Tommie “T.L.” Lee Wyatt, a pivotal figure in documenting the history of the African American community in Austin, passed away peacefully in his sleep on January 9, following a prolonged illness. He was 88 years old.
Arriving in Austin in 1962 as a life insurance salesman and former college football player, Wyatt was inspired by the Civil Rights Movement to advocate for equality and celebrate the accomplishments of Black residents in a city still grappling with segregation. In 1973, he co-founded The Villager, a family-owned newspaper dedicated to serving as a free community resource focused on the African American experience.
In a 2020 interview, Wyatt expressed his mission for the publication: “We wanted to put together the historical record of the Black community and the good things about the Black community. In our daily papers, all you could see when we made the front page is when an African American had done something bad.”
Now in print for over five decades, The Villager continues to be distributed across East Austin and beyond. The paper has significantly contributed to the narrative of African American history in the area, a fact recognized by an exhibit at the Austin History Center in 2020.
kYmberly Keeton, an archivist associated with the exhibit, highlighted Wyatt’s impact, stating, “[Wyatt] speaks about the goodness of Black people. When you look at other newspapers, you won’t get to see the debutants. You won’t get to see the straight-A students that come from our community being featured weekly.”
Wyatt’s legacy continues through his son, Thomas Wyatt, who now serves as the editor of The Villager. In a heartfelt tribute in the paper’s January 16 edition, Thomas reflected on his father’s remarkable qualities: “’Pops’ was beyond an extraordinary father, grandfather, and great grandfather. He loved unconditionally and displayed an aura of dignity, esteem and fortitude unmatched by anyone I’ve ever known.”
Thomas described his father as a family-oriented man who enjoyed golf and playing the lottery, but also as a driving force for community development in East Austin. He initiated projects like the “Youth Brigade,” which encouraged local schoolchildren to write articles, thereby promoting literacy and engagement.
“Whenever somebody from the East Side wanted to do something, they came to my dad — even the city officials,” Thomas recalled. “They would get his point of view and pick his brain.” This connection made him a crucial intermediary between East Austin residents and local officials, always prioritizing the welfare of his community.
During the recent Austin MLK Community March and Festival, various community leaders reflected on Wyatt’s enduring influence. Doug Greco, the current chair of the Travis County Democratic Party, noted Wyatt’s integral role in advocating for the African American community: “His voice was one of the key voices for the African American community, defining and talking about the issues that affected Black Austinites. He will be sorely missed, and his legacy is going to be fondly remembered by the Travis County Democratic Party.”
Jeffrey Clemmons, communications director for Texas state Senator Sarah Eckhardt, and a proud East Austin resident, described Wyatt as a “landmark” figure in the community. “He was a total giant that will be dearly missed,” he said. “Starting a community paper like The Villager is so important, especially at a time when Black journalism was not being appreciated or respected.”
Tommie Lee Wyatt is survived by his son, a granddaughter, and two great-grandchildren.
