Charles Tyger Vollrath

Charles Tyger Vollrath entered Fannin County High School as a sophomore in the autumn of 1986. His father, Dr. Richard Vollrath, a medical doctor and surgeon in Boca Raton, Florida, had visited Fannin County, liked what he saw, and moved his family, including his two sons, to the North Georgia mountains at that time. Both Tyger and Dr. Vollrath are high energy, supremely intelligent men and they both hit the ground running when they arrived. Tyger landed a spot with the Fannin High football team as a wide receiver and was a major contributor until sidelined by an injury early in his senior year. He was awarded the Most Improved Offensive Player after his junior season in 1987. Along the way he also earned two varsity letters in track and field, two in golf, one in baseball and one in basketball. He says that his primary athletic interest was for the game of football but he participated in other sports to stay busy and in condition. Overall, he earned 9 varsity letters during his high school career. Never a fan of idly sitting and playing video games, Tyger filled his downtime from school and summers involved in helping out with one of his father’s passions, the Fannin County Fire and EMT Department and serving as a guide leading three rafting groups each day down the Ocoee River in nearby Polk County, Tennessee. Expertise gained in both of these activities would serve him well as his life unfolded. After graduating from Fannin High, Tyger was invited to join the University of Georgia football as a preferred walk on in the fall of 1989. He came into his own in the spring of 1991 when he was selected as the outstanding walk-on following spring practice. He became a valuable member of the Bulldog special team, winning varsity letters in 1991 and 1992. He also won the Olin-Huff Award for excellence in academics by a student-athlete in 1992. Tyger graduated from the University of Georgia with a BS in Physics and General Engineering in 1993. In 1994, Tyger moved a few miles southwest to continue his education at Georgia Tech. He had a two year stay at Tech earning a BS degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering in 1996. In addition to his studies he again stayed busy as a strength coach and coach of the cheerleading squad at Tech. The Yellow Jacket cheerleaders had two top-ten finishes in national competitions with Tyger at the helm. Tyger had developed a number of friendships and associations with nationally ranked competitors in canoe and kayak events during his time as a guide at the Ocoee Rafting Center. He began to compete in one and two man canoe and kayak events himself and joined the USA Canoe/Kayak team in 1995. He has qualified for and competed in six US Olympic team trials and has competed in numerous World Cup and Pan-American competitions around the world. His top finishes include 12th at the Pan-American Championships in Costa Rica and 2nd at the 2017 World Games in New Zealand. He continues to compete as time allows in 2022. Tyger’s experience with the Fannin County Fire/Rescue from 1987 through 1993 served him well on September 11, 2001. He was en route to the airport after a business trip when the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center occurred. As traffic came to a standstill he had occasion to talk with New York firemen headed for Manhattan and volunteered his services as a first responder. The events of the next five days would change his life forever. Tyger has described the scene with the following words: “The entire area was covered in a cloud of cement dust smoke that made visibility less than a city block and provided all of us with a nasty cough and swollen, irritated eyes. I befriended a group of firefighters from FDNY Engine 318/Ladder 166 Company. I became a member of this team by working side by side with them. All these men and women lost close friends and relatives in the collapse, yet they worked diligently to locate their fallen comrades. There have been various descriptions of heroes over the last week, but I have my own definition. Heroes are men or women who risk their lives to help others without regard to their own safety. I was breathless while looking over the massive pile of debris. However, the memories I will always have of this event are the friendships, public support and patriotism. On my drive home to Atlanta Friday night, I couldn’t go 10 miles without seeing a US flag proudly hanging on bridges, buildings, road signs or vehicles. This alone stirs deep pride and emotion in me. In light of the nation’s worst tragedy, it might be one of our finest hours.” Back in Atlanta, Tyger returned to his rapid-pace busy life, starting his own business and courting Suzi Hovastak, also a UGA grad. His company, PS Websolutions, has proven to be a successful venture and Tyger continues at the helm today. Tyger and Suzi were married in 2004. Their family became a threesome with the addition of Elizabeth Grace who is now 11 years old. Suzi Vollrath lost her long battle with cancer in January of 2022. She lived a little more than 53 years. 18 of those years were filled with love and, in Suzi’s words, ‘amazing adventures’ with Tyger Vollrath. Her life epitomizes one of Tyger’s favorite quotes: ‘Everybody dies, but not everyone lives.’