President Ronald Reagan Name Richard Lyng Spouse(s) Bethyl Lyng Party Republican Party | Political party Republican Parents Edmund John Lyng Preceded by John R. Block Battles and wars World War II | |
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Born June 29, 1918
San Francisco, California, United States ( 1918-06-29 ) Children Jeannette Lyng Robinson
Marilyn Lyng O'Connell Alma mater University of Notre Dame Died February 1, 2003, Modesto, California, United States | ||
Succeeded by Clayton Keith Yeutter Education University of Notre Dame | ||
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. (See also: Lyng v. Northwest Indian Cemetery Protective Ass'n)
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Early life and career
Lyng 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, and was appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture under President Reagan's cabinet, serving from 1986 to 1989. He was chosen as one of the charter members of the Meat Industry Hall of Fame in 2009.
Personal life
Lyng 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.