Newspaper, Profile of Thomas Lytle, LaSalle Parish La.




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Copied by: Pat Ezell. PatEzell@worldnet.att.net
Submitted by: Kathy LeMay Kelly, P.O. Box 219, Trout, La. 71371
From the Jena Times - Olla Tullos Signal Wednesday, May 17, 2000, Section B,
Page 3 
Thank You to the Times -Signal for allowing the following to be added to the
Archives. 
A Times-Signal Feature...."Citizen Profile" A Very Special Salute 
THOMAS LYTLE: A CITIZEN WITH EXPERIENCES TO SHARE
By Will Jeter
(Editor's Note: Will Jeter won first place in the senior division of the
Citizen Profile Essay Contest. His essay was about his uncle, Thomas Lytle of
Jena. The winning essay is printed below)
Thomas Lytle has lived an interesting and eventful life. He was born and
reared here in Jena, Louisiana. He then left for a period after high school.
Even in his retirement, he remains active. One of his most unique hobbies is
the building of dulcimers. He is also very good with animals. He is a man
whose many tales and experiences shall now be told.
Thomas Lytle was born on November 6, 1932. His brothers are Lloyd and Hilton
Lytle. His father worked as a railroad engineer who hauled logs through what
is now Jena's park. Unfortunately, his leg was crippled in an accident in
which logs rolled on top of him. When he was a child, Thomas walked a half of
a mile to school everyday. One day when he was in the fourth grade, Thomas
climbed to the top of the hill he went over everyday to get to school only to
find that the school had burned down. Young Thomas, like any young student
would be, was filled with joy until the school board announced that school
would continue to be held at the First Baptist Church. Later on that year, the
students were moved to temporary class buildings where the Jena Elementary is
located now. Thomas attended Jena High School. He was a member of the
basketball team. The Jena Giants were district champs every year that he
played. "I wasn't that good, but some of the other players were," Thomas
modestly remarked. He graduated in 1951 and set out for college.
He left Jena and went to Louisiana Technical University after high school. In
college, he participated in many sports. He played college basketball and he
was on the track team. He didn't graduate because he was drafted into the
armed forces after just one year of college. In the army Thomas exhibited
excellent marksmanship, earning him the rank of sharp shooter. He was selected
to his base's rifle team and was given the honor of representing his base in
competitions with teams from other bases. After his military service was done,
he moved back to Jena and became an employee of International Paper. He worked
in and around central Louisiana in the forestry department. He was married to
Niease McLendon on May 26, 1956. After 45 years of work for International
Paper, he retired as a senior technician in sales security.
Retirement hasn't slowed Thomas Lytle down. He has many hobbies. He collects
arrowheads and Native American artifacts. He also collects bottles, some of
which are a century old. He is well known as a expert wood worker. He builds
many things including chests, entertainment centers, drawers, and dog houses.
His works have been exhibited at the LaSalle Parish Museum, and he was
featured in The Jena Times in 1982 for his craftsmanship. He also enjoys
collecting and polishing rocks. His hobby in rocks extends to his yard, where
a small rock garden can be found. His yard also contains a garden box, where
fresh vegetables are grown yearly. He also has an interest in dulcimers.
A dulcimer is a musical instrument that is shaped like a long droplet of rain.
It is similar to a guitar, but they are no longer in wide use. Thomas Lytle
can build a dulcimer from scratch in about sixty hours. He taught himself how
to play the dulcimer. "The dulcimer is one of the best instruments for those
who learn to play by ear," he says. He uses as many as eight different kinds
of wood to build one, because the type and thickness of the wood is the major
factor in determining the sound. He uses varieties of pine, walnut, spruce,
cherry, and cypress. To shape it, he uses a hot iron to make the wood pliable.
The head of the dulcimer is the hardest part to shape. He also uses whittling
knives and surgical knives for carving. The dulcimer originated in the Ozark
Mountains.
It was very popular before the banjo and the guitar came into wide use in the
mountains. It is played with a pick and it has a softer sound than the guitar
or banjo. Thomas has modified some of the dulcimers into electric dulcimers.
He builds dulcimers as a relaxing hobby and rarely sells them. His skill in
dulcimers is not matched by his skill with animals.
Thomas Lytle is also very good with animals. Animals that normally aren't tame
can be handled by him with remarkable ease. Squirrels that live in his yard
will eat from his hand. Birds that drink from the bird bath in his yard do not
fear him. As he walks around the neighborhood, he gives stray dogs dog
biscuits. His walker hound dog, Lucky, was found in an unlikely place. One day
while Thomas was dumping his trash at the dumpster, he found a new born puppy.
The mother and the rest of the litter had died. Thomas took the puppy in and
named it, "Lucky," because it was lucky to be found. Lucky was fed with a
bottle in his infancy by Thomas. Lucky grew to become one of the larger,
stockier specimens of his breed. Thomas Lytle respects and cares for all kinds
of animals.
When asked about how much times have changed during his lifetime, he says, "A
lot more pressure is put on young people today. Society seems to want more out
of them. Life runs on a faster pace now. There is just too much pressure for
young people to excel in everything they do. Instead of taking life easy, they
try to rush through it." Thomas Lytle, at the age of 67, is currently living
with his wife in Jena. They attend East Jena Baptist Church on Sundays.
Although known best for his many hobbies, Thomas Lytle is also a wonderful
uncle. Whenever I miss the bus or need to go get school supplies, he is happy
and willing to help me. This paper could not have been written without his
help and advice. From my humble point of view, he is a great man. Uncle Tom
will always be my favorite uncle.