Ron Tyler, NHS Class of 1953

By: Ed Ackley/ Tom Rowe

Contributing Writers

Editors note: Today’s article is part two in a series of profiles on this year’s Norwich Sports Hall of Fame induction class. The fourth annual induction ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, May 3 at Canasawacta Country Club.Reservations forms are available at the Norwich Middle School or may be downloaded from the school website at www.norwichcsd.org.

Conceptualized in 1933 during the bowels of The Great Depression, the radio series “Jack Armstrong, the All-American Boy” was created by General Mills to bring the downtrodden citizens of the United States some much-needed optimism, if only for an hour a week. Approximately one year later, Ron Tyler, the second of three children to Ken and Esther Tyler, was born in South Otselic. And, by the time he graduated from Norwich High School, he would epitomize the hero of that Wheaties-sponsored serial to the max.

Tyler, who along with his family moved to Norwich in 1936, not only exhibited outstanding athletic ability in three sports throughout his Tornado career, but found time to serve as a class officer two years – vice president his senior year – and as a member of the student council three years. The handsome Purple prodigy, who exuded a wholesome nature, also served on the NHS athletic council, as well as on the boosters club. All of these factors contributed to his induction into the fourth class of the Norwich High School Sports Hall of Fame.