Lauren "Deac" Lyman

Lauren Dwight "Deac" Lyman (April 24, 1891–July 12, 1972) was an American reporter and aviation writer with the New York Times from 1919 to 1937 who then went on to a long career as a public relations executive from 1937 to 1959 with United Aircraft, a predecessor to United Technologies Corporation. He won the 1936 Pulitzer Prize for his exclusive coverage of the flight made in secret by Charles Lindbergh and his family from the United States in late December, 1935 to live in self imposed exile in Europe.

Born Lauren Dwight Lyman on a farm in Easthamton, MA, he was known all his life by the nickname "Deac" which he inherited from both his father and grandfather who were both New England church deacons. In 1917 he dropped out of Yale University to join the Army when the United States entered World War I. After two years of service in France, Lyman was discharged from the Army in 1919 and joined the New York Times as an assistant real estate editor and general assignment reporter. In 1927 Lyman was named the Times' aviation editor and one of the first major stories he covered was Charles Lindbergh's non-stop "New York to Paris" solo flight in May, 1927 and the two remained friends for the next 45 years until Lyman's death in 1972. In 1938 Lyman and Carl B. Allen co-authored "The Wonder Book of the Air", a 340-page illustrated volume on all aspects of aviation written primarily for juveniles and young adults.

Upon his death the former Aviation/Space Writers Association established the Lauren D. Lyman Award in his honor in 1972 to be presented annually "for distinguished, career-long achievements in aviation journalism or public relations." The Award is now administered by the Aerospace Industries Association.