Robert Edward Lyle Jr.

SAN ANTONIO, Texas — Robert Edward Lyle, Jr. died on Sunday, March 2, 2011, at the age of 85 after a long illness.

He was born on Jan. 26, 1926, in Atlanta, Ga., to the Rev. Robert E. Lyle, Sr. and Adeline (Cason) Lyle, who preceded him in death. He was married to Dr. Gloria (Gilbert) Lyle from 1947 until her death in 1996.

He was educated at Oxford College and Emory University with a B.A. in chemistry (1945) and a Master of Science degree in chemistry (1947). He attended graduate school at the University of Wisconsin, where he received his Ph.D. in organic chemistry in 1949.

He would remain a staunch "Badger" football fan for his entire life. He had a long academic career starting as an Assistant Professor with Oberlin College in Ohio (1949-1951); Assistant Professor (1951-1953); Associate Professor (1953-1957) and full Professor of Chemistry at the University of New Hampshire, Durham (1957-1976). He served as Professor and Chairman of the Department of Chemistry, The University of North Texas, Denton (1977-1979).

In 1979, he became Vice President of the Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at Southwest Research Institute where he remained until his retirement in 1991. During his retirement he served as Vice President of GRL Consultants (1992-2007). Dr. Lyle was a Visiting Professor at the University of Virginia, Charlottesville (1973-74) and the University of Grenoble, France (1976). He also was a Special Postdoctoral Fellow at Harvard University and Oxford University, England (1965-66). He served as an Adjunct Professor at Bowdoin College, Brunswick, Maine (1975-79) and the University of Texas at San Antonio (1985-).

Dr. Lyle served on the Editorial Board of Index Chemicus and was editor of the Alpha Chi Sigma publication, The Hexagon, for several years. He was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, Alpha Chi Sigma, Sigma Xi, and The Royal Society of Chemistry. He was a 60-plus year member of the American Chemical Society, where he served on the Nominations and Elections Committee; Publications Committee; Ad Hoc Committee for Society Action, Lecturer and Councilor. He worked as a Visiting Scientist and for the College Chemistry Consultants Service of the ACS Division of Chemical Education and as Chairman, Chairman-elect, board of directors and as Director of Operation Interface (1971) of the ACS Northeastern Section. He served on the National Academy of Sciences, National Research Council Committee for NSF Postdoctoral Fellowships (1961-64).

He was a member of the San Antonio Local Section of the ACS, where he established the Dr. Gloria G. Lyle Memorial Scholarship Fund. Dr. Lyle was the recipient of the Massachusetts Institute of Chemists, Section of American Institute of Chemists, Honor Scroll (1971) and the Harry and Carol Mosher Award (1986). Dr. Lyle had many students of whom he was extremely proud. They ranged from high school teachers to industrial chemists to university professors to a university president and a president of the American Chemical Society.

He published over 100 papers in collaboration with his students and was the holder of several patents. He always referred to his students as "my kids" and the interaction with them was what he missed most when he left teaching.

Robert Lyle is survived by his second wife, Anne (Kohl) Lyle of San Antonio; a cousin, Amanda Beason-Clair, of Atlanta; sister-in-law, Pauline Kohl of San Antonio; and a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Warren and Judith Kohl of Eliot, Maine.

He was described by many as being the "perfect southern gentleman." He had an infectious smile and a mischievous twinkle in his eye. He treated everyone as equals, was kind, generous, and loving. He will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved him.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, March 25, at University United Methodist Church, 5084 De Zavala, San Antonio 78249. Services will be followed by a reception in the John Wesley Room at the church. Burial will be in Atlanta, Ga.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the University United Methodist Church at the above address or to the Dr. Gloria G. and Dr. Robert E. Lyle Endowed Professorship of the University of New Hampshire. Donations should be sent to the University of New Hampshire Foundation, 9 Edgewood Road, Elliott Alumni Center, Durham, NH 03824.

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