Runners pay tribute to slain commander Lt. Col. Roy Tisdale

Runners pay tribute to slain commander Lt. Col. Roy Tisdale



By Drew Brooks, Military editor of fayobserver.com

A Fort Bragg battalion commander who was killed on post two years ago will again be honored by his alma mater, friends and family during races this month.

The second annual Running With Roy Memorial Run is Oct. 18 at Texas A&M University in honor of Lt. Col. [Lieutenant Colonel] Roy Lin Tisdale, who graduated from the college in 1993.

Shadow runs will be held around the globe, including in Kandahar, Afghanistan, and Switzerland, according to race director Leslie Easterwood.

Tisdale, 42, was commander of the 525th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 525th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade, when he was shot and killed during a safety briefing in June 2012.

Last year, hundreds gathered to pay their respects during the first Running With Roy event in College Station, Texas. Similar runs were held at Fort Bragg, in Fayetteville and elsewhere.

Like last year, the Running With Roy Memorial Run will include 5k, 10k or fun-run races.

Easterwood grew up with Tisdale in Alvin, Texas, and is an assistant clinical professor at Texas A&M's College of Veterinary Medicine.

She said the race will honor Tisdale and 30 other Aggie alumni who have been killed while in service to the country since Sept. 11, 2001.

The race costs $25 for students and children, $35 for adults and $100 for a team of four runners.

Proceeds will fund a scholarship in Tisdale's name that will be earmarked for members of the school's Corps of Cadets.

Last year, money raised helped pay for memorials to fallen troops on the Texas A&M campus.

A tree and bench on campus were dedicated to Tisdale, as well as a lounge in Buzbee Corps Leadership Learning Center.

Tisdale, a two-time veteran of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, was shot and killed during an outdoor briefing ahead of a long weekend. The shooter, Spc.[Specialist] Ricky Elder, then turned his gun on himself and later died, officials said.

Tisdale was described as a man dedicated to his family, committed to his soldiers and willing to risk all for his country. He is survived by his wife, Kim, and two children, Megan and Lane.

His funeral brought hundreds of strangers together in College Station to pay their respects.

Last year, Running With Roy drew 362 runners to the Texas A&M campus. Hundreds more participated from afar.

Easterwood said organizers are hoping for 1,000 runners in College Station this year.

For more information or to donate to the scholarship fund, go to runningwithroy.webconnex. com/2014.