Why Do Veterans in Tyler Love It Here?

Nathan Lambrecht

With more than a dozen military bases in Texas, Tyler has become an increasingly attractive destination for those transitioning out of service and into private life. 

That’s a definite win-win for the community and local businesses, says Travis Gladhill, executive director at CampV, a nonprofit organization supporting military enlistees, veterans and their families. 

Supporting Enlistees, Veterans and Families

CampV caters to their needs on a 20-acre campus in Tyler, providing individual assistance as well as referrals and resources. A recreational center brings veterans together and a women’s center focuses on the special needs of women transitioning from military service. 

“Veterans bring very strong skill sets to employers, with their experience and education and discipline,” Gladhill says. “They also bring revenue. Studies show the amount of money veterans bring to a community is significant, touching everything from health care to housing.” 

Nathan Lambrecht

Reeling in Entrepreneurs 

Along with skills and consumer spending, many ex-military newcomers come with plans to launch a new career or start their own business. 

After his international postings for the military and as a security contractor, Lance McWhorter launched a second career in Dallas, where he became a successful and widely known chef who made appearances on the Food Network’s Chopped series and took home awards. 

In 2019, he and his wife moved to Tyler, where they opened Culture ETX, a small fine-dining restaurant. His dream business was now reality. 

“We saw our restaurant could fill a niche, and we got good press right off the bat,” McWhorter says, recalling the community’s warm welcome and support. 

Then, came COVID-19. “It was tough, but we survived it, while some of our friends – chefs and restaurateurs – didn’t,” he says. “We were fortunate, and I put that squarely on the shoulders of our fantastic guests here in Tyler who continued to support us.” 

Since then, McWhorter’s business has thrived and his investments have expanded with the opening of both the Plaid Rabbit Social Club and Speakeasy and ETX Paddlesports, a tackle shop for kayak fishing. The latter is another of the former high-threat security specialist’s favorite endeavors. 

ETX Paddlesports is growing, too. “We are adding more customers every week,” McWhorter says, mentioning that he is especially excited about the upcoming tournament fishing season. 

Nathan Lambrecht

Veterans in Tyler Are Retooling

For veterans and active military looking to add skills or gain credentials, the University of Texas at Tyler helps them achieve their goals. 

“Our students may be pursuing their studies while also completing their service obligations,” says Coby Dillard, UT Tyler’s director of veteran and military affairs. “They can be activated or deployed at any point and have to balance those obligations with continuing their education.” 

Those recently separated from military service can tap into university programs designed to help them become more comfortable with this major change in their lives. A third category the campus caters to is military family members. 

UT Tyler created its Military and Veterans Success Center in 2010, when the Department of Veterans Affairs began paying university tuition directly for family members, as well as active duty and veteran service members. As a result, enrollment swelled at the university. 

“Over the last decade, it has grown to be the first stop for current and prospective military affiliated students, whether attending online or virtually,” Dillard says. 

The university has received a 2023-24 Silver Military Friendly School designation, meaning the university is within the top 20% of participating schools in the Tier 2 Research Institutions Category. 

In return, having ex-military students enrolled at UT Tyler provides an overall benefit to the community, as the university provides a pipeline of talent that exemplifies community service and hard work. 

“This population has experienced not only some of the difficulties of military service, but many of its positives as well: seeing and experiencing different nations and cultures, developing a strong sense of self-reliance while also learning to work in and lead teams, and developing the resilience and discipline that makes them successful both in the campus and the communities in which they live,” Dillard says.