Pete E. Lyday

Pete Lyday was born in a "half dugout" near Konawa, Oklahoma on May 13, 1917. His mother named him "Orlan Edgar Lyday" but no birth certificate was issued. His family moved into a new house in Konawa in January 1929 during the peak of the Seminole oil boom, and he was a high school football star during the depression years from 1931 to 1934. In 1939, he managed to change his name to Pete E. Lyday when completing a Delayed Certificate of Birth. He attended Oklahoma University for four years, and entered the military service when the Oklahoma National Guard was federalized in late 1940. He served in the 45th Infantry (Thunderbird Division) for two years, then transferred to the Army Air Forces for three years and was a member of the "flying sergeants." He sustained a broken arm during "fixed bayonet" training and was discharged as a Disabled Veteran after the war. He married Ruth Merwin in San Marcos, TX on July 24, 1943. After his discharge from military service in 1945, she brought him to her childhood home of Port Arthur. Eight years later in 1953, he opened Pete Lyday's Service Center and operated it for 30 years until he sold it in 1983. In the 1970s, his business expanded from his main store in downtown Port Arthur and at one time he owned four tire centers and employed 35 people. Over the years, his business grew from automotive repair service to a tire dealership, then to fleet service to local industries. He focused on entrepreneurial activities while Ruth managed the administrative tasks. He assisted various employees by helping them obtain birth certificates, driver licenses, sending them to school to learn to read and write, and even bailing them out of jail. He had a host of friends including all social, economic, ethnic and cultural backgrounds, and he sponsored Port Arthur's first African-American CavOILcade Princess in 1970. After selling his business, he and Ruth spent many years traveling worldwide, including Europe, China, Russia, New Zealand, Australia and Thailand. They also enjoyed an Alaskan cruise and frequently traveled in their car through many parts of the United States. He was a member of the Port Arthur Chamber of Commerce since 1946, was a deacon in the Proctor Street Church of Christ, and was active in the Retail Merchants Association, Downtown Merchants Association, National Tire Dealers Association, Port Arthur Rotary Club, and Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE). He was inducted into the Rotary Club Roll of Fame for meritorious service in 1984, and in 2007 received the SCORE Distinguished Service Award for providing excellent service as a dedicated counselor to hundreds of small business clients for over 25 years. When he moved into the Rose House assisted living facility in May 2009, he knew only one person there. However, he quickly learned that most residents had known of him for many years. He was married 60 years to Ruth until her death on October 15, 2003. He was also preceded in death by his son Lance on July 22, 1995. He is survived by 3 children: Joan Rouleau and her husband Roland of East Greenwich, Rhode Island; Reed Lyday and his wife Rosemary of Houston; Russell Lyday and his wife Valerie of Austin; four grandchildren, and four great grandchildren. Mr. Lyday's service will be conducted at 10:00a.m. Saturday, September 11, 2010 at Levingston Funeral Home in Groves, TX by Ruth's nephews, Dr. Philip Summerlin of Chattanooga, TN and Dr. Tim Summerlin of Kerrville, TX. Visitation will be 6:00p.m.- 8:00p.m., Friday, September 10, 2010 at the funeral home. Interment will be in Greenlawn Memorial Park. Following the death of his son, he established a scholarship fund at Lamar University. Those who wish may contribute to Lamar's Dr. Lance Lyday Scholarship Fund, 1500 Procter Street, Port Arthur, TX 77640.