Oleksander Tysovsky (was also known under the pseudonym: ‘Drot’) born 9th August 1886 in the village of Bykiw, in western Ukraine.
On graduating from Ukrainian grammar school in Lviw with distinction, he entered Lviw University, where he gained a PhD in biology.
He lectured in the university under government ban and became a fellow of the Shevchenko Scientific Society. Realising his inclination towards secondary school education, Dr. Tysovsky attained a teaching qualification and commenced teaching in the grammar school in Lviw (1911-39.)
Coming from a patriotic family, Dr. Tysovsky recognised the need in the prevailing political situation for a patriotic young population.
This gave him the idea of creating a youth organisation – which evolved into Plast.
He set up the first group of yunaky at the grammar school in 1911 and in 1912 this group was the first to take the Plast pledge.
‘Drot’, went on to publish a book entitled ‘Plast’ and the manual ‘Life in Plast’. At the beginning of World War II Drot emigrated to Vienna, where he continued to work in the Ukrainian community. He keenly followed the development of Plast in the refugee camps in Germany, and visited Plast centres in Europe and beyond.
Dr. Oleksander Tysovsky died in Vienna on 29th March, 1968.