RIP Tyke,

The Old Neighborhood Gang: Tyke was a gifted athlete. We played football, baseball, and basketball together on the Wildcats with Mr. Jack Macher (who made sure Tyke got to every practice, which was hard to do for Tyke sometimes), during our 3rd and 4th grade years of school (1964-1966). Tyke was the star. Quarterback, outside basketball shooter, and Baseball pitcher.
I swam many races against Tyke and only managed to tie him a few times but he was a strong competitor and hated to loss. He set a few city swimming records during his 11- 12-year-old competitive years in Freestyle, Backstroke, Butterfly and the Individual Medley along with a few records in the boys’ 11-12 year old relays that I was a part.
He hated the Breaststroke and always gave up three or four body lengths against competitors during that leg of the IM race. I can still see him in the lead after fly and back and looking over his shoulder to see if they were gaining on him during the breaststroke leg. In all his glory as a magnificent athlete, unfortunately he swam the breast like a wounded duck.

Tyke lived in the big white house in Kensington Park at the intersection of Oxford and Varn. His Mom was one of the first women I can think of, to have her on very successful business as a hairdresser for the rich and famous of Savannah. His older brothers, Chip and Lucky, looked after Tyke trying to keep him on the straight and narrow, best they could.

Most kids in the KP neighborhood in the 1960’s would remember Tyke riding to the Kensington Park Pool on his riding lawnmower. He was somewhat of a ladies man in his own way. A way that would always make you laugh when he talked about his latest girlfriend in his slow southern drawl. He lived between Crystal and Lynda and Steven, and Fanny across the street.
And those Neighbors probably still remember Ruby, yelling for Tyke to get on home because he had done something wrong and she was going to let him have it. Ruby was the boy’s housekeeper and she did not put up with any shit. But Lord knows, could she cook the best Fried Chicken. I think Ruby was the only person I ever really saw Tyke scared of. She could put all three of those boys in their place. The last thing they wanted to do was get Ruby mad causes she could and would ripe there heads off , and you could hear it all the way to the pool.

Tyke, It was nice to see in the paper last week that you had a dog that you loved. You always loved animals. I can still see you letting your childhood dog lick you in the face…You know, we had not laid eyes on each other in forty years but I bet you didn’t changed a lick. God Rest your Soul.

Jimmy

I miss you, your laugh, your passion for selling cars, meeting people and considering me a friend. Glad you found some spiritual peace before your time came, too soon. ITG