Richard Edmund Lyng (June 29, 1918 – February 1, 2003) was a U.S. administrator. A Republican, he served as the secretary of agriculture between 1986 and 1989.[2]
Richard Lyng | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 22nd United States Secretary of Agriculture | |
| In office March 7, 1986 – January 20, 1989 | |
| President | Ronald Reagan |
| Preceded by | John Rusling Block |
| Succeeded by | Clayton Yeutter |
| 3rd United States Deputy Secretary of Agriculture | |
| In office 1981 – January 1985[1] | |
| President | Ronald Reagan |
| Preceded by | Jim Williams |
| Succeeded by | John R. Norton III |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 29, 1918 San Francisco, California, United States |
| Died | February 1, 2003 (aged 84) Modesto, California, United States |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Bethyl Lyng |
| Children | 2 |
| Parent(s) | Edmund John Lyng Sara McGrath Lyng |
| Alma mater | University of Notre Dame |
| Occupation | Government |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | United States Army |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
Early life and career
editLyng was born on June 29, 1918, in San Francisco, California. He was the son of Edmund John Lyng, the founder of a California agricultural products company, and his wife, Sara Cecilia (McGrath). He graduated from the University of Notre Dame. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II.
In the mid-1950s, Lyng went into business and eventually became president of the Ed. J. Lyng Co., a seed and bean processing company. In 1973, Lyng became the President of the American Meat Institute, serving until 1979.[3] In 1980, Lyng was appointed to deputy secretary of agriculture, and then secretary of agriculture under President Reagan's cabinet, serving from 1986 to 1989.[2] He was chosen as one of the charter members of the Meat Industry Hall of Fame in 2009.[4]
Personal life
editLyng married Bethyl Ball on June 25, 1944. They had two daughters, Jeannette Lyng Robinson and Marylin Lyng O'Connell. Bethyl Lyng died in 2000.
Lyng died of complications from Parkinson's disease in Modesto, California, on February 1, 2003.[5]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Nomination of Richard E. Lyng to be Secretary of Agriculture | the American Presidency Project".
- ^ a b Oliver, Myrna (February 5, 2003). "Richard Lyng, 84; Ex-Agriculture Secretary". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
- ^ "C. Manly Molpus Awarded AMI's Richard E. Lyng Award". NAMI. December 4, 2006. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
- ^ "Meat Industry Hall of Fame names seven new members to the Class of 2015". Drovers Magazine. June 18, 2015. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
- ^ Macdonell, Margee (2003-02-03). "Former Agriculture Secretary and ?40 alum Richard Lyng dies". Notre Dame News. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
External links
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