Brother Gerald Lyles '64 Receives Distinguished Engineering Alumni/Alumnae Award

Recently, Brother Gerald Lyles '64 was honored along with 12 other Purdue graduates with the Distinguished Engineering Alumni/Alumnae Award for guidance in leading the Lyles Family Enterprise to tremendous prosperity, providing the leadership to see the Lyles Construction Group become a top 50 environmental firm and the second-largest environmental contractor in California. The award is presented to men and women who have distinguished themselves in any field in ways that reflect favorably on Purdue University, the engineering profession, or society in general. These graduates are engaged in engineering work and their record of accomplishments is indicated by their growth into positions of increasing responsibility.

Having a grandfather who was a Purdue mechanical engineering professor and parents who both were Purdue graduates, it seemed natural that Gerald Lyles would become a Boilermaker. What he may never have anticipated is that the Purdue engineering school to grant him his degree would one day bear the family surname.

Lyles says Purdue prepared him well for his career in pipeline, utility, concrete and mechanical construction with the firm that was started in 1945 by his parents, William Jr. and Elizabeth Lyles.

He points particularly to one overarching lesson as most valuable: “Time management, especially since I was in a curriculum requiring a minimum of 153 semester units to graduate in eight semesters,” he says. “I graduated with 163 units in eight semesters without summer sessions — while enjoying all sporting events, concerts, convocations, student activities and fraternity life.

Click HERE to read more about Brother Lyles' life and career.