The Tyler ISD Athletic Department is proud to announce their third inductee into the 2025 Athletic Hall of Fame. Mr. Gary Fleet was recognized during halftime of the Tyler High vs. Tyler Legacy football game on September 5 at CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium for his athletic and coaching career at John Tyler High School and Robert E. Lee High School (REL).
A 1980 graduate of John Tyler High School, Fleet excelled both on and off the athletic playing field. He was an excellent football player for the Lions, earning All-District and All-East Texas honors in both 1978 and 1979, as well as being named an All-State linebacker on an unbeaten (10-0-1) Lions team in 1978. He was very versatile as a player, moving to defensive end in 1979. In that 1979 season, Fleet would show his selflessness as a team captain, and played tight end, defensive end, middle linebacker, H-Back, and punter.
Fleet was an all-around sports star for the Lions. He set the school record in the shot put for the Track & Field team in 1978 and would eventually become a regional qualifier in the discus and shot put. On the baseball field, he was a first-team all-district performer in 1979, hitting 12 home runs. On the basketball court, he was a two-year letterman. The four-sport star was named John Tyler Athlete of the Year.
A star in the classroom as well, Fleet graduated 13th out of 458 students in the 1980 John Tyler graduating class. For his efforts, his classmates would vote him 1980 Mr. John Tyler, reflecting his leadership and character.
Fleet moved on to Abilene Christian University, where he played football. While a member of the Wildcats team, Fleet was a four-year letterman and a three-year starter, where he played both sides of the ball at defensive end and center. In 1987, he was named an All-Lone Star Conference Center and was also a team captain.
After his playing career at ACU, Fleet returned to Tyler ISD, where he served as a teacher and a coach for nearly 30 years. He spent the first five years at his Alma Mater, before moving to Robert E. Lee, where he coached for 24 seasons. Fleet helped the 2004 Tyler Lee football team to their first state championship, serving as run game coordinator and offensive line coach. Fleet coached over 20 Division I football offensive linemen, three NFL offensive linemen and tight ends during his coaching career.
His son, Tyler, played for him at REL, and Tyler continued his family’s legacy in track and field, becoming a state champion in 2007 in the discus. Gary has been supported by his wife, Brendan, and their three children, Kyle, Kathryn, and Tyler.
For more information, contact Jennifer Hines at Jennifer.Hines@TylerISD.org.