward-winning TMEA State Bandmember, a Gorman athlete and aparticipant in the Oxford UniversitySummer High School StudentExchange Program.
Luis Fernandez, son of Judy andLuis Fernandez, is a 2010
Commended Scholar. Luis is an APScholar, a Gorman athlete and a
volunteer for Operation Lone Star,which works to provide free health
care to south Texas residents.
Recognized as a Top 50 US Catholic High School for SixConsecutive Years, 2005-2010
Celebrating 51 Years in 2009-2010 as the Oldest PrivateHigh School in Smith County
Grades 6-12 : 1405 E.S.E. Loop 323 : Tyler, TX 75701 : (903) 561-2424 : www.tkgorman.net
T yler 27
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.”
St. Gregory Catholic School
The Bishop T.K. Gorman Catholic School CommunityCongratulates our Class of 2010 National Merit Scholars
Bishop T.K. Gorman Middle and High School
Kalon Stephen, son of Deborah andAlbert Stephen, is a 2010 NationalAchievement Scholar. Kalon is anaward-winning TMEA State Bandmember, a Gorman athlete and aparticipant in the Oxford UniversitySummer High School StudentExchange Program.
Luis Fernandez, son of Judy andLuis Fernandez, is a 2010
Commended Scholar. Luis is an APScholar, a Gorman athlete and a
volunteer for Operation Lone Star,which works to provide free health
care to south Texas residents.
Recognized as a Top 50 US Catholic High School for SixConsecutive Years, 2005-2010
Celebrating 51 Years in 2009-2010 as the Oldest PrivateHigh School in Smith County
Grades 6-12 : 1405 E.S.E. Loop 323 : Tyler, TX 75701 : (903) 561-2424 : www.tkgorman.net
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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K 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.
TAKE A LOOK AT TyLEr’S FIrST HISTOrIC dISTrICT
STORy By jILL WyATTPHOTOGRAPHy By ANTONy BOSHIEr
Charming Charnwood
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Business
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TyLEr MOvES FOrWArd WITH COMPrEHENSIvE TrANSPOrTATION PrOjECTS
PlAnSTrAvel
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T 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 Dallas- Ft. 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
Business
STORy By BETSy WILLIAMSPHOTOGRAPHy By ANTONy BOSHIEr
an american eagle regional jet lands at Tyler Pounds regional airport.
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What We Can Do For You.
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
www.coopteachers.comWe do Business in Accordance with the Federal Fair Housing Law and the Equal Housing Opportunity Act.
Share accounTS• Share Savings• IRAs• Six-Months CDs• Investor’s Club• Savings Safari Club for Kids• Christmas Club
Loans• New & Used Cars• Real Estate/Home Equity• Signature Loans• Home Improvement• Vacation/Santa Loans• Construction• Recreational Vehicles
Share DrafT accounTS• Free ShareDraft• Dividend ShareDraft• ATM Card• MasterCard* Debit Card• Courtesy Pay• Online Bill Pay
DISCOVER
T yler 39
What We Can Do For You.
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
www.coopteachers.comWe do Business in Accordance with the Federal Fair Housing Law and the Equal Housing Opportunity Act.
Share accounTS• Share Savings• IRAs• Six-Months CDs• Investor’s Club• Savings Safari Club for Kids• Christmas Club
Loans• New & Used Cars• Real Estate/Home Equity• Signature Loans• Home Improvement• Vacation/Santa Loans• Construction• Recreational Vehicles
Share DrafT accounTS• Free ShareDraft• Dividend ShareDraft• ATM Card• MasterCard* Debit Card• Courtesy Pay• Online Bill Pay
DISCOVER
Business
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 multi-modal 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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Biz BriefsBuSineSSeS – BoTh large anD Small – ThaT helP Define Tyler’S
eConomiC ClimaTe
ESTES, MCCLUrE & ASSOCIATESBiz: engineering and consulting servicesBuzz: 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
ScorecardTyler’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.
Business
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SEALTITE BUILdING FASTENErSBiz: wood and steel fastener manufacturerBuzz: 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 CUSTArdBiz: frozen treatsBuzz: 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 f loats to malts and signature sundaes, Andy’s custard is made fresh hourly.www.eatandys.com
BATTEN PHOTOGrAPHyBiz: photographyBuzz: Batten Photography emphasizes quality, f lexibility 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 MINdSBiz: educational publisherBuzz: 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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3303 Troup Hwy. Tyler, TX 75701 (903) 595-5188 www.residenceinntyler.com
Room to relax … Room to breathe … A place to call …
Home Away From Home!
Pastor:Rev. Dr. Stuart Baskin
Worship Sun. 8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m.
Church School Sun. 9:30 a.m.
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
Rooted in a compassionate faith
First Presbyterian Church
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Growing StrongChamBer’S ProgramS, evenTS leaD To raPiDly groWing memBerShiP
Spin 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 f lourish, 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
Business | Chamber Report
henry Bell, chief operating officer, Tyler area Chamber of CommerceA
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Serving Tyler and East Texas Since 1991
1308 Clinic Dr.
Tyler, TX 75701
(903) 597-7558
(800) 853-9689 Toll-free
(903) 597-9107 Fax
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.
410 Hwy. 31 E. • Chandler, TX 75758 (903) 849-6497 tel • (903) 849-3927 fax
Living AND Loving•Chandler, Texas•
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Business | Economic Profile
MORE ONLINE
images-tyler.com
more facts, stats and community information, including relocation tools and links to resources.
ECONOMIC OvErvIEWTyler 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
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 Pounds
regional airport
700 Skyway Blvd.
Tyler, TX 75704
(903) 531-2343
www.cityoftyler.org
ECONOMIC rESOUrCES
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
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
City manager’s office212 N. Bonner Ave.
Tyler, TX 75702
(903)-531-1250
www.cityoftyler.org
INdUSTrIAL SITES
Tyler industrial/Business Parkwww.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.
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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
The moon sets over a boat dock on the calm water of lake Palestine.
What’s Online Visit images-tyler.com to see more award-winning photography highlighting the places and people in Tyler.
connecting with tyler has never been easier …
images-tyler.com
1 sImply search: In a hurry? Find the exact
info you need quickly with our enhanced search capabilities.
2 smOOther surFIng: Explore the site and
interact with us more easily with our reorganized navigation bar.
3 Just the Facts: Get a quick snapshot
of the community with our greatly enriched Facts and Stats section.
4 Watch and share: Experience first-hand
views of the community in our video gallery, then share them with friends.
5 VIrtual VIeW: Flip through pages
of the digital magazine, an enriched online version of the print publication.
6 mOVIng must-haVes: Visit our new
Relocation Tools section for many useful tips and information to make your transition go smoothly.
7 mOre eye candy: Check out our
enhanced Photo Gallery for more stunning photos of the community.
8 OutsIders WelcOme: Read about the
best places to play in this community.
9 In gOOd taste: Get the dish on local flavor
from favorite restaurants, noted area products and farmers markets in our new Food section.
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Local Flavor
Egged On to SuccessBreaKfaST anD lunCh-only reSTauranT ProveS PoPular
In 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
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
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Portfolio
Retiring, But Not ShyTyler iS TexaS’ firST CerTifieD reTiremenT CommuniTy
A city with excellent health care, plenty of recreation, low cost-of-
living 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
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
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The Cornerstone for all your real estate needs
(903) 581-4141 www.cornerstonebrokerage.com
2104 Grande Blvd., Ste. 100 • (903) 581-4141 • Tyler, TX 75703
Back row: Don Stanley, Joan Burns, Donna Shay, John OwenMiddle row: Mary Anne Davis, Andy Guinn, Vicki Waldron
Front row: Lorri Loggins, Audrey Pongetti, Mary Simpson, Brandy Sawyer
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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The Great Outdoors ClassroomCamp Tyler officials designed and opened their 400-
acre 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
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.
Tyler 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 Bonner-Whitaker-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
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-Whitaker-McClendon House was opened to the public as the Designer Showcase Home for that year’s Azalea Trail Spring Heritage Tour. Now in 2010, the
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-Whitaker-McClendon 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.
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The Club SceneGolf 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
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The People’s Health & Wellness Clinic
Emphasizing health education, health promotion and disease prevention
1404 Rice Rd., Ste. 300 Tyler, TX 75703
(across from the Reunion Plaza)Se Habla Español
Your Health is Our Business
Christie C. Osuagwu, RN, MSN, MPA, FNP Family nurse practitioner and managing provider
in collaboration with an experienced internist
WALK-INS ARE WELCOME!
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: [email protected] www.pplshealthandwellness.com
www.Childrens-Therapy.net 1001 WSW Loop 323 • Tyler, TX 75701We accept Medicaid, CHIP and most private insurance. Contact our office regarding eligibility.
(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™
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Health & Wellness
Residents 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 health-related 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 lifestyle-oriented 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
Hearty PortionsDieT, exerCiSe, informaTion efforTS SCore CiTy hearT healThy DeSignaTion
South Side Trail
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In 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
Everything Old is New AgainPaST meeTS PreSenT Through hiSToriC Tyler’S ongoing PreServaTion WorK
Arts & Culture
The Brick Streets national historic District in Smith County
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Outdoor 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 junior-golf 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
Let the Competition BeginTyler’S rePuTaTion aS TournamenT CiTy groWS
a pick-up soccer game at the university of Texas at Tyler campusAN
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As 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
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
Head of the ClassTyler iS a DeSTinaTion for higher eDuCaTion
Education
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Tyler Junior College
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Crestview Properties www.crestviewproperties.com
East Texas Children’s Therapy Services www.childrens-therapy.net
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Eye Care Associates of East Texas www.eyecaretyler.com
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The People’s Health & Wellness Clinic www.pplshealthandwellness.com
The University of Texas Health Science Center www.uthct.edu
Trinity Mother Frances Hospitals and Clinics www.tmfhs.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
Tyler’s Largest Convention HotelOur 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
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HOME TUrNOvEr PErCENTAGE
17.3%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 FJanuary low Temperature
57.2 FJanuary high Temperature
73.1 FJuly low Temperature
93.6 FJuly high Temperature
EdUCATIONAL
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
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
MORE ONLINE
images-tyler.com
more facts, stats and community information, including relocation tools and links to resources.
COMMUNITy OvErvIEWTyler’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.
1232 E. Fifth St. (Across from TJC) (903) 592-4112 • www.collegebookstx.com
Your off-campus store … for your on-campus needs!
COLLEGE BOOKS, INC.New and Used Text Books for All Semesters at
TYLER JUNIOR COLLEGE
ThiS SeCTion iS SPonSoreD By
Community Profile
TyLEr
Ad Index 7 AMERICAN STATE BANK
44 AUSTIN BANK
65 COLLEGE BOOKS INC.
38 COOPERATIVE TEACHERS CREDIT UNION
53 CORNERSTONE BROKERAGE
44 CRESTVIEW PROPERTIES
56 EAST TEXAS CHILDREN’S THERAPY SERVICES
C4 EAST TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER
42 EAST TEXAS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
66 EXPRESS EMPLOYMENT PROFESSIONALS
19 EYE CARE ASSOCIATES OF EAST TEXAS
10 FIRST FEDERAL BANK TEXAS DBA
42 FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH – TYLER
64 HOLIDAY INN
42 RESIDENCE INN MARRIOTT
59 SOUTHSIDE BANK
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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TyLEr, TExAS
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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
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WEB CONTENT MANAGErS JOHN HOOD, kIM MADLOM
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Ad TrAFFIC ASSISTANTS MARCIA MILLER, PATRICIA MOISAN
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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 [email protected].
FOr MOrE INFOrMATION, CONTACT:Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce
315 North Broadway • Tyler, TX 75702Phone: (903) 592-1661 • Fax: (903) 593-2746
www.tylertexas.com
vISIT images Tyler ONLINE AT IMAGES-TyLEr.COM
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