Honoring a local legend … and an American hero

The ashes of Corbin’s own Ed Tye were interred with honors last Wednesday, May 17, at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.

Tye spent 20 years with the United States Air Force before his retirement. In that time, he obtained the rank of Master Sergeant, and he served as a C-130 engineer in the Vietnam War. He was awarded three Distinguished Flying Crosses for Valor.

Tye passed in October of 2021 at the age of 81. After returning to Corbin in the late seventies, he served as the director of the Corbin Senior Citizens Center, and he was a Corbin City Commissioner for fifteen years.

Tye was also a founder of the Corbin Backpack Club, and was active with the Friends of the Corbin Public Library group.

These photos were provided courtesy of Tye’s wife, Sheila ‘Sam’ Tye, who is pictured at left.