Roger Lyon, All-American And Humanitarian, Dies In Plane Crash
October 19, 2010 | Men's Swimming & Diving
Oct. 19, 2010
Former USC All-American swimmer Roger Lyon, part of three NCAA runner-up teams as a Trojan between 1969-71, died in a small plane crash over the weekend during a humanitarian mission in Mexico.
Lyon was a resident of San Luis Obispo. An attorney and a conservationist, he was piloting the plane with three passengers en route to San Quintin, Mexico, where they were to join others in an all-volunteer organization called the Flying Samaritans. The organization has provided free medical care to residents in Baja California for some 50 years.
As a Trojan, Lyon was a three-year lettermen (1969-1971). He earned NCAA All-American honors twice in the 100y fly, once each in the 100y free and 200y fly and three times on the 400y medley relay. He was also part of two Pac-10 relay titles.
