Panhandlers. Nearly every town, community, and city has them. They are a nuisance; they are bothersome; and they are a blight on the landscape. Oh that we could rid ourselves of all panhandlers!

Tyler, Texas, is a small east-Texas community about half way between Shreveport, Louisiana, and Dallas. Tyler is named after president John Tyler (#10), in recognition of his having supported Texas’ admittance into the union.

Tyler is well known for its fabulous roses, and is nicknamed the “Rose Capital of America.” One in five rose bushes shipped across the United States, originated in Tyler. Each October, Tyler hosts a unique rose festival.

There are other unique tourist attractions in and around Tyler, but Tyler has another very unique tourist attraction, and people drive from miles around – yea, people drive to Tyler, from all over the country to visit one very unique spot.

Located directly across the street from the county courthouse, within the grounds of a very beautiful garden of roses resides the gravestone of one of Tyler, Texas, most beloved citizens. Although he has been dead for more than 40 years, the citizens of Tyler, still take pride in his memory, and even though he lived only a few short years, the citizens of Tyler, still pay homage to what many consider to be the main attraction in Tyler: the grave of a panhandler!

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