Pepsi Lyon

Cornelius "Pepsi" Lyon: But Wait, There’s More!

By Don Sherman

Finding one’s purpose.

It’s one of the oldest goals we ask of ourselves, and one that has perplexed individuals for decades, sometimes a lifetime. Some find that purpose in service, others in faith, but Cornelius "Pepsi" Lyon ’64 found his calling during the trials and tribulations of pursuing an education.

Growing up in the 1950s, Cornelius attended a small Catholic school on the south side of Elmira, New York. During those formative years, the teachers thought he was incapable of learning, and he was relegated to the back of the classrooms. His learning stunted, Cornelius entered high school severely behind his classmates and was a self-proclaimed “wise guy.”

While attending high school, he struggled to read.

“We had to read The House of Seven Gables out loud, and that was just pure torture for me — every time, and no matter how hard I tried — I could not read,” Cornelius stated.

He failed English his junior year, but passed English as a senior despite an inability to read. Without completing as much as a single course in math, science, language, or art, he was granted a high school diploma.

But wait, there’s more.

Upon graduation, Cornelius enlisted in the U.S. Air Force with aspirations of becoming a jet mechanic. However, after taking an aptitude test, he did not qualify and was directed to the motor pool.

“To go from jet mechanic to motor pool was so depressing; I was heartbroken,” said Cornelius. “I never told my parents or my friends what I did in the military because I was so embarrassed by it.”

After suffering the initial setback of being unable to pursue the path of becoming a jet mechanic, Cornelius had to take another test — this time a math assessment. Without basic math skills, Cornelius killed time by pretending to do the test and blend in with the others. However, this is when things began to change for the first-year cadet.

With the noise of pencil to paper scratches in the background, Cornelius glanced out the window to see sunlight basking on an array of flowers. He then glanced at his fellow cadets working diligently, before turning back towards the sunbathed flowers, at which point he experienced the single greatest insight of his life: he was functionally illiterate. Cornelius vowed right then and there that if he were to get out of the military, he would get educated, somehow, some way.

Nine months later, Cornelius found himself 10,000 miles away from home in a bombed-out compound in South Korea where he was stationed. He found his way to the recreation hut and stumbled upon an elevated section that was stacked with books. At 20 years old, Cornelius had never actually read a book, and according to him, his guardian angel guided him to the top of the bookshelf where he found Lloyd C. Douglas’ The Robe.

With a dictionary in one hand and the novel in the other, Cornelius began to piece together words. After successfully reading two pages, he stood up and shouted: “this is what I missed in school!”

With deployment finished, it was time for Cornelius to become an educated man. Although, to get into college, one must possess a college-worthy transcript, and with no math, science, art, or language classes, pursuing higher education seemed bleak.

The opportunity of a lifetime that provided a path to education and a love for the arts was granted when SUNY Corning Community College accepted and enrolled him in classes.

But wait, there’s more.

His journey was not easy, as Cornelius acquired two Cs and two Ds in his first semester. His Achilles Heel was not learning a foreign language in high school, a mandatory class needed at CCC at the time and ultimately led to failing out of college.

On the verge of not continuing his education, Cornelius remained committed and took a detour by enrolling in night classes at CCC. He retook the foreign language he previously failed – French – and earned a B. He took night classes from CCC’s president at the time, Dr. Perry, who instantly motivated Cornelius to keep pursuing his academic aspirations. Cornelius received two As in Dr. Perry’s classes, and from that point on, he never failed a course again.

Cornelius credits SUNY Corning Community College for teaching him how to study, write term papers, and for much of the success that followed his time at the College. He earned a degree in arts from CCC, then a bachelor’s in education from Mansfield University, and then a master’s degree in English Literature from Elmira College. That’s right, the kid from the south side of Elmira who learned how to read on his own at the age of 20 eventually went on to receive three college degrees!

The education Cornelius pursued led to a career in education, as he spent 30 years in the Watkins Glen school district. He taught English for three years, and then became a reading specialist, teaching disadvantaged youths to read for the next 27. According to Cornelius, it was the best job on the planet.

But wait, there’s more.

Cornelius was an educator, but his passion was in the arts. Remember that book, the first one he read in South Korea? Well, the Lloyd C. Douglas novel inspired him to explore his creative side.

“The moment I read that book, I said I’m going to be an artist,” exclaimed Cornelius.

He began with poetry -- scripting 2,000 poems before moving onto songwriting and books. He eventually decided to stop writing, but his love for the arts did not dissipate and instead was fueled by the work of David Smith’s steel sculptures. 

His love for the art form prompted a continuation of his education, as Cornelius went on to take four classes at welding school. From there, he discovered fabricated steel, the material he uses to create sculptures at The C Lyon Sculpture Garden in Horseheads, New York.

Cornelius’ artwork can be seen in the wooded 40-acre plot of land he calls home. There are more than 785 abstract steel sculptures in his garden, making it the world’s largest contemporary sculpture garden.

His work is unique and his approach is ever-evolving. His early work is mainly steel, but through the years his style has progressed to what he’s learned from past projects and the implementation of new materials. The sculptures are filled with symbols, print, and recently, glass.

Those interested in sculpture art can take an admission-free tour of The C Lyon Sculpture Garden by making an appointment at www.theclyon.com. There are 10 themes at the garden, or as Cornelius refers to as ‘isms’ to explore.

Each piece of artwork has a story. Some more in depth than others, but each one unique and special. And, not only do you experience the physical artwork, Cornelius also delivers with song and poetry, making it a truly holistic art experience.

Cornelius pays homage to various people in his artwork, most of whom had some sort of tie to the U.S. military. If you go on a tour, be ready to hear the phrase ‘but wait, there’s more’ from the worldly artist. As Cornelius guides you through the woods, his stories are layered with fascinating facts that will leave you wondering, wait, how can there be more?

But wait, there’s more.

So, what can one learn from a once self-proclaimed wise-guy turned educator, moonlighting as a poet, musician, and artist? The advice is simple, yet daunting. That advice – “find your purpose.”

“You have to find a purpose because without a purpose you are just a rudderless ship on an ocean and at the winds and waves of other people’s ideas,” said Cornelius. “But once you’ve found a purpose, you command your own fate. And once you command your own fate, you only go to the harbors, you only go to the places you want to go to and you only do what you want to do.

And chances are that maybe you can leave something behind you to improve the human condition, if you’re lucky enough. But if you have a purpose in life, and when you get the end of your earthly existence, you won’t have any regrets.”

Cornelius Lyon found his purpose, and did so, in part, by enrolling at SUNY Corning Community College to start on his educational journey. You may be able to find your purpose too and SUNY Corning Community College can be one step in your own journey of discovery.

Find out more: 607-962-9151 / corning-cc.edu.