Carl Blackburn Lyle Jr. ’53

Carl died March 14, 2005, in Chapel Hill, N.C.

He came to Princeton in 1949 from Rogersville, Tenn. In June 1951, when his Princeton heavyweight crew was racing in the collegiate championships on the Ohio River, the Naval Academy shell next to them struck a log, left its lane, and broke off the Princeton rudder. Suddenly dead in the water, Princeton appeared to be out of the race, but Carl, the coxswain, put his arm into the river and steered the shell with his hand for a mile and a half. Princeton reduced the lead of other boats and finished the race.

Carl went to medical school at Columbia, did residencies in internal medicine in California and North Carolina, was a flight surgeon for two years in the Air Force, and went into practice in Charlotte. In 1976, he became a professor of medicine at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. As a flying physician, he joined other pilot physicians to develop a system of airborne care in remote parts of the state.

Sometimes he would fly to Princeton, just to spend a few hours on campus. His medical students voted him their highest honor as a teacher. For patient, student, or friend, he was always ready to put his hand in the water and steer you past a crisis.

He is survived by his wife, Ishbel; daughter Mei-Mei; and her daughters, Emily and Laura. Sadly, he was not survived by his beloved son, Scott. Our deepest sympathies go to the family.

The Class of 1953