This week's speaker was Lloyd "Tyke" Riddick who shared his experiences in the Military, employment in Athletics, and his involvement in the Arts and Entertainment. He was born on June 26, 1934 in Harlem. He attended the New York City public schools in Manhattan and the Bronx. He participated in the PAL track and field programs and in 1953 graduated from Samuel Gompers High School . He then worked in NYC and at the same time participated and earned distinction with the famed New York Pioneers Track Club.

 

In 1953 he was accepted into the United States Air Force. It was during his basic training at Sampson Air Force Base in Lake Geneva that his drill sergeant gave him the nickname "Tyke" because of his playfully mischievous character. After basic training and radio intercept school he was selected o be in the elite US Air Force Security Service and in 1955 was stationed in Darmstadt Germany. It was here on October 4, 1957 that he distinguished himself and became the first radio operator west of the Iron Curtain to pick up and copy the signal from the Russian satellite Sputnik. In 2001 at Air Intelligence Agency, Kelly Air Force Base in San Antonio Texas awarded Lloyd for this accomplishment.

 

After leaving the Air Force and working a few various jobs his dream job finally happened! In November 1963 he became one of the first African Americans to be employed by IBM. Within a few years he was promoted into their elite sales force where for the next 10 years he was in the 100% sales club, including 1979 when he was IBM's national sales leader. Lloyd then chose to go into early retirement in 1987! He then could still not sit still and worked at various capacities for the Shortline/Grayline Bus Co. and US Postal Service where he retired again from there in 2001.

 

Lloyd was involved with sports early on as well. His involvement with sports started with the Police Athletic League in the Bronx. He also boxed for CYO where he was trained by Gil Clancey. While he was in basic training he competed for the Sampson AFB boxing team compiling a 4-0 record. He was involved for a number of years with different track teams both domestically and internationally when he was abroad in Germany. In 1977 he brought home the gold from the Masters World Championship in Gotenberg, Sweden. 

 

As a youngster Lloyd became involved with music through his family and church. He sang in the youth choir and after studying piano he had a recital at Cami Hall in Midtown Manhattan when he was just 13 years old! Lloyd has a son and two daughters. He now lives in Hawthorne, NJ with his companion of over 23 years, Angela Bray.

 

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On June our Annual Cash Raffle took place and the following are some photos from this awesome event!