Born in South Norwalk, Connecticut, Lyons became an iron worker in 1916, and joined an independent local union.
[1] He later moved to Cleveland, where he joined the International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers.
In the role, he helped found the construction industry joint conference, and a national board for settling jurisdictional disputes.
He also served as a vice-president of the Metal Trades Department of the American Federation of Labor, and on various government committees.
He died in 1961, while still in office, with Arthur J. Goldberg describing him as "one of the most highly talented and dedicated labor statesmen I have had the good fortune to know".