David Lyle Knows Their Stories

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David LyleThere are 493 names etched on the stones that make up Clemson University’s Scroll of Honor — a memorial to the University’s alumni who died while fighting for their country. Through his volunteer work with the Clemson Corps, David Lyle ’68 knows the stories of all 493 soldiers.

Lyle, who participated in Air Force ROTC during his years at Clemson, has researched and verified each honoree as a former Clemson University student and hero who died in service to our country. He has spent hundreds of hours of his own time on ancestry websites, filing through paper records and driving to cemeteries to complete the work.

“I’m all in,” Lyle said. “This is where my love is.”

A native of Walhalla, South Carolina, Lyle never considered attending college anywhere other than Clemson. He enrolled in 1963, when it was still required for students to join the University’s ROTC program. He spent the next seven years — in undergraduate and graduate classes — at Clemson.

A microbiology major as an undergraduate, Lyle had not intended on spending a career in the military. But life doesn’t always end up the way we plan. In 1968, he graduated with his bachelor’s degree, and in 1970, he went into the U.S. Air Force, swapping a lab coat for a uniform.

In the Air Force, Lyle was deployed to bases from Montana to South Korea. The military, and eventually a civilian career in medical technology and research, took him all over the country.

Lyle retired in 2009 and wanted to come back home. He and his wife, Judy, had stayed connected to Clemson and were involved with an alumni group in Washington, D.C. Since moving back to Walhalla, they have also given back to Clemson. In addition to his time serving the Clemson Corps, Lyle recently decided to support the Class of 1968 ROTC Endowment through an estate gift that will provide scholarships to Clemson Corps cadets.

When asked about this decision, Lyle’s answer was simple: “Clemson is family.” He added, “Giving back through your estate is a no-brainer.”

By giving toward the Class of 1968 Endowment, Lyle is among the Clemson supporters who are ensuring that Clemson men and women will receive a world-class education while also preparing to serve their nation — both of which have significantly shaped Lyle’s life and career.

“I had no idea when I started at Clemson University where I was going to end up,” he said. “Through the years, Clemson University has changed. The Clemson Corps has become bigger than anyone ever imagined. But in many ways, this University has stayed the same. It is still a family.”

Garrison Cornerstone Gifts Make a Lasting Impact Across Campus

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Garrisons at Charleston announcementBy the time Dan Garrison retired as vice president of sales for Service Corporation International, his career had taken him far from his Upstate roots. He graduated from Clemson in 1972 — with a degree in business and an ambition that led him to work and live all over the country.

But his heart never left these hills.

Garrison and his wife, Nancy, return often to visit family and enjoy Clemson athletic events. The Garrisons’ connection to Clemson was further solidified this year when they became the University’s first-ever Cornerstone Partners for both athletics and academics.

Dan spent his formative years on his family’s dairy farm in Greenville County. Choosing to attend Clemson was an easy decision, he said. Many family members and friends were “Clemson people,” so there was always a strong Clemson influence. Even when career moves took Dan away from South Carolina, the distance never lessened the bond with his Clemson Family.

When the Garrisons decided to give back to the University, they wanted to do so in a manner that would have a lasting impact. In 2017, they became Athletic Cornerstone Partners to support the University’s efforts to improve the experience of student-athletes — not only while they are participating in their sport on campus but also after graduation, to give them tools that ensure their personal and professional success. The Garrisons’ recent Cornerstone gift to the College of Business will support its sales innovation program. The J. Daniel and Nancy Garrison Sales Lab will be named in their honor.

Dan’s fond memories of Clemson remain vivd: “Since my first semester as a young freshman in 1969, Clemson has been part of my life. The education I received at Clemson goes beyond academics. My business success is in large part due to my experiences here and the real-world education I received regarding how to become an adult. Clemson is an important part of our family, and we feel privileged to be part of the larger Clemson Family.”

For the Garrisons, the most rewarding aspect of their Cornerstone gifts to Clemson is feeling a personal connection to the people and programs they are supporting. “For anyone who is considering a gift to Clemson,” Dan said, “no matter how large or small, the benefit of having a long-term impact for so many is worthy of serious consideration.”

Cambodia: Tom Doss '71

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During a trip to Mainland Southeast Asia (including Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos) in March 2019, Tom Doss ’71 and his wife, Joyce, visited Siem Reap/Angkor, Cambodia, to explore the temples of Angkor Wat, Ta Prohm, Angkor Tom and Bayon built in the 12th and 13th centuries.
“The temple area was covered by jungle for many centuries until French naturalist Henri Mouhot discovered them around 1860,” writes Tom. “Since then, many countries around the world have been involved in their ongoing restoration.”

Seattle: Carrie Trebil '08

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Carrie Trebil ’08 joined other Main Street South Carolina directors in Seattle for the Main Street Now Conference. She was also able to visit the Olympic National Forest and got a panoramic view of the city from the iconic Space Needle.
No one noticed her holding the Tiger Rag during this group photo: Jonathan Irick, Molly Willard, William Freeman, Howie Owens, Lara Hudson, Katharine Spadacenta, Carrie Trebil ’08, Michael Lisle, Doug Polen, Suzy Moy, Jenny Boulware.

Colombia: Kayley Seawright '14, Kate Gasparro '14 and Brittany Pifer '14

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Kayley Seawright ’14, Kate Gasparro ’14 and Brittany Pifer ’14 visited Ciudad Perdida (“The Lost City”), a Colombian ruin in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta region.
“The only way to get to the ruins is a trek. Ours lasted for four days, averaging 34,000 steps, 339 flights of stairs and 12.8 miles per day,” writes Kayley. “Imagining the stories within these ruins dating back to 800 CE, some 650 years prior to Machu Picchu, and interacting with the indigenous people was humbling. This was once home to as many as 8,000 people and wasn’t even discovered until the late 1970s!”