Jack Tyson`s 90th Birthday Part 1

Story by Patrick R. Tyson
Photos courtesy of Rory Brennan and Jim Hoy

Mr. Jack Turns 90
Jack Tyson, known to Cedar Key residents as "Mr. Jack", celebrated his 90th birthday on Friday, and hundreds of our friends and neighbors joined in the occasion at a surprise party for him at the Civic Center.

The event was planned by Doctor Marianne McEuen, Mr. Jack`s companion of many years. The Civic Center was perfectly decorated for the occasion by Bill and Julie Stephens. Mr. Jack`s son and daughter, sons- and daughters-in-law, grandchildren and great-grandchildren all came down for occasion.

Mr. Jack has been an fixture on the island for more than 20 years. Like so many of us who call Cedar Key home, he came to our little community upon retirement and found it`s unique charm and delightful characters to be just the special place he wanted to be a part of for the rest of his life.

His life story is a fascinating one. Growing up in the small south Georgia town of Albany, he was the only member of his family to attend college, which was interrupted by his service during World War II, where he was a pilot flying B-26 Martin Marauder bombers over Europe. He flew 65 missions, earning the Distinguished Flying Cross and a host of other medals and recognitions.

After leaving military service, he returned to college, graduating with high honors from Georgia Tech. He began his career as an combustion engineer, working in Atlanta, Georgia and Birmingham, Alabama. He later moved to Toledo, Ohio, where he worked on a top secret project to design special lenses for sky satellites.

He yearned to return to the South however, and Cedar Key was just right. But he refused to just be another "old retired guy", and he became actively involved in water issues here in Cedar Key. As a result of that involvement, the entire island`s handling of waste water was completely transformed. He helped secure grant money that allowed the construction of a new, state-of-the-art sewage treatment plant, which led to the elimination of the water polluting septic systems on the island. This change significantly improved the quality of the water surrounding our island community, which in turn contributed to the creation of the clamming aquaculture that has provided good jobs for our residents and made our island famous for these delicious bivalves. While Mr. Jack was sometimes called the "sewer czar", in truth, maybe a better term would have been "water wizard" in recognition of his efforts to make our waters clean and healthy. We are a much better place as a result of his efforts.

Mr. Jack is not as active as he once was. You can still see him walking around town, but he doesn`t move quite as quickly as he used too. He still pulls his shift at the Historical Museum on Second Street. And he is a regular at the restaurants around town. If you didn`t see him at the party, next time you see him on the street or in the Museum, make sure you stop to say "Happy 90th Birthday Mr. Jack", and thank him for what he has done for our community.