In 1989 President Carlyon was surprised with a celebration for 25 years as the Delta college president. His colleagues, friends, and family including his young granddaughter [pictured] came out to celebrate him which ended up including over 300 people. One of the biggest surprises was an oil portrait painted by a former Delta student, Armin Mersmann, who spent over 300 hours to create a portrait that was gifted to D. J. Carlyon. The portrait used to hang near the president's office, but today the portrait can be found in the Delta college library residing over the Donald J. Carlyon Papers Collection. The party included tributes, congratulatory messages and kudos to his many accomplishments. Carlyon's children also put together a bound book with reminiscing's from their move to Michigan and how proud they were of their father.
Photofile, President Carlyon. Twenty Fifth Anniversary Celebration, Series 2, Donald J. Carlyon Papers, President's Office Record Group, Delta College Archives, University Center, Michigan
Bound Book, President Carlyon. Twenty Fifth Anniversary Celebration, Series 2, Donald J. Carlyon Papers, President's Office Record Group, Delta College Archives, University Center, Michigan
