Bryant William Lemon Sr.

“Best of all he loved the fall the leaves yellow on the cottonwoods leaves floating on the trout streams and above the hills the high blue windless skies…now he will be a part of them forever.” —Ernest Hemingway

Heaven opened wide on January 6, 2024, as our Lord welcomed Bryant William Lemon Sr. with a hearty hello and a job well done. His beloved Peggy wrapped her arms around him, and they were once again complete. Bryant was larger than life. A brilliant star that lit up every room with his exuberance, his humor, and his wit. He was truly one-of-a kind. If you met him, you couldn’t forget him. He was interesting. He was interested. He made you think. He made you laugh. He kept you on your toes. He made this world a brighter place and he will be deeply missed by all that were fortunate enough to have known him.

Bryant was born in Boise, Idaho on November 20, 1934, to William Orange Lemon and Veva Bryant Lemon. He grew up in Boise and he loved to share the many lively stories regarding his childhood adventures in Idaho. In 1953, he graduated from Boise High School where his success as running back on the football team earned him a football scholarship at Boise Junior College (now Boise State University). He played for former Boise Football Coach and Athletic Director Lyle Smith in 1953 and 1954 and helped lead Boise Junior College to a two-year record of 17-1-1 as their star flanker back. Bryant graduated from Boise Junior College in 1955 with an Associate of Science degree and then entered the University of Idaho’s (U of I) Civil Engineering program. When he graduated from the U of I, he married his college sweetheart Peggy Schwartz and took a brief position with the Idaho Highway Department. He then answered President Eisenhower’s call to serve in the Armed Services during the Korean War, where he spent two years in the Navy Seabees building projects in Guam, Okinawa and in Laos.

 Upon discharge from the Navy, Bryant proceeded to George Washington University in Washington D.C., where he earned a Master’s Degree in Engineering Administration. He wrote his thesis on Critical Path Scheduling. It was a new technology in the 1960s that utilized computer tracking in construction. In 1962, Bryant joined Morrison Knudsen (M-K) a major construction firm in the U.S. His first field assignments were on two concrete dams in Northern California. Following President Kennedy’s declaration to put a man on the moon within 10 years, M-K landed the NASA Launch Complex 39 “Moon Shot” Facility project at Cape Kennedy, Florida. Bryant was assigned to the project to initialize the Critical Path Scheduling program specified by NASA, his specialty. As the projects in Florida progressed Bryant took a position as Project Engineer and then Project Manager with George A. Fuller Company of New York for construction of Launch Complex 39, Pad B, which eventually launched the rocket putting Neil Armstrong on the moon. When Launch Pad B was finished, Bryant joined the Design-Build team with Fuller to construct the National Accelerator Laboratory in Illinois. This 200-BeV Proton Accelerator, later renamed “Fermilab” was situated 50 miles west of Chicago and it consisted of a Linear Accelerator (LINAC), a Booster Accelerator and a one mile diameter Main Accelerator. One particle the physicists hoped to find at this facility was the “quark”, a supposedly anti-gravitational particle that could be harnessed for anti-gravitational benefit.

In 1973, Bryant continued on to Fuller’s main offices in New York City. He was Project Construction Manager for the New York Giants Football Stadium at the Meadowlands. This major complex was located within 8 miles of downtown Manhattan. An interesting side note about this project is that Jimmy Hoffa came up missing during the same time period and his body was never recovered. Several years later a story broke that Hoffa was buried under the end zone at the Giants Stadium. News people searched out Bryant in New Mexico although he declined any knowledge of Hoffa’s whereabouts, just commenting that the base under the artificial turf at Giants Stadium was asphalt, and it was unlikely that anyone dug through and buried Hoffa there.

In 1980, Bryant joined Rust Engineering out of Birmingham, Alabama, eventually becoming the Project Manager on the first of several semiconductor plants in New Mexico. Bryant left Rust Engineering in 1990 and founded Brycon Corporation. He and his team continued their work in the semiconductor industry providing unique services and capabilities that helped the growth of the global semiconductor industry at a critical time. Bryant and the Brycon team continued to build and expand upon their success quickly achieving a position as a leading General Contractor in the Southwest. Brycon continues to service global leaders in the semiconductor industry and related industries. Their expertise is sought after by just about every manufacturer worldwide. They perform work for numerous diverse clients outside of the semiconductor industry as well. Bryant’s vision, leadership and reputation contributed greatly to Brycon’s success. Today, 34 years later, Brycon remains a leading large General Contractor in the Southwest.

Bryant’s construction projects outside of the workplace were certainly amongst his most cherished. He and Peggy loved to design, build, add-on, and remodel. There was always a project going at their house. They designed and built a wonderful home high atop of a hill in Corrales, New Mexico, with beautiful views of downtown Albuquerque, the Sandia Mountains, and all the way to Santa Fe. They then collaborated to design and build their beloved family cabin, “Peep’s Mud Mountain Resort” as they called it, in Pagosa Springs, Colorado. The cabin was also built high atop of a “hill” at an elevation above 8000’ with stunning views of the San Juan Mountains in every direction. It was a place of immense happiness for their family and their friends, and the memories made at Mud Mountain will forever be a part of their legacy.

Bryant was into sports. He was especially into college sports. He remained a dedicated fan of his Boise State Broncos throughout his life. He had season tickets to the football games and flew from Albuquerque to Boise for every home game he could, always taking a loved one with him. You’d better believe he’d make the trip when the Broncos got a bowl game, too. Everyone he knew experienced his passion for Boise State Football, from attending a game with him, to cheering on the Broncos during watch parties at his house, to heading to a bowl game with him, he definitely “bled blue” and demanded it from others. (How many times did we all have to watch the 2007 Fiesta Bowl and celebrate the Broncos 43-42 victory over Oklahoma?!) His former Boise Football Coach Lyle Smith was sure to be one of the first to greet him in Heaven. Bryant was a staunch supporter of his U of I Vandals as well and kept a close watch on all their goings on, especially in regard to their football and engineering programs. Bryant also loved Lobo Basketball, especially the Lady Lobos. He went to many games, cheered loudly and was a dedicated supporter.

Aside from his storied professional career, Bryant loved recreating outdoors. Whether fly fishing, skiing, scuba diving or riding his bike down from Wolf Creek Pass, he was always on the go. Bryant was an epic fly fisherman and enjoyed sharing the stream with family and friends, often focusing on their experience over his own. Growing up In Idaho with a fly fisherman as a father, Bryant learned how to tie his own flies and how to finesse his pole to cast a fly and catch even the most discerning of fish. He went on many fishing excursions all around the world from Belize, to New Zealand, to Chile, and even a trip of a lifetime with his son Bill to the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia. But his favorite place to fish was in his beloved Idaho, especially at Last Chance on the Henrys Fork of the Snake River, and in and around the headwaters of the Salmon River near Stanley. There are too many fishing spots and places to list in Idaho that he cherished, even though he would certainly feel they all deserve mention. He also enjoyed fishing the upper Rio Grande near Creede, Colorado, and in and around the Pagosa Springs area in the San Juan Mountains.

 Bryant absolutely loved skiing. He was fortunate to ski in many places around the world although his favorite places were Wolf Creek Ski Area in Colorado and Sun Valley in Idaho. Bryant and his family and friends spent many holidays in Idaho skiing Baldy Mountain at Sun Valley and at Bogus Basin in Boise. In Colorado, Bryant has been an institution at Wolf Creek for the past 35 years and made a lasting impression on whomever he encountered. He’d tell the lift workers, “Make it a soft chair!” and “Don’t stop this lift for nothing!” They all knew him and when he got into the lift line they’d all start hollering as well, and you’d better believe they swung that chair around and gave him a “soft” one. He had a beautiful style of skiing and he loved to teach others how to ski, as well. He’d circle around the person he was instructing yelling “get forward” and offering lots of other advice, not always wanted, but they got it regardless. He’d holler “Let’s go! Let’s go! Let’s go!” and “Hurry!” and you’d want to hurry, you wouldn’t want to miss out on anything. And of course, howling at the Wolf Pups was a must for anyone riding the chair with him. Bryant was always up for a little competition at NASTAR Ski Races and Fun Races at Wolf Creek. He’d get all of his family and friends to participate in the Fun Races, entering them with special ski names like Picabo Lemon, Bode Gebhardt, and Lyndsey Vonn Lemon. He had an air of excitement about him that encompassed all he did, and you couldn’t help but get caught up in it. There was never a dull moment when you were with him.

Bryant was a scuba diver. He dove in many places and got his children and grandchildren in on the sport as well. He and Peggy took their family on diving trips to Fiji, Honduras, Barbados, and Mexico to name just a few. His favorite spot was Akumal, Mexico. Oh how he loved Akumal and staying at Las Casitas Akumal and diving in the waters there. He drank margaritas at the Lol Ha, swung on the swings at La Buena Vida, snorkeled in the Yalkul Lagoon and charmed all the locals.

Bryant loved aviation and flew his Cessna 182 RG, his beautiful 5497 Sierra, for many happy years. He kept 5497 at Double Eagle Airport in Albuquerque and was often found out in the practice area around the airport perfecting “maneuvers”. He’d take any willing, brave soul out with him to practice stalls, cross wind landings, go arounds, and other untold “maneuvers”. He and Peggy flew 5497 from Albuquerque to Pagosa Springs most weekends. Bryant loved to circle around his friends’ homes in Pagosa, and then actually “strafe” their homes, and his own cabin as well, until everyone came out and waved. He’d fly in low and tip his wings in acknowledgement. He’d take his grandkids up and have them take control of the yoke and dive downward like they were a fighter pilot, like the Red Baron, and he’d enthusiastically yell out, “pow, pow pow!” If that wasn’t enough, he would always invoke a little concern in his passengers upon landing when he would call out, “I’ve got a wheel!” as if surprised this time. 5497 Sierra brought a mobility that he and Peggy dreamed of as they traveled around the country together.

Bryant always loved music. Man did he love music. While in college at the U of I he was the life of the party in his fraternity Kappa Sigma. He and five of his fraternity brothers formed a band, the Cesspool Six, where Bryant played the piano and was known as Jazz Lemon. They’d play long into the night belting out songs like Sweet Georgia Brown and Five Foot Two, Eyes of Blue. He played by ear and could pick up on most any tune. His love for music prevailed throughout his entire life. He always turned the volume up loud, in the car or in the house, and sang at the top of his lungs and if possible, did a festive little jig. Every holiday had him at the piano with the whole family gathered round cavorting about and having a great time. Many a campfire had him with his Ukulele singing and entertaining, as well.

Bryant loved adventure. He and Peggy were world travelers and they passed on their passion for travel and adventure to their children, and grandchildren as well. They did so by taking the entire family on many amazing trips so they could spend time together. The most important thing to Bryant and Peggy was spending time with their family and friends. Bryant and Peggy traveled all around the globe through South America and southern Chile tasting Malbec with friends in Mendoza, to Peru (Cusco and Machu Picchu), to the Galapagos, to Eastern Europe and the Danube, to Italy, Greece, Turkey, France, the Alps and Germany, Norway, Africa, Alaska, and so on. They also took each grandchild on a special trip to commemorate their 12th birthday. One of the grandest adventures they took their children and grandchildren on was a week on the Royal Clipper through the Lesser Antilles to celebrate their 50th Wedding Anniversary. Bryant and his children and grandchildren were fortunate to recently repeat his trip to the Galapagos and Peru. He wanted them to see the natural wonder and beauty he had experienced with Peggy. It was a trip and a memory of a lifetime for all.

Bryant loved his family and friends. He prioritized spending time with his loved ones, and they prioritized spending time with him as well. Whether it was taking a drive, camping, playing Yahtzee or crazy eights, sitting around a fire reading Robert Service, or watching football, he loved the company of his family and friends. The more, the merrier, was always his philosophy and what he liked best was for all to be gathered round enjoying life together. After all, his humor, his antics, his drive to get us out with him was fueled by his need to see us enjoy life. He would do things on his own, but his happiness came from others experiencing the life that he loved.

Bryant was preceded in death by his beloved Peggy. He is survived by his four loving children: Christine Lemon Schmidt of Pagosa Springs, CO; and Bill Lemon and his wife Pamela, Catherine Lemon, and Karen Lemon Gebhardt and her husband Fredrick all of Albuquerque, NM. He also has 5 wonderful grandchildren who adore him: Patrick Lemon and his wife Kassi, Jacob Lemon, Christian Schmidt, Michael Schmidt, and William Gebhardt. Bryant will be missed immensely and will always remain a profound part of his loved ones' lives. His light will burn forever bright in their hearts.

A Celebration of Life/Memorial Service will be held for all of Bryant’s friends and relatives August 2, 2024, 1:00 PM, St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church, 601 Montano Rd. NW, Albuquerque, NM 87107.