The Texas Rangers issued the following statement today on the passing of former Texas Rangers team executive Norman Lyons, who died on Friday night after a long illness at the age of 73. Lyons joined the Rangers organization in July 1993 as the team’s first vice president of community development and was largely responsible for creation and growth of the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation, according to the team.
“The Texas Rangers organization is deeply saddened by the passing of Norm Lyons,” the Rangers said in a statement.
“Over the next 17 years before his retirement in November 2009, he touched thousands of lives in that role. Mr. Lyons is largely responsible for creation and growth of the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation and numerous other community programs funded and operated by the team. He was a great ambassador for the club and represented the Rangers in every corner of our community,” the statement continued.
Largely under his direction and leadership, the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation has raised and disbursed more than $11 million to help those in need.
“We were sad to learn of the passing of Norm Lyons today. Throughout his long career in Arlington, first with the Texas Rangers and most recently as the Community Relations Coordinator for the City of Arlington, Norm’s work always focused on bringing people together and building relationships,” said City of Arlington Marketing Communications Manager Jay Warren. “Most recently, Norm helped Arlington launch its Acts of Kindness campaign. It was a perfect role for Norm as he was truly the embodiment of kindness. His contributions to Arlington will live on for many years to come. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.”
Lyons was the only two-time recipient of the Rangers’ Jim Sundberg Community Achievement Award, earning that honor in 2003 and again at the time of his retirement in 2009. Lyons continued to be a community leader after leaving the team and had served as the coordinator of the City of Arlington Community Relations Committee for the last year. He was honored by City of Arlington with a proclamation declaring Norm Lyons Day in the City on December 12, 2017.
At the time of his retirement from the Rangers, Lyons made the following comments: “Working with the Texas Rangers and the Foundation gave me the opportunity to meet some wonderful people I never would have met. It has kept me grounded and thankful for my life. It has given me so many different experiences and perspectives on life. I got the better of the deal.”