A 1947 graduate of RFHS, Lyle earned nine varsity letters in track, football and basketball. He was a 3-time first team All-Conference selection in basketball and a first team All-Conference selection in football his senior year. Lyle was the leading scorer on the 1947 basketball team that went 25-1 and lost in the sectional finals. Upon graduation he was the single season scoring leader with 441 points. Lyle continued to play baseball, basketball and football at Monmouth College where he earned nine varsity letters. After graduating from Monmouth, Lyle spent the next 33 years teaching and coaching in Byron and Dixon.