A Kansas native, he earned his bachelor’s degree in mathematics and accounting from Southwestern College and his MBA from Baylor University (Waco, Texas). He began his career at a Big 4 (then Big 8) accounting firm before becoming the controller and director of finance and accounting of a manufacturing company and a trucking company, both closely-held sister corporations operating in Wichita, Kansas. Lyle joined the business faculty at Southwestern College in Winfield while also starting an accounting practice, which he expanded to full-time status in 1996.