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Lyle Barber Nelson (1949-) was born in McCall, Idaho on February 9, 1949. He graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1971 with a degree in engeineering; he left the military with the rank of captain in 1977. He later earned an Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from the University of Southern California and a Doctor of Pholosophy (PhD) degree in human deveopment from the Fielding Institute. Nelson returned to McCall, Idaho and became the program director for Integrative Medicine at McCall Memeorial Hospital.

A highly decorated athlete, Lyle Nelson won thirteen United States and North American championships during his career as a biathlete. He competed in biathlon in four Olympic Winter Games from 1976-1988 and carried the United States of America team flag during the opening ceremonies for the 1988 Calgary games. Nelson also competed in the National Broadcasting Company (NBC) televised endurance challenge Survival of the Fittest and won that competition in 1984. In 2006 the Nordic and showshoe track at Idaho's Tamarack Resort was dedicated in his name. In 2012 Nelson was inducted into the Intermountain Ski Hall of Fame at the Alf Engen Ski Museum in Park City, Utah.