By Constance O. Irvin
USCG Auxiliary District 7 Public Affairs Officer
When John Tyson of Bonita Springs was elected District Chief of Staff at the September 2010 Seventh District Auxiliary Conference in Orlando, he knew his early beginnings as a U.S. Navy Reservist had set the course toward this achievement. In reflecting, he said, “I realize now that all of my life experiences have led in this direction.”
And indeed, they have…
Tyson grew up in Lorain, Ohio. His father was a manager of a steel mill whose workers came from many countries and many different cultures. John and his two brothers and sister learned early in life that their town was a “melting pot” of many cultures and ethnic backgrounds. “It taught me to appreciate and accept differences in ways of doing things, and it taught me patience.”Tyson spent a year in the Navy Reserve in high school, and when he graduated he went on active duty. Naval duty as a Yeoman took him all over the world onboard the ammunition ship USS Suribachi, oil tanker USS Wacamau, and seagoing tug USS Luiseno at Guantanamo Bay. For much of his duty he maintained records, kept logs and typed courts martial transcripts, which no doubt led to an interest in the law.
Upon his discharge from active duty, Tyson returned to Ohio and enrolled at Defiance College where he majored in English and Business. After receiving a B.A. degree, Tyson went to Washington, DC for a law degree at American University. On a visit to the college library, a young woman at the checkout desk watched John struggle with an armload of law books and smiled. Tyson related, “She asked me to go to a Sadie Hawkins dance and I accepted.” Two years after that meeting, America or “Meckie” as his wife is called, married John and they have remained together for over 48 years. They have two grown sons, John and Matthew, along with six grandchildren.
After Tyson finished law school, and a few years of work, he earned an M.B.A. from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, a city near where he had attended boot camp at the Great Lakes Naval Station. “Life is made up of circles, isn’t it?” he asks.
Perhaps it is, for once he earned his M.B.A, Tyson returned to Washington, DC as Administrative Assistant to highly decorated WWII veteran, Florida Congressman Charlie Bennett, who was known throughout his forty-four years of congressional service as “Mr. Clean” because of his staunch stance on ethics. It was a good seven years for Tyson who managed the Congressman’s office, helped edit many of his books on the early settlement of Florida, wrote speeches, helped write legislation and represented constituents before federal agencies. Tyson credits Bennett as a mentor, and he smiles in remembering his humor. “The Congressman once told me, ‘Hypocrisy in politics is not a sin.’ and then winked. I knew others called him Mr. Clean. He was true to his beliefs and he had a great sense of humor about it.”
Tyson left the Washington political scene to work in labor relations at International Paper headquarters in New York City. While there, he helped resolve a lawsuit by two states against International Paper, getting the Governors and the company CEO to meet face to face and settle the lawsuit, which was headed for the U.S. Supreme Court. His years in Congressman Bennett’s office had given him valuable lessons in the art of compromise, and those skills were valuable in helping achieve a settlement outside of court.
Tyson’s experience in law, management, speech writing and public relations also helped him during stints as a corporate officer at Container Corporation of America, BATUS, Inc. and SPX Corporation. After years of working almost non-stop, seven days a week, he finally reached a stage in his life when he believed it was time to rest. He was sixty one. His working years had given him much. During law school he had taken advantage of veteran’s benefits and learned to fly, ultimately earning a Commercial Pilot’s license. His years in the Navy had given him a love of boating, and his years of employment had given him enough resources to retire.
During a visit with friends in Florida, he and Meckie decided that they liked what Florida offered: sunshine and the chance to boat. John also knew he could pursue another passion─ golf. They settled in Bonita Springs and kept a summer home near Muskegon, Michigan.
Tyson began playing golf like he had worked─seven days a week. John relates, “Meckie stopped me one day as I was headed for the golf course and handed me an ad for Coast Guard Auxiliary membership.” She said that golf shouldn’t be my whole life. “I looked the information over and thought why not. I like to boat and that’s what they do. And, as they say, the rest is history.”
In December of 1999, Tyson joined Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 96 in North Naples. He attacked the Auxiliary like everything else in his life─passionately. Tyson has held Flotilla, Division and District level elected and staff offices. He is a Boat Coxswain, Air Crew member, Vessel examiner, Telecommunications Operator, Public Education and Member Training Instructor, Fingerprint Technician and Aid to Navigation Verifier. Beginning January 1he will be Chief of Staff of the Seventh District Auxiliary.
District Seven includes South Carolina, the eastern half of Georgia, Florida, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. For Tyson, this means he will now work closely with the leadership of an organization of over 6,000 volunteer Auxiliarists, encouraging their support of goals and strategies set by the Coast Guard and District Commodore Walter Jaskiewicz. He is fervent about the District’s goals for recruiting and retaining members, furthering the diversity of district membership, and enhancing the leadership and organizational skills of unit leaders.
In a quiet manner, Tyson states, “As Chief of Staff I want to do everything I can to help our Directorate Chiefs, District Captains and District Staff Officers in their efforts to accomplish district goals. I also want to do all I can to help ensure our members have the opportunity to engage in all Auxiliary activities. Whether they want to be Boat Crew, Radio Watch standers, Public Education Instructors, or elected officers… whatever they choose.”
On January 1, 2011, newly elected District Chief of Staff, John D. Tyson will get his chance to help lead the Seventh District Auxiliary. He is, as it is said, made for the task. Semper Paratus…Always Ready.
This article was published in SET ANCHOR, the special advertising section of the Naples Daily News on Wednesday, January 5, 2011.
