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your homegrown newspaper March 27, 2024
Vol. 20, No. 28
Frank Tyro honored for 40 years in education, film production
Farm l Ranch
By Beau Biggs for the Valley Journal
PABLO — The Salish Kootenai College theater was filled with people hoping to surprise 2024 Frank Tyro on Wednesday, March 20. Julie Cajune, who’s worked with Tyro for many years, organized the event to celebrate Tyro’s 40 years of service in education at SKC through documentary filmmaking and as director of KSKC Public Television. The event was held after Tyro finished 20 films in one year. “The biggest challenge we had was making sure no one told Frank about the event and making sure we would have enough space to accommodate everyone who showed up,” Cajune said. Tyro was gifted a star quilt during the celebration and later asked to say a few words. His surprise was evident during his speech. “Well, I thought we were honoring Julie today so I am not prepared,” he said.
COVER PHOTO BY MARTY HENSEL
Inside
Inspection planned pg. 8
Young hoopster pg. 36
BEAU BIGGS PHOTO
Frank Tyro embraces long-time coworker Julie Cajune who helped organize a surprise event honoring him for his many contributions to the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and Salish Kootenai College through his filmmaking career.
“Thank you to everyone who came. I can see some familiar faces.” He explained that he didn’t want to waste the speech he had prepared so he went on to thank Cajune. “I did have a little speech put togeth-
er so I might as well do that as I try and gather my thoughts a little bit.” After Tyro’s speech, others came forward to speak. Autumn Adams, Tyro’s daughter, said: “I can remember when I was in high school and w w w.va l le yj our na l.net
sleeping on my dad’s table in the media center because he procrastinated to get (a project) done and had to spend the night to finish it.” Tyro began working at SKC as a professor in the film department
in 1984 and brought public television to the Flathead Reservation in 1987. The years Adams spent at the college around education with her father might have see page 2