Dr. K.R. Vaughan Lyon began working at Trent University on July 1, 1969 as a professor in the Political Studies department. He retired from the University in 1996, after 30 years of service.

Below is an excerpt from his obituary:

Nov. 26, 1930 - Jan. 24, 2015. Vaughan was involved in campus politics as a student at UBC and was president of the student body (AMS.) He was awarded the Mackenzie King Travelling Fellowship to study at the London School of Economics. Following University, while working in industrial relations at Pacific Press for 10 years, he was engaged in political campaigns both provincially and federally and was elected to the Vancouver School Board for a term. He served on the board of the John Howard Society and was instrumental in the formation of the Memorial Society of B.C. In his mid-thirties, Vaughan returned to UBC and obtained a PhD in political science. He subsequently taught Political Studies at Trent University in Ontario for nearly 30 years. Promoting transformational democratic reform was the central focus of his life work. He was convinced we needed new institutions permitting direct citizen involvement in the political process…There will be no formal service at Vaughan’s request. Instead, we plan a gathering of family and friends August 5 at 1:30 P.M. at the Unitarian Church of Vancouver. In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to one of the causes dear to Vaughan’s heart, Médecins Sans Frontières, the Stephen Lewis Foundation and the B.C. Cancer Agency, or a charity of your choice.

The University extends heartfelt sympathies to Prof. Lyon’s family and friends, and to all who knew him at Trent University.