Lyle worked as a journeyman printer for many newspapers in Southern Illinois, including The Greenville Advocate for many years. He was a columnist for the Advocate with his column entitled "Thoughts In Passing", which ran in the paper for several years. In 1949 he helped establish the Explorer Scouts in Greenville, Illinois, and in 1950 was a founding member of Boy Scout Troop 50 in Greenville.
