Richard Lyon (U.S. Admiral) facts for kids
Richard "Dick" Lyon was a special kind of leader. He was an American politician and a retired U.S. Navy admiral. He made history as the very first admiral of the Navy SEALs. This is a super elite group of military members. He also served as the Mayor of Oceanside, California, from 1992 to 2000.
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Early Life and Big Dreams
Richard Lyon was born on July 14, 1923, in Pasadena, California. When he was young, he was a talented swimmer. He was even chosen to be part of the United States Olympic swim team! This was for the 1940 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. Sadly, the 1940 Olympic Games were canceled. This happened because of World War II starting.
After his swimming dreams, Lyon went to Yale University. He graduated from Yale in 1944.
Richard Lyon joined the United States Navy. He became a very important leader. He was the first person to become an admiral in charge of the Navy SEALs. The SEALs are a highly trained special operations force. They are known for their difficult missions. This was a big achievement for him.
Serving His City
After his amazing Navy career, Richard Lyon continued to serve. He became involved in politics. He was elected as the Mayor of Oceanside, California. He served as mayor for eight years. This was from 1992 until 2000.
Later Years
Richard Lyon passed away on February 3, 2017. He died in Oceanside, California. He was 93 years old. He is remembered for his service to his country and his city.
Images for kids
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Rear Adm. Dick Lyon, the first Bullfrog, left, passes the Bullfrog trophy to Capt. Pete Wikul
