Tyson Trust funds 12 projects
Mary Margaret Moorhead - Staff Writer

The Town of Versailles celebrated the 148th anniversary of James H. (Uncle Jim) Tyson's birthday on Tuesday, September 14, by voting favorably on the distribution of $330,000 for 12 projects.

More than 100 citizens gathered in the meeting room of Tyson Library for the annual meeting and distribution of interest earned by the Tyson Fund. According to Tyson Board President David Westmeyer, the Tyson Fund was established in 1930 and since that time has increased in value to approximately $17.8 million.

Over the past 11 years, proceeds from the trust have funded $4.5 million in projects, according to President Westmeyer.

Recipients of the Tyson Fund this year include the following: Town of Versailles, $184,000 for the new sewer plant; Tyson Library, $81,000 for maintenance, new resources, technology, youth and community programs; South Ripley Community School Corporation, $20,000 for the purchase of a school information sign.

Also, Versailles Volunteer Fire Department, $13,000 for payment on tanker truck and matching grant from FEMA; Southern Ripley County Emergency Life Squad, $7,000, for replacement ambulance; Versailles Lions Club, $5,000 for support for the Versailles Pumpkin Show.

Tyson Manor, Inc., $5,000 balcony coverings at both Tyson and Colonial manors, carpeting, kitchen maintenance; Ripley County Family Services, $5,000 for portion of matching grants for operating expenses; Versailles Senior Citizens, $3,000 for major operating expenses.

Versailles Historical Society, $3,000 for flowering cherry trees and phase 3 of the street lamp program; Historic Hoosier Hills RC&D, $3,000 for operating funds, Marble Corner Cemetery Survey, research, mapping, and State Park Nature Center; Margaret Mary Community Hospital, $1,000 for "Girls on the Run" program at South Ripley Elementary School.

Actually, the total amount requested for this year's projects was $505,352.48. Tyson Board Members considered each request and awarded monies to those that satisfied the requirements of the governing documents in the trust as well as the spirit and intent.

Trustees of the Tyson Fund include President David Westmeyer; Vice Chairman Jim Leveille; Secretary Judy Sanders; Jeff Logman, Kathy Yauger, Kenny Sheets, Susann Abdon, and Mike Richmond.

Among the trustees, Leveille, Yauger, and Sheets ended their terms and were recognized by those in attendance. One trustee - George Stegner - passed away recently and was remembered for his dedication and many contributions to the board of trustees and the Town of Versailles.

Introduced during the special meeting were Paul Jones, an attorney representing Ice Miller, Inc., the legal firm in Indianapolis hired as counsel for the Tyson Fund, and Bill Poor, director of Tyson Library.

Poor updated the audience concerning the growth of Tyson Library and the plan to expand with the launching of a new computer system that will allow library users to log on to the library from their home computers.

During the counting of the ballots, John Gilpin gave a power-point pre
sentation on Uncle Jim Tyson. A seventh grader at South Ripley Jr.-Sr. High School, John was assisted in the preparation of the project by Grayson Miller. The students titled their presentation "James Henry Tyson's Key Contributions to Versailles."

In introducing the projects prior to the balloting, Westmeyer reminded the audience that Jim Tyson established the Tyson Fund in 1930 as a gift to his community "for the purpose of promoting religious, educational, literary, and social advancement in Versailles and to provide relief from a portion of the burden of taxation among its inhabitants."

Versailles Town Council and elected officials provided refreshments of birthday cake and punch at the conclusion of the meeting. The Rev. Michael Hendrix, pastor of Tyson United Methodist Church, gave the invocation and benediction.