The Lead.
After a lifetime of hard work, a couple from Caledonia is investing in local college students in need. Rick and Terry Lyon created a new scholarship fund at Marion Technical College.
“I thought I would like to help someone else,” Rick said.
“We wanted to give back locally,” Terry said.
Love of Tinkering Led to Engineering Career
As a child and teen growing up in Marion, Rick loved tinkering with technology.
“As a kid, I was always into electronics. I once dragged a broken TV home in my little red wagon to try to fix it,” Rick recalls.
Rick had no plans of going to college, but when he found out that Marion Tech had an electrical engineering program, he reconsidered.
“My mom was surprised and asked, ‘What are you doing?’ But it turned out to be a great day,” Rick said.
A Life-Changing Decision
That decision changed Rick’s life.
“I was an average high school student. I didn’t take any college prep,” Rick remembers.
Grants paid for tuition, books, fees, and a little extra. Rick appreciated the experienced faculty members who invested in their students.
“It was nice to have people who could tell me what it’s like along the way,” Rick said.
Rick recalls long-time employee Joel Liles, then an advisor, helping him prepare his first resume.
Graduation Opened More Doors
Rick graduated from Marion Tech in 1981 with an associate’s degree in electrical engineering. He started working at Fairfield Engineering and then went to the local phone company, formerly GTE, where several of the faculty members also worked.
Rick used GTE’s tuition assistance to continue his education.
“Graduating from Marion Tech was a good confidence booster,” Rick said.
Rick worked full-time from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and took classes from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
“It was close and convenient! I grew up just a few miles from here,” Rick said during a recent visit to the Marion campus. “If it hadn’t been in my hometown, I would never have gone to college.”
Education and Career Took Off
Rick came back to Marion Tech for some classes after graduation. He and a group of coworkers encouraged each other as they carpooled and took classes together during these grueling years.
“They kept me going. I was going to take a year off, but my buddies talked me out of it,” Rick remembered.
Rick earned his bachelor’s degree from Franklin University and eventually a master’s in business administration from Ashland University. He also went from an entry-level engineering associate to Director of Engineering and Construction in Ohio for Frontier by the time he retired.
“I was always in engineering,” Rick recalls. “There are very few people who made it from an associate to a director and never left their hometown. I was very fortunate.”
Retirees Invest in Marion Community
Rick also met his wife, Terry, who grew up on a dairy farm in Pennsylvania. In Marion, Terry spent decades working for the post office.
After retiring, Rick continued using his skills as a part-owner of Marion Brewing Company.
Foundation Grateful for New Scholarship
Andy Harper, immediate past president of the MTC Foundation Board of Directors, said, “It always makes me proud to see students who graduate and think enough of the college to give back. If Marion Tech weren’t here, I wouldn’t have had my career. What an awesome resource. Marion Tech continues to grow and make me proud.”
Harper served Marion Tech students for 37 years before retiring.
“Marion invested in Rick Lyon and now he’s investing in other students,” said Mike Stuckey, director of the Marion Technical College Foundation. “Our growing student body depends on people like Rick and Terry who want to help give them a hand up.”
Support the Rick Lyon Fund
To donate or learn about the scholarships available at Marion Tech, visit the MTC Foundation.
