Leroy Tyus

Eddie Leroy Tyus also known as LeRoy Tyus, was an American politician, real estate developer, and state legislator in Missouri. Tyus represented St. Louis as a democrat in the Missouri House of Representatives from 1950 to 1961. Also known as E. Leroy Tyus.

Biography

Leroy Tyus was born in Brownsville, Tennessee. He attended Lane College, and Lincoln University law school. He was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.
Tyus represented St. Louis as a democrat in the Missouri House of Representatives for five terms, from 1950 to 1961. He pushed for desegregation, and while in office he unsuccessfully pushed for a bill that would desegregate the schools. He was a Democratic Committee member in the 20th Ward for 23 years. He retired from politics in 1983.
In 1984, Tyus was one of six people indicted in a cable television case, they were charged with conspiracy and attempted extortion. The others involved in the legal case included Sorkis Webbe Jr., an alderman in the 7th Ward; Sorkis Webbe Sr., a powerful St. Louis politician; Thomas E. Zych, politician and president of the St. Louis Board of Aldermen; James D. Cullen, Jr. a lawyer; and Eugene P. Slay, a businessman. The courts convicted the six people, but it was later appealed and the case was overturned and Zych was acquitted.
He died from complications of a heart attack on October 15, 1998, at the Vencor Hospital in St. Louis. His the namesake of Tyus Court in St. Louis.