Ralph D Erickson (June 25, 1922-2006) graduated from Lane in 1940 and went on to found PADI, an international association of scuba diving instructors which has trained the most scuba divers in the United States. Ralph attended USC on a swimming scholarship after being a member of state championship swimming teams at Lane. He enlisted in the Army Rangers during WWII and was a parachute instructor. He fought in the Battle of Remagen and was awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star for his services. Ralph graduated from Northwestern University after the war and coached swimming and water polo at Loyola University of Chicago for 20 years. Erickson was inducted into the International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame in 2007.