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About Pearl Tyner
Pearl Tyner was born near Laurel Hill in 1908. She descended from
two area pioneer families, the Tyner and Campbell clans.
She attended Laurel Hill School and graduated in 1930 from the
Florida Women’s College (now Florida State University) in
Tallahassee.
Pearl’s background includes a teaching stint and working as a
dietician for both the Florida Power and Light Company and the
Veterans’ Administration. She enlisted in the Medical Corps during
World War II and served in the European Theater of War near the
front lines. She received an honorable discharge from the U.S. Army
after attaining the rank of captain.
Tyner was a strong advocate for education and donated generously to
numerous scholarship funds in Okaloosa County Schools during her
lifetime
Her attachment to Florida State University was shown by her
donations to and support of the University. She established
scholarships for needy students, contributed heavily to the Southern
Scholarship Foundation of Florida Colleges and Universities. Her
endowments include nearly two million dollars to the Southern
Scholarship houses and more than a million dollars to the FSU
Foundation. The establishment of the $1 million
Effie and Mack Tyner Eminent Scholars Chair was one of the first at
Florida State University. One of the two towers leading into the
Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee bears her name in recognition
of her contributions. .The Alumni Center at Florida State University
also bears her name.
She was also a strong supporter of historic preservation and
financed several historical restoration projects in Okaloosa County
and south Alabama.
Tyner died in 2006 at the age of 97 years old.
~Ann Spann
| Crestview News Bulletin |
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The FSU Tyner Tower was
dedicated
September 16, 1995. Pearl invited her friends from Laurel Hill to enjoy a
week-end of events in Tallahassee. The most exciting moment was when the
president walked her onto the football field amidst 72,800 fans! The
biggest task he had to do all day was "get Pearl off the field"! She
delighted in waving and smiling as she turned from side to side.
~Photo submitted by Estelle Rogers |
