The President's Medallion

The Mayo Alumni Association President's Medallion

The Mayo Alumni Association President's Medallion was conceived by Dr. Shirley Lyons (Surgery 1924) and his wife, Marion, of New Orleans. In a letter to Alumni President John Welch in August 1977, Mrs. Lyons indicated the couple's desire to support the development of a medallion for the association president to wear during the term of office.

Their dear friend, Angela Gregory of New Orleans, was commissioned to create a memorial that incorporated their memories of Mayo residency, Dr. Lyon's Mayo Alumni Association presidency (1955), and their lifelong respect and love for Mayo. The sculptor's design illustrates the Lyons' feeling that Drs. Will and Charlie Mayo were the Mayo Clinic, and recounts the couple's memories of Rochester's brilliant fall colors (maple leaves) and summer's deep blue sky.

The Mayo Alumni Association presented the first medallion to Dr. Lyons in Rochester at its 50th International Meeting in 1979, in recognition of Dr. Lyons as the oldest living association president. Replicas also were given to other surviving past presidents or their spouses. A special medallion was sent to designer Angela Gregory. Eash subsequent association president has been honored by the presentation of the medallion.

The Lyons' further wished the medallion's pattern and mold belong to the Mayo Alumni Association "to use in any way desired." Appropriately, an imprint of the medallion distinguishes the cover of the annual Mayo Alumni Association Directory. This special reproduction of the medallion commemorates the 56th International Meeting of the Mayo Alumni Association in Rochester, Minnesota, October 16-19, 1991.