TO THE CHAPTER INVISIBLE
began at an early age. He was a faithful member of St. Mark United Methodist Church in Chicago, IL until moving to Montgomery, AL where he attended Community Congregational UCC until his passing. uated from Stephens-Lee High School in Asheville, NC in 1958 and entered Knoxville College, where he would meet his forever love, Ruby Perry. He was a History major with aspirations of becoming a lawyer. He diligently worked numerous jobs to pay his way through college. Lending true to his pursuit of equality, he became an active member of Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and participated in sit-ins and protests. He graduated from Knoxville College in 1963 with a Bachelor’s Degree in History. Upon graduating, Lyles moved to Chicago to be closer to Ruby and they were wed in December 1963. Three daughters were produced from this union. This 57-year union was full of love and laughter. Brother Lyles worked in factories and the steel mill prior to becoming an educator. He began teaching grades 4 – 6 for the Chicago Public School System at Grant School. Lyles continued his endless quest for knowledge by earning his Master Degree from the Northeastern Illinois University. This allowed him to move into administration within the school system and became Coordinator of the Comprehensive Education Training Act (CETA) program. In 2000, he retired from the Chicago Public School System. While in Chicago, he joined Ark- Chi Golf Club which contributed to the United Negro College Fund. He was a big proponent of education and expressed the importance of reaching your potential and not being afraid to go after your dreams. He was preceded in death by his parents and sisters, Bernice Murray and Patricia (Paul) Lyles Poore. He leaves to cherish his memory his loving wife, Ruby; Daughters, Dr. Tonya Lyles, Dr. Tammy Lyles-Arnold, and Nikole Lyles; Grandsons, Kelvin Lyles-McLaurine,
Samuel Smith, Justin Arnold and Jessica Barkley; Great-Grandson, Jahaire Eason-Lyles; Sisters and Brother, Malrey Mosley, Cathy (Emerson) Crump, Massey (Janet) Whiteside, Racheal Whiteside and a host of nieces, nephews and friends. He was a loving husband, an amazing father and grandfather and a great brother, uncle and friend. Roy Pratt 1938–2020 Gary (IN) City Councilman, Educator
Gary Public Schools. He was a teacher at Beckman Middle School from 1962 until 2005. He also served as President and Director of Calumet Recreation, Inc. for 15 years He entered politics in 1972 when he ran for Indiana State senator. Gary, IN citizens, first elected Pratt to the Gary City Council in 1983, where he served eight consecutive terms ending in 2015. He served as president of the Council five times over the 30 plus year span. He was a Parliamentarian and Founder and Chairman of the Gary Community Cleanup Committee. As a councilman, Pratt amended an ordinance for disabled citizens to increase parking spaces and increase the fine for illegal parking at public facilities. He also introduced land-based casinos in Gary, IN, with the vision to create jobs and economic commerce. He proposed creating an alternative school for Middle Schools in Gary was one of the first public officials in Northwest Indiana to address juvenile crime and the need for change in the juvenile code. Gary, IN Mayor Jerome Prince on Pratt, “In addition to his (Pratt) large presence, he had a large personality. He stuck to his convictions. What I appreciated most about him, from a personal level, he was one of the first persons who actively stressed the importance of separating politics and government.” He is a member of the Gary Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. He also served as a member of the Board of Trustees for the Gary Public Library for over ten years, serving as the first African-American President of the Board, member of the Indiana and Gary Branches of the N.A.A.C.P., DADS, Inc., the Gary/Chicago Regional Airport Board Authority. Indiana Governor Frank O’Bannon appointed Pratt on the Indiana Fire/Police Pension Board. Pratt was also appointed to the Indiana Human Resource Investment Council Youth Development Commission.
Longtime Gary (IN) educator and former city councilman Roy N. Pratt entered the Chapter Invisible on October 1, 2020, at 82. The
fourth of five children, Pratt was born in Memphis, TN, on September 16, 1938, to Obie and Dora Pratt. The family moved to Gary, IN, when he was a toddler. Pratt grew up in Gary, IN, and graduated from historic Roosevelt High School. A gifted athlete, Pratt played basketball, track, and football, where he earned the honor of Mr. All City Football in 1957. He attended Indiana University- Bloomington (IU) and played on the Hoosier football. He lettered in football in [1958-1960]. While at IU, Pratt joined the Fraternity as a 1958 initiate of the Indiana University-Bloomington Chapter, the Alpha of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. During his time at Alpha Chapter, the Fraternity celebrated its Golden Anniversary in Indianapolis and IU campus in 1961. The Fraternity also completed construction and opened the Diggs Memorial House, which Pratt was the house’s first president. He earned a B.A. in education in 1961 and returned to IU in 1970 to obtain an M.A. in education.
Pratt started his professional career in 1961, teaching and coaching career in
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