GENERAL WILLIAM LYON
William Lyon Homes, Inc.
William Lyon was the Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of William Lyon Homes, Inc., and affiliate companies which are headquartered in Newport Beach, California. William Lyon and his combined companies have produced more than 72,000 residential units spanning a history of more than 40 years.
In June 1985, The William Lyon Company, along with another investor, acquired Miami-based Senior Corp and General Lyon is Chairman of the Board. In October 1987, Senior Corp acquired three separate companies from Pacific Lighting Corporation. In August of 1988, The William Lyon Company and General Lyon acquired the balance of the stock of Senior Corp. At the end of 1991, Senior Corp had remaining assets which include several large land-holdings.
In October 1987, William Lyon, along with several minority investors, acquired from Pacific Lighting Corporation, The Presley Companies, a home building company that operates in California, Arizona and New Mexico. In 1991, The Presley Companies had a successful initial public offering of its common stock and raised in excess of $70 million.
In 1989, General Lyon formed Air/Lyon, Inc. in order to continue his involvement with aviation. The companies within the Air/Lyon group include Elsinore Services Corp which provides service to the airlines in 30 cities across the United States including the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico and Martin Aviation, located at John Wayne Airport, which continues to provide aircraft maintenance to the corporate and general aviation industry as they have for almost 75 years.
Major General Lyon was Chief of the Air Force Reserve from 1975 to 1979. He was selected for this prestigious assignment by the Chief of Staff of the Air Force in April of 1975. General Lyon was nominated to the Senate for confirmation by President Gerald R. Ford. This responsibility included management of a $700,000,000 budget which encompassed the activities of approximately 200,000 reservists. During General Lyon's distinguished military career, he flew combat missions in Korea and served in other assignments in Europe, the Pacific and North Africa. He received 17 awards and decorations including the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters and the Presidential Unit Citation.
Political Activities:
Member, Republican Eagles
Member, Board of directors, Republican National Finance Committee Founding Member, California Team 100
Board Affiliations:
Board Member, American Airlines (Retired)
Board Member, Fidelity National Financial, Inc.
Chairman, The Presley Companies Board of Directors
Life Member, USC Board of Trustees
Member, USC Real Estate Development Corporation
Member, USC Business Affairs Committee
Member, USC National Campaign Executive Committee
Life Member, Board of National Association of Home Builders
Military Affiliations:
Life Member, Air Force Association
Chairman of the Board, Academy Research and Development Institute, USAF Academy
Chairman of the Board, Falcon Foundation, USAF Academy
Director, Air Force Academy Foundation, Inc., USAF Academy
Member, Advisory Committee, Association of Graduates, USAF Academy
Life Member, Reserve Officers Association
Member, The American Air Museum in Britain
Community Affiliations:
Past Chairman/CEO, Orange County Performing Arts Center, 1990-1993
Board Member and Member of the Executive Committee, Orange County Performing Arts Center
Past Chairman, Orangewood Children's Foundation, 1980-1993
Past Chairman, Boy Scouts of America, Orange County Council, 1988 and 1989
Chairman, Boy Scouts of America, Orange County Council's Development Campaign, 1990 Board Member, City of Hope Pilot Medical Center
Member, Santa Margarita Catholic High School Campaign Cabinet
Past Chairman, Alexis de Tocqueville Society, United Way of Orange County
Past Chairman, Construction Industries Alliance for the City of Hope
Board Member, Operation Smile, Los Angeles Chapter
Honors:
Received the second annual "Tribute to Excellence" Award, presented by the Building Industry Association Orange County Chapter, October 1993.
The William and Willa Dean Lyon Perpetual Scholarship Fund was established in 1993 to honor the Lyons and benefit former Orangewood children pursuing a college education.
Received the Golden Plate Award from the American Academy of Achievement, June 1990.
Named Top 25 CEOs of the Decade by California Business Magazine, April 1990.
Received the Asa V. Call Achievement Award, the highest honor bestowed by the University of Southern California's General Alumni Association, March 1990.
Received the "Builder of the Century" Award by Sumigarden Economic Forecast Group, April 1989.
The Lyons received the "Giving is Living" Award, presented by the Volunteer Center of Orange County to recognize significant contributions to a variety of nonprofit community organizations, November 1988.
Received the Mardan Center of Educational Therapy Award for outstanding community achievements and dedicated service to the youth organizations of Orange County, April 1986.
Received Outstanding American Award, Chapman College, November 1985.
Inducted in the California Building Industry "Hall of Fame", June 1985
Received "Significant Sig" Award presented by Signla Chi International Fraternity for national excellence in the building industry, 1985.
Received Orange County Chapter Boy Scouts of America "Good Scout Award" at testimonial benefit luncheon sponsored by the Construction Industries Alliance, October 1984.
Received City of hope National Medical Center's "Spirit of Life" Award at testimonial benefit dinner sponsored by the Construction Industries Alliance of Orange County , May 1983.
Named "Professional Builder of the Year for 1982" by Professional Builder Magazine.
General Lyon was a graduate of the University of Southern California and the Dallas Aviation. School and Air College. General Lyon was born in Los Angeles, California.
