Jerry Tye, 85, of Robinson, IL, passed away on May 6, 2025, in the comfort of his home—just ten days shy of his 86th birthday. Born on May 16, 1939, in Galesburg, Jerry grew up on the family farm in Oneida, where long days and hard work laid the foundation for a work ethic that never left him. Though he traded the fields for a microphone early in life, he never stopped showing up, never stopped giving his best, and never stopped loving the community he called home.
A 1957 graduate of R.O.V.A. High School, Jerry found his voice—literally and figuratively—through radio. He launched his broadcast career in 1958 and later earned a journalism degree from Bradley University. From Kewanee to Pauls Valley, from Sterling to Robinson, his voice traveled. And eventually, it stayed. He joined WTAY in 1962, just as the FM station was about to go live. A year later, on January 4, 1963, he aired his first game—Robinson vs. Paris in the old Eastern Illinois Tournament. It was the beginning of a lifelong love story between one man, a microphone, and his community.
Over the decades, Jerry aired thousands of games, serving as the original “Voice of the Maroons” and, truly, the voice of Crawford County. But he wasn’t just narrating sports—he was documenting life. He showed up at ballgames and board meetings, pen in hand, heart in it. He crafted stories with precision, even when the local paper copied him word-for-word. He was the voice people woke up to—the one they trusted to bring the headlines, the highlights, and the heartbeat of their hometown to life. In 1994, Jerry bought the station and changed the call letters to WTYE—marking it, quite literally, with his name. His was a station built on the same values he lived by: honesty, integrity, and hometown pride. He sold it in 2010, but his voice still echoes in the minds of countless locals who invited him into their homes for decades. For his many years of calling play-by-plays, Jerry was inducted into both the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame and, just last year, the Robinson High School Athletic Hall of Fame. The plaques meant something—but what meant more was knowing that people appreciated what he gave.
Because Jerry gave—constantly.
He gave his time—at ballgames, council meetings, Fourth of July planning sessions, and community boards. He gave his wisdom—to students on career days, to his kids and grandkids, and to anyone willing to listen. He gave his love—not in flashy gifts, but in steady presence: in coaching Little League, flipping Sunday morning pancakes, praying with his family, and creating a home where you could say anything and know it wouldn’t go past the dinner table. He wrapped life lessons in stories. He could make you laugh, make you think, and make you want to be better—all in the same conversation. He was honest and humble. Patient and perceptive. And when he offered praise, it stuck. You earned it. You remembered it.
He never stopped learning. He read endlessly—sports, history, politics—and remembered nearly everything. He had a historian’s memory and a broadcaster’s cadence. His short-term memory may have faded near the end of his life, but the stories stayed. And he told them well. Stories like the time he met Ronald Reagan at the Crawford County Airport in 1975. Or the time he slid down the bleachers at Comiskey Park to get closer to his White Sox—his success proving his lifelong theory: if you act like you belong, no one will question it.
But the truth is, Jerry didn’t have to act. He did belong.
He belonged in press boxes and on sidelines, yes—but more than that, he belonged in living rooms, coffee shops, classrooms, and council chambers. He belonged to Crawford County. And somehow, in ways both seen and unseen, he made it better. He gave us more than commentary—he gave us connection. He gave us a sense of place. A sense of us. He was a fixture. A foundation. A steady voice in changing times. And though his voice has now signed off, his presence still echoes—because a voice like his doesn’t just fade. It settles in. It roots itself in memory. It becomes part of who we are. And in that way, he’s still here.
Still shaping.
Still steady.
Still ours.
Jerry married Sandra “Sandy” Sornberger on April 24, 1959, and she survives. He is also survived by his children, Dale (Kay) Tye, Dan (Ronda) Tye, and Dean Tye; his grandchildren, Jordan (Taffie) Tye, Bradley Tye, Erinn (Joey) Norman, Derek Tye, and Emma Tye; his great-grandchildren, Quenten Tye, Benson Tye, and Greyson Norman; his sister, Ruth Ann Johnson; and his sisters-in-law, Ruby Tye and Sue Flinner. He was preceded in death by his parents, Forrest T. & Harriet R. (Holmes) Tye, and his brother, Jake Tye.
A time of visitation will be held from 2:00–5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 14th, at the Goodwine Funeral Home in Robinson. A memorial service officiated by Celebrant Curt Goodwine will immediately follow at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday evening. Memorial contributions may be made to any charity or organization of the donor’s choice, and memorial envelopes will be available at the funeral home.
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