Honorary Street Sign - T'yon Horston Blvd.

Home Browse Search

City of South Bend Board of Public Works 227 W. Jefferson Boulevard, Suite 1316 This statement, and introduction is to request the placement of an honorary sign on the corner of Johnson St (600 N) and Longley Ave (1900 W) to memorialize the short, buoyant yet iconic life of T'yon Horston. T'yon, who was an 11- year -old boy, was cruelly and recklessly shot at and murdered in April of 2023. He spent all of his 11 short but cheerful and eventful years here in South Bend's Northwest side of town, where the request for the sign is being entered for consideration. T'yon was a student at South Bend Community School Corporation's Jefferson Intermediate Center at the time of his death. T'yon was a kid that enjoyed playing basketball, football, riding his bike and hanging out with his friends as every child should. T'yon easily made friends and forged relationships with anyone because he was so accepting and was full of positive energy and good vibes even as a child. He participated in summer basketball leagues and loved showing his competitiveness. He never got a chance to play sports in school. He loved skating as it was something his father taught him how to do. He loved music and he especially loved being around his family and friends. He was a caring son, a heroic big brother, and a loving grandson. T'yon loved to make people laugh. He could be considered a class clown but he was impeccably intelligent. He had an infectious personality and a huge heart. He may have been small in size, but his presence was colossal. T'yon's death impacted not just the northwest side community of South Bend, but the city as a whole. Multiple students at all South Bend Community Schools were affected emotionally because there was one less student in their classroom, on their bus, and in their neighborhood, playing, making them feel accepted no matter who you were and making them laugh hysterically. Teachers were left feeling emptiness in their classrooms because one less bright mind was there to contribute to a conducive learning environment and get that "I got it" look on his face especially in science because it was one of his favorite subjects in school. Administrators in schools were no longer able to feel his presence, positive energy or his spunk that inspired so many that interacted with him on the daily in the school. His death didn't just affect the schools enormsely, but this even touched people in the community who have never met him. It affected people who never got a chance to know him, hear his laugh or see him grow. The community felt the pain and the anguish of the increasing violence that now seemingly affects the youth of our city. The community felt the hurt of yet another unnatural death, but this time it was the unnatural death of a child. T'yon was one of the youngest to pass due to gun violence here in South Bend and it is important to acknowledge him. By having a memorial sign placed, it provides comfort to parents that no longer have their son to watch grow and accomplish whatever goal T'yon wanted to pursue. It provides comfort to the