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Tyronne Lew Muckle was born
June 1, 1941 to Ann Schrader and Axel T. Muckle. After graduating from
St. Mary’s School in Christiansted he worked at various jobs in
order to put himself through college. He attended Catholic University
of Ponce, Puerto Rico, received a B.A. Degree in Business Administration
in 1965 and received scholastic achievement and civic leadership awards.
Lew met Carmen Rodriguez while in college. They exchanged wedding vows
on August 14, 1965 in the Roman Catholic Church in Ponce. Since he had
already graduated Lew returned to St. Croix. Carmen remained in Ponce,
gave birth, completed her education and followed her husband to St. Croix
with their infant daughter.
Lew worked as an Administrative Officer with the Department of Health
and as a Youth Counselor in the Neighborhood Youth Corps. He became a
part time teacher and counselor with the Department of Education, taught
at the St. Croix Campus, CVI, served as Assistant to the Administrator
of Health at Charles Harwood Memorial Hospital and eventually opened his
own real estate agency.
At the local Democratic Convention held June 1970, he sought and obtained
the party’s endorsement to run for senator. He wages a vigorous
campaign and emerged the only Democrat in St. Croix to win a seat in the
Ninth Legislature of the United States Virgin Islands. He introduced many
pieces of legislation and carried several of them to fruition during his
brief tenure, which lasted January 7 – May 5, 1971. He suffered
a fatal cerebral hemorrhage a few weeks short of his thirtieth birthday.
He is survived by his: widow, Carmen Williams, daughter, Angelina (Angie)
Muckle; grandson, Omar Jabbar; sister, Yvonne Muckle Christian; various
cousins, aunts and uncles still residing in the Virgin Islands.
Bill #5056 designates the public school in Estate Sion Farm, St. Croix,
as the Lew Muckle School and the housing project in that same location
as the Lew Muckle Housing Project. Ms. Joyce Miller, music teacher at
the Lew Muckle School, wrote the words to the Lew Muckle Alma Mater, which
was, adopted the 1985-86 school year. This song is still sung at assemblies,
graduations and other special occasions.
Bill #5068 establishes that the Virgin Islands Board of Education award
the Lew Muckle Scholarship: on an annual basis to a V.I. resident attending
an accredited college; to a recipient with a grade point average of at
least 2.5 for no more than 4 years; in an amount not to exceed $3,000
per year.
Lew’s other affiliations included: Treasure, Alpha Alpha Kappa Honor
Society, Treasurer, Phi Epsilon Fraternidad; President, Sion Farm Association;
District Leader, Boy Scouts of America; Co-ordinator, Concerned Homeowners
of Anna’s Hope & Peter’s Rest.
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