Photo By Sgt. Lennon Dregoiw | Marines with the U.S. Marine Corps Color Guard present the National Ensign as part of...... read more read more
EDMOND, Okla. – Friday night lights illuminated the Deer Creek High School football stadium as students, parents, and the community gathered together for another fall football game. Before the football game started, everyone’s eyes gazed upon the football field to dedicate and rename the Deer Creek High School football stadium in honor of a fallen Marine by the name of Tyler Tidwell.
“The decision to name the stadium after Tyler provides our students with a tangible goal to pursue—a life characterized by service, integrity, and strong moral fiber,” said Deer Creek School District Board Member Stanlen Green, who served as a United States Marine. “I hope our students will aspire to emulate his character and values in their lives. Tyler's embodiment epitomizes the ethos of our district's teachers, students, and schools.”
Prior to the dedication and renaming ceremony, Marines with Recruiting Station Oklahoma City ran the game day football from Tidwell’s childhood home to Deer Creek High School.
“It was an honor to be given the opportunity to run the game day ball from the home Maj. Tidwell grew up in to the high school he excelled in,” said Staff Sgt. Juntor Santiago, a recruiter with Recruiting Sub-Station Oklahoma City North. “As a Marine it was a very overwhelming and humbling experience to do something for a fellow Marine who paved the way before my time, and demonstrated dedication to his community, country and Corps.”
The U.S. Marine Corps Color Guard from Battle Color Detachment, Marine Barracks Washington D.C., presented the National Ensign in front of Tidwell’s family and friends, Deer Creek High School student athletes, and fans that filled the newly named “Tyler Tidwell Stadium.”
“The Marines are so special,” said Linda Tidwell, Tyler’s mother. “When they told me they were going to run the ball from our house to the game, and present the colors, it’s something we never expected. It took a lot to get this done for our son, and our family is so appreciative of the Marines showing up and doing what they did in honor of Tyler.”
Tyler Tidwell is an alumnus of Deer Creek High School and the antler football team.
“Tyler loved everything about this school and playing football here,” said Linda. “Everytime he would come home on leave, he would make it a point to drive up to the school and reminisce.”
While still in high school, Tyler's football skills and academics caught the attention of many elite colleges, to include Harvard and Yale universities. Despite the attention from prestigious schools, his eyes were only focused on military service academies. Upon graduating high school at Deer Creek, Tyler continued his football career playing for the Naval Academy Midshipmen. In 2007, he graduated from the Naval Academy and was commissioned to a 2nd Lt. in the United States Marine Corps, and began serving as an infantry officer.
“Part of what makes the Marine Corps unique is the brotherhood and sisterhood forged by the shared experience of traveling the arduous path of becoming a United States Marine,” said Capt. Joshua Rogers, the executive officer for Recruiting Station Oklahoma City. “His examples of embracing challenges as a football player at Deer Creek, the Naval Academy, and ultimately becoming a Marine infantry officer, prepared him for his biggest challenge in life.”
Tidwell deployed numerous times overseas to include the Middle East. In 2018, while preparing for his fourth overseas deployment, he began having muscle twitches in his arm followed by weakness in his hand and slurred speech. A year later, Tyler was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Following his diagnosis, he was medically retired at the rank of Major in 2019 and lost his battle to ALS in 2022.
“Tyler Tidwell’s example of doing his duty and finishing his life strong will continue to inspire and motivate generations,” said Rogers. “Through all of his challenges, especially ALS, he kept his honor clean and that will serve as a testimony for fellow Marines and community members alike of how a true champion should acquit himself.”
Names such as Chesty Puller and John Bassilone exemplify that when a Marine passes from this life, a legacy is left behind for future generations. Maj. Tyler Tidwell not only leaves behind a legacy for future generations of the Marine Corps, but a legacy for Deer Creek High School and their football team.
"He was truly an American hero,” said Wade Stanley, Deer Creek’s head football coach. “I think Tyler Tidwell Stadium is going to be a constant reminder to our students and our community how the values that he displayed can transform a school, and transform a community.”
| Date Taken: | 10.11.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 10.22.2024 11:51 |
| Story ID: | 483538 |
| Location: | EDMOND, OKLAHOMA, US |
| Web Views: | 91 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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