Greater Washington
Jewish Sports Hall of Fame

Joseph Lyman

Joseph Lyman

Sport: Diving
Category: Athlete
Primary Team: Brown University Bears
Year Inducted: 2007

Joe Lyman was a star athlete–a diver at Central High School in Washington, DC. He was the Capital High and Low Board Diving Champion, the South Atlantic Diving Champion for four years, the Fancy Diving Champion in 1929-30, and was on the All American Scholastic Swimming Team 1929-31. Joe received a scholarship to Brown University, graduating in 1935, where he held the Northeast Intercollegiate Diving Championships for three years. Joe attended George Washington Law School, was a Special Assistant to the Attorney General at the Justice Department, and was a commissioned officer in the Coast Guard in World War II. He married Sylvia Silk and had one son, Michael, in 1945. Joe was an attorney who specialized in tax issues involving self-employed salesman in the direct selling industry. He formed another practice, Lyman and Rales, and was Of-Counsel to the Danaher Corporation. Joe’s achievements as an athlete, based on his discipline and intelligence, led to his success in life.