By: Joey Mullins
 
Today, we continue our series named the S-Club Spotlight, focusing on former student-athletes and giving updates on what they have been up to since finishing their Samford careers. In today's second edition, we will highlight David Lyon, who was a member of the Samford baseball team in 1986 and 1987, graduating from the school in 1987.
 
Lyon came to Samford in the fall of 1985 after playing two seasons at Wallace-Selma, and he played two seasons for legendary former Head Baseball Coach J.T. Haywood. Lyon said family ties, the quality of education, the Christian atmosphere and the baseball program led to his decision to attend the school.
 
"Both my mother and my father, Henry and Sara Jane Lyon, are Samford graduates," Lyon said. "I was interested in a Christian education, something I could be proud of, and I was also very interested in baseball. The appeal of Samford, the higher education, the Christian values and the sense of family that Samford has, all of those things are really important. Also, some of the closest friendships I have are from Samford."
 
 
In his junior season at Samford, Lyon ranked second on the team in hits, batting average and RBI. In addition to his experience with baseball, he was a member of Sigma Nu fraternity. He also met his wife, Edith, a 1989 Samford graduate, while a student at Samford.
 
"My time at Samford was great, I'd say it was an A-plus," Lyon said. "At the time, there were nine Sigma Nu members that were also on the baseball team, so it was kind of a double family. We had the brotherhood and the teamwork and some of those very close friends are still friends today that I keep up with and we've been through a lot together since then. I'd say that sense of family, teamwork and teammates gave me some really happy memories from Samford for sure."
 
During his time on the baseball team, Lyon and his teammates had the chance to play against three future Major Leaguers, including one future Hall of Famer and two other future All-Stars. One of the highlights of his senior season was a win over Auburn, featuring future Hall of Famer Frank Thomas.
 
"I think it was really interesting to play against Frank Thomas (Auburn), Bo Jackson (Auburn) and Deion Sanders (Florida State)," Lyon said. "That's kind of cool to get to play all three of them. That's some really good memories. Those were fun times."
 
When looking back at his time at Samford, Lyon said he values the lessons he learned as a baseball player of hard work and teamwork.
 
"The biggest lesson I learned through Samford was relying on your teammates, whether it's to win a baseball game or to help get you through life," Lyon said. "Some of my closest friends were my baseball teammates and I still keep up with them today. We learned the lesson of hard work, because any goals that you want to achieve, you have to work hard to attain them, they're not going to just happen. That is the one thing about sports, it teaches you work ethic and goals. If it means something to you, you're going to have to put your whole heart and soul into it."
 
After graduating from Samford in 1987, Lyon went to work with MassMutual, and has worked with the company ever since. He is currently at MassMutual as a financial advisor. He and his wife, Edith, have three children. The couple's oldest child, Garner, also works for MassMutual and lives in Atlanta. Their middle child, Jackson, is a senior at Alabama, and their youngest, Frances, is a freshman at Alabama.
 
Lyon credits Samford for helping him find his career at MassMutual.
 
"I found Mass Mutual through the Samford placement office," Lyon said. "I think that is really good for Samford that through a College Career Day, I found my opportunity. It's the only career I've ever had, and that is where I still am today."
 
Lyon's father, grandfather and great uncle were all Baptist ministers, and he said he has always wanted to minister to people as well, and he has found a way to do that through his profession at Mass Mutual.
 
"I wanted to be in the ministry, but I just wasn't called to the pulpit," Lyon said. "In the insurance business, I feel like I'm able to minister to people, but I'm in the business world, and Samford deeply helped me prepare for that."
 
Lyon has also found ways to stay involved with Samford University, and with Samford Athletics. He served as the chair of the S-Club Board when it was reinstated in 2016, and is still a member. He is also heavily involved in the Bulldog Club, and recently became a member of the university's Board of Overseers.
 
Lyon said he has been impressed with the Samford leadership, specifically President Dr. Andrew Westmoreland and Director of Athletics Martin Newton. He also complimented the coaches on staff, specifically Head Baseball Coach Casey Dunn.
 
"The coaches are exceptional," Lyon said. "Not only are they great coaches, but they are outstanding people and I want to compliment Samford on who they have hired to lead and coach their student-athletes. They are spiritually-motivated people."
 
A total of 33 years have passed since Lyon was a student-athlete at Samford, but he and his family have stayed in the Birmingham area. He and his family live in Mountain Brook and attend Brookwood Baptist Church. Lyon says he feels like he is still benefitting from the time he spent on the Homewood campus.
 
"My resume gets better every year because Samford keeps getting better and better," Lyon said. "I'm more proud every year of Samford. Since I graduated from Samford, we've been in the Birmingham area, so I've tried to be involved with Samford as much as possible."
 
For more information on the S-Club, contact Hal Langston at hlangst1@samford.edu. For giving opportunities, please contact Maggie Rountree at mrountr1@samford.edu.