A Brief History

“Tyler Sister Cities happened,” recalls former president of The University of Texas at Tyler George Hamm, “because of a providential tour of French universities in 1982.” One of 20 American university presidents visiting educational facilities on an International Sister Cities Board grant, Hamm learned of Metz, France’ interest in Sister Cities partnerships.  From tours of the city and its educational institutions;  Hamm envisioned a potential relationship. Metz wanted to partner as a Sister City; Hamm thought Tyler might be ready for such an opportunity!

The awareness of Sister City benefits grew. Attending an International Sister Cities meeting in Florida, Hamm and wife, Janie, were joined by Tyler Mayor Norman Shtofman and Charles and Ann Primer, also enthusiastic about international community partnering.

The group’s visit to the Tyler City Council and the Tyler Chamber of Commerce, seeking endorsement of a Tyler Sister City program, brought results. While few in Tyler had ever heard of the Sister City concept, “there were some really enthusiastic people who agreed to move forward,” Hamm adds.     

Text Box: Tyler Mayor Norman Shtofman Tyler Sister City Corporation got a life in 1982 with Mayor  Shtofman also serving as its first president.  Other incorporators and directors include Dr. Hamm, Carol Sinclair, J.R. Borgerding, Gary Gwyn (Tyler City Manager).

Initially twinning with Metz, France in May, 1982 (with the actual twinning in Tyler in April, 1984), the association launched outreach in travel/study opportunities for Tyler residents, city government and student/faculty  exchange programs.  

Interest in closer ties between the two cities closer grew as Metz Sister Cities members traveled to Tyler in April 1984.  Tyler hosts offered “Texas samplings of food, culture and hospitality.”

From Texas frontier life through the Loy Gilbert ranch’s restored log cabin, a radio contest to “send your favorite teacher to France” (Anne LaCroix, (earth science teacher at Hogg Middle School won the trip)and a continental dinner at La Serre restaurant raising $3,000 for scholarships to bring Metz students to Tyler, the sisterly city ties expanded.

During the Tyler twinning in 1984, French flags flew at Tyler businesses, entertainment for Metz guests included square dancing, country western bands and a Rambling Roses square dance show.

Tyler Sister City efforts earned three Intern awards: Best Overall Program,Best Single Youth Project and 1st Year Program, presented June 28, 1984 at the 24th Annual Sister Cities Conference in Denver, CO.

Tyler Police Chief Larry Robinson traveled to Metz for study of French police methods of computerized suspect descriptions. Three Metz students spent a month in Tyler in 1985, hosted by the James Borgerding and John Short families.  Metz/Tyler relationships celebrated their fifth anniversary with a Tyler student travel/study trip to Metz.  In 1986, two Metz students held an internship with undergraduate training at Trane and UT Tyler’s department of technology. Don Garrison, assistant professor of Industrial Education at UT Tyler, coordinated the program..     

Efforts to showcase the Metz furniture, crystal, ceramics, sculpture, painting and embroidery industry through a Sister City economic trade fair in Tyler in late March of 1984 were less than profitable, however, because of the oil industry slump. Added woe was Metz’ large population disparity to Tyler’s 80 thousand citizenry.  When the George Tech campus was built at a Metz site, Tyler’s French Sister City affiliation was closed; Metz Sister City ties moved to Atlanta, GA.

Encouraging corporate partnerships with Sister City in 1987, Mayor J. R. Montgomery helped develop membership levels.  A $10,000 grant from Sister Cities International to Tyler Sister Cities allowed six Mexican orphans to enroll at Tyler Junior College. 

Early May, 1992, saw Yachiyo City, Japan, express an interest in Sister City ties to Tyler with a twinning in Tyler that year.  A young city emerging in 1967, Yachiyo City is located 18 miles east of Tokyo with a wholesale/retail base.       

      

CHRONOLOGICAL HISTORY OF TYLER SISTER CITIES  

 

                    TYLER SISTER CITY, INC.

 Twinning Ceremonies (by location, year) Joining Cities

 

METZ, FRANCE

     Metz, France………..May 1982

     Tyler………. ………..April 1984

 

YACHIYO CITY, JAPAN

     Tyler………………….May 1992

      Yachiyo City……….August 1992

 

JELENIA GORA, POLAND

     Jelenia Gora……….June 1993

     Tyler…..…………….June 1994

 

LO BARNECHEA, CHILE

     Lo Barnechea………April 2001

     Tyler………………….September  2001