Leroy Tyus

Eddie Leroy Tyus (1916–1998)[1][2] also known as LeRoy Tyus, was an American politician, real estate developer, and state legislator in Missouri.[3] Tyus represented St. Louis as a democrat in the Missouri House of Representatives from 1950 to 1961.[1][3][4][5] Also known as E. Leroy Tyus.

Leroy Tyus
Member of the Missouri General Assembly from the 63rd district
In office
1950–1961
Personal details
BornFebruary 4, 1916
Brownsville, Tennessee, U.S.
DiedOctober 15, 1998
St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
Resting placeCalvary Cemetery and Mausoleum, St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
Alma materLane College,
Lincoln University
OccupationPolitician, real estate developer

Biography

Leroy Tyus was born in Brownsville, Tennessee.[2] He attended Lane College, and Lincoln University law school.[2] He was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.[2]

Tyus represented St. Louis (in the 63rd District, and 20th Ward) as a democrat in the Missouri House of Representatives for five terms, from 1950 to 1961. He pushed for desegregation, and while in office he unsuccessfully pushed for a bill that would desegregate the schools.[4] He was a Democratic Committee member in the 20th Ward for 23 years.[3] He retired from politics in 1983.[3]

In 1984, Tyus was one of six people indicted in a cable television case, they were charged with conspiracy and attempted extortion.[3][6] The others involved in the legal case included Sorkis Webbe Jr., an alderman in the 7th Ward; Sorkis Webbe Sr., a powerful St. Louis politician; Thomas E. Zych, politician and president of the St. Louis Board of Aldermen; James D. Cullen, Jr. a lawyer; and Eugene P. Slay, a businessman.[3] The courts convicted the six people, but it was later appealed and the case was overturned and Zych was acquitted.[7]

He died from complications of a heart attack on October 15, 1998, at the Vencor Hospital in St. Louis.[1] His the namesake of Tyus Court in St. Louis.[4]

References
  1. "Leroy Tyus, 83; former 20th Ward committeeman, state representative". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. October 18, 1998. p. 47 – via Newspaper.com.
  2. Official Manual of the State of Missouri. Secretary of State. 1957. pp. 164, 167.
  3. "Zych, 5 Others Indicted In Cable Case". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. November 9, 1984. Retrieved 2023-04-18 – via Newspapers.com. pp. 1, 3
  4. Wright, John Aaron (2002). Discovering African American St. Louis: A Guide to Historic Sites. Missouri History Museum. p. 82. ISBN 978-1-883982-45-4.
  5. "Mo. Senate Kills Equal School Bill". Jet. Johnson Publishing Company. 1953-05-07. p. 58.
  6. Messenger, Tony (February 21, 2022). "Ex-con struggling with halfway house contract has colorful past". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved 2023-04-19 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. Holleman, Joe (November 9, 2017). "Sorkis Webbe Jr. still Democratic young blood". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved 2023-04-19 – via Newspapers.com.
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