When Tye was just 22 years old he decided, the way he could best serve others, was to become a
Law Enforcement Officer. He went to work everyday trying to make a difference in the lives of
others. Now Tye's has earned his final reward but the battle isn't over.
We, Tye's mother and father, kept asking ourselves... what can we do to keep this from
happening over and over again.
Our first thought was to change the system... the way we deal with criminals. Should we help get
more and better equipment to fight the enemy?
Then one night while I was thinking about my childhood, I remember thinking... I came from great
parents. When I was at a very important age in my life, 13 years old, my father had a heart
attack and mother also took ill. Basically my older bother was the only one we had to keep the
family going. It was a perfect set up for a good kid to go bad. I ran away from home and although
I never got in any serious trouble I could have gone down the wrong road.
Folks, the answer isn't more police at least not in the long term.
Sure, our law enforcement is under staffed because we let the problem get so out of hand.
They need more and better equipment.
More Police, Better Judges, Better Prosecutors, More Probation Officers, Bigger Jails &
Prisons... Yes, we need them alright but is that really the long term answer???
Judges, prosecutors and prisons have changed the life of very few criminals.
I know the answer - THE ANSWER IS PREVENTION! Changing the lives of these kids
before they get in front of a judge. By the time they go before a judge they have gotten away
with doing so many things, it's usually too late to change them.
Prevention is the answer.
An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure.
Rita and I started a Fire Protection business back when Tye & Michael were very little
When I started in Fire Protection Business I never forget the words of Chief Warasoki who was
head of Omaha Fire Prevention. He told me that what we were doing through our business, Pratt
Protection, was actually more important then what the fire department does. He went on to
explain, "Mr. Pratt you provide early warning detection systems which give people the time they
need to escape a fire, all we can do is try to put the fire out!"
It's the same way the criminal system. All it can do is try to fix things after they are broken.
Does the system work? NO !
You might be saying, Mike do you really think a Legacy Team member can make a difference?
Folks, if we keep letting things move in the direction we are headed, what do think things will be
like 5 years from now?
The best definition of insanity is to keep doing the same thing over and over again and think you will get a different result! If you want things to change then you have make some changes!
You might think Tye's dad is crazy but everyone thought Noah was crazy when he started
building the ark until the flood came and Folks, it's already raining.
We need to start changing the hearts and minds of these children when they are little.
I'll never forget the most influential person in my life... he was the president of the company I
represented. I was promoted to management at a very early age in my career and I was worried
about how I would do. One evening I was consulting with him and he asked me if I ever heard the
saying "nip it in the bud" I said, "sure my father used it all the time". He said good, you know
what it means but lets go a step deeper... by the time a tree has budded it might be too late. Then
he said, "As the Twig Grows so Grows the Tree".
Trying to change the hearts and mind of kids when they are in their late teens or just before they
are ready to step into society is too late. We need to get to them way before that.
You know, the greatest handbook on life records... "Raise up a child in the way of the Lord, and
when he grows old he will not depart from it".
I'm not preaching to you and if you don't like the religious content, please don't be offended, just
change the word Lord to Right.
" Raise up a child in the way of THAT IS RIGHT, and when he grows old he will not depart from it ".
I know this sounds too simple, but doesn't it make more sense to change the person before they
go bad instead of us running around blaming everyone after it too late.
Bill Cosby tells parents... "You need to be there for you kid and raise your children not just feed
and clothe them". Folks, dogs are there for their children more than some parents.
You might say... I raised my children the right way, isn't that enough?
NO ! NO, it's not ! I remember reading when Jesus said, "If you only do good to your own, what
good have you really done?".
We as a society, but more importantly as individuals, need to stand in the gap and take up the
slack for those parents who are off duty and many cases a A.W.O.L.
What do the Boys & Girls Clubs do? They not only provide a safe positive place were children
can have good clean fun but the most importantly, they provide a path so the children of Omaha
can achieve their life's dream as well.
When we met with the head of Boys & Girls Clubs, Mr. Fred Schott, he told me that all day long, and especially at 7:30 there is a steady stream of cars that pull up as the kids are dropped off. He leaned over and said the parents think it's a cheep day care, only $20.00 a month for membership... they are fed as well . He said, some parents think we are just cheep baby sisters but that's OK we change them anyway.
When Rita & I went to The B&G scholarship luncheon, The first young man that can up told his story...
"I'm 18 years old and mother lives 10 blocks away but I have seen her for 10 years. I have 5 bothers & sisters whom I've never met. My mom is on her 5 marriage and is in the middle of a divorce and she is a crack addict, but I'll be graduating this year with a 3.8 grade average because this has been my family since I was 8 years old. The next was young lady with the same type of story and the next and so on. Rita & listened to the life changing stories of 33 kids whose lives were saved and received over 80 thousand dollars in scholarships".
People ask me, "How can I help?". Well, of course you can donate your time but if you can't, you can help keep their good work continuing and growing. Let 's look at it this way...People pay someone to shovel the snow, mow their lawn, clean their house, some people spend $1000 to $2000 dollars for a sprinkler system to keep their grass from dying in the heat of the summer and we can't save the lives of the children in or community?
The Attorney Tye Band Program is not only designed to help raise funds but Tye Bands which are purchased by those caring Law Firm and attorneys, are presented to the boys and girl who are in good standing and children that show good citizenship. To learn more about the details of our Attorney Tye Band Program please Click... HERE
Ya know what I tell people? Words are cheap but when you buy, a Tye BandTM or several Tye BandsTM, what you are saying is... count me in... I want to make a difference in the lives of our youth. Do you know what it says to little boys & girls ??? It SHOWS them that they have worth. It tells them someone cares about ME! It touches their hearts and when you touch a child's heart you touch Gods heart.
We have several examples of Tye Bands like the ones purchased by Omaha attorney Michael P. Frank but we need a many more to come from caring citizens and area business. There are over 6000 kids that need our support and need to now they have worth and mean something to us. To see examples of what I'm talking about please click... HERE
I'll never forget when Rita & I were sitting in our garage, she won't let me smoke in the house, I was talking to her about attacking the problem at the source and focusing our efforts toward the B&G Club. She stood up and said, "I just don't know if I can do this"... "I just do want to do this!" I said, ya but what if the B&G Club could have got to that kid before he shot our son? she said, "isn't it a little too late now?" and left the room crying. I thought Lord maybe she's right, maybe I'm just trying to close the barn door after the horses are already out. Ya know what I heard in my heart, Mike, they're not all out yet.
I'm not a grieving father who just wants to memorialize his son. I'm telling you, when you help change the life of a little boy or girl who would otherwise go down the wrong road you not only save that life but you are protecting the lives of your family and the ones dearest to you.
I was listening to the news a while back and if they can raise 180 thousand dollars for path makers so if people walking park trails need they can tell a 911 operator where they are on the trail. If they can raise money for that we can help change the lives of the children in our community.
If you don't hear anything else I've said here, Please hear this, If you GIVE you GET.
What you sow.. so shall you reap.
Find your Passion in life & run after it & embrace it and you will find your life.
If you hold onto you life you will loose it but you give your life you will find life.
Life has got to be bigger then you or you'll never be truly happy.
The greatest compliment I ever received was from my son Tye.
Late one night, I was waiting up for Tye, in my office at our log home. I had been retired for a couple of years, my son Tye came home, he had been out with his buddies, I was all bummed out because our hunting truck was in for repairs and wasn't going to be ready for our hunting trip.
Before I was retired, we always had lots of vehicles. I had sold my airplane and in past years, I always had a lot of people who worked with me throughout the midwest I could fly out to and hook up with, but now this option just wasn't there.
Tye could see I was depressed and discouraged. He said, "what's bothering you dad?".
I said "Oh, nothing, just trying to put together our hunting trip and things just aren't like they used to be. I guess your dad is just and old has been".
Tye said, Well, that's better then being "a never was" He made me laugh. Tye turned and walked out of my office then back and stood over my desk and said,...
Dad, in the end, It's not,
who you know,
how many important people you know,
what you have or how many things you own,
where you've been, the places you traveled to,
What really counts, in the end, is how many peoples lives you changed for the better.
And all your life that's what you & mom have done. You've helped 1000's Dad... that's really what counts.
I'm not telling you this as a compliment to me but rather as a confession. You see, I forgot those words until months after Tye died and went home. But now I will never forget them.
What really counts is making a difference in the lives of others... that's what really counts.
Will you help us keep Tye's dream alive ?
Even if you think you've made up your mind go to all the page on this site and you might change your mind....either way, you will greatly honor Tye when you learn about HOW TYE LIVED. I've said many time times... It's not how Tye Died that made him great but How Tye LIVED !
Maybe this isn't for you but please remember what Tye reminded me, it's not who you are but what you have done for others that really counts.
The first Tye BandTM 
Honore
