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Charles W. Lyons
Charles William Lyons SJ (January 31, 1868 – January 31, 1939) was an American Catholic priest who became the only Jesuit and likely the only educator in the United States to have served as the president of four colleges. Born in Boston, Massachusetts, he attended the local public schools before entering the wool industry. He abandoned his career in industry to enter the Society of Jesus. While a novice in Maryland, he suffered a nervous breakdown and was sent to Georgetown University as prefect. He then resumed his studies at Woodstock College, teaching intermittently at Gonzaga College in Washington, D.C. and Loyola College in Baltimore. After his ordination, he became a professor at St. Francis Xavier College in New York City and at Boston College.
In 1908, Lyons became the rector of Gonzaga College, where he remained for a year before being appointed the president of Saint Joseph's College in Philadelphia. While there, he had constructed a new building for the faculty, and his tenure came to an end when he became the president of Boston College in 1914. He continued the major construction plan of his predecessor, overseeing the completion of St. Mary's Hall and Alumni Field. He also dealt with the severe downturn in enrollment due to World War I. His term came to an end in 1919, and for the next several years, he taught at Boston College, was a priest at the Church of St. Ignatius Loyola in New York, oversaw the construction of Weston College, and led retreats around the country.
He was finally appointed president of Georgetown University in 1923. While he managed construction of the New North building, he was regarded as a poor leader, and his term ended in 1928. Lyons spent his final years as a missionary, and was awarded the Order of the Star of Romania.
Charles William Lyons was born on January 31, 1868, in Boston, Massachusetts. He was one of seven children, and his brother George also became a priest. As a young boy, he moved to South Boston and became a parishioner of the Church of Saints Peter and Paul. He attended the Boston public schools, including Bigelow Grammar School, and The English High School. Upon graduating from high school, he went to work in the wool industry, where he advanced quickly. During this time, he studied Latin on his own, and joined the Young Men's Catholic Association, which was founded by the Church of the Immaculate Conception in the South End of Boston. He eventually became a member of the association's board of directors.
Following his exposure to the Jesuits at Immaculate Conception Church, Lyons joined the Society of Jesus, and his application was accepted by the provincial superior, Thomas J. Campbell. He proceeded to the Jesuit novitiate in Frederick, Maryland, on August 14, 1890. He found his formation at Frederick difficult, and suffered a nervous breakdown during his juniorate, which affected his eyesight. As a result, he was sent to Georgetown University, where he was appointed prefect of the young students, who were fond of him. He remained in this position for one year, before resuming his studies in Frederick. Lyons completed his juniorate in 1895 and commenced his study of philosophy at Woodstock College. There, he gained a reputation as being a good tenor singer, and he assisted with the annual plays. During this time, he was also a catechist at St. Alphonsus Church in Woodstock, Maryland.
Following his philosophical studies, Lyons was sent to Gonzaga College in Washington, D.C., where he taught chemistry to the high school students. He was then sent to Loyola College in Baltimore, Maryland in 1901 to teach grammar and mathematics. The following year, Lyons returned to Woodstock for his theological studies. At Woodstock, he was ordained a priest in 1904. In 1906, he returned to Georgetown as the prefect of discipline. Lyons then spent his tertianship year at St. Andrew-on-Hudson in Hyde Park, New York.
Following his tertianship, Lyons was appointed a professor of philosophy and political economy at St. Francis Xavier College in New York City. He then transferred to Boston College as a professor of psychology.
Lyons was at Boston College for only a short while, before being appointed the rector of Gonzaga College. He assumed the position on December 27, 1908, succeeding Joseph J. Himmel. Shortly after he took office, an earthquake struck Messina, Italy, and the school offered a solemn high requiem mass for the victims, which was celebrated by Bishop Diomede Falconio and sung by Bonaventura Cerretti. In attendance were Bishop Denis J. O'Connell, Attorney General Charles Joseph Bonaparte, the Italian ambassador to the United States, Joseph Himmel, and priests from the Dominican, Franciscan, and Paulist orders. A banquet was held to honor the new president on February 10, which was attended by Congressman William Bourke Cockran. Lyons' term came to an end on July 8, 1909, when he was succeeded by Eugene DeL. McDonnell.
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Charles W. Lyons
Charles William Lyons SJ (January 31, 1868 – January 31, 1939) was an American Catholic priest who became the only Jesuit and likely the only educator in the United States to have served as the president of four colleges. Born in Boston, Massachusetts, he attended the local public schools before entering the wool industry. He abandoned his career in industry to enter the Society of Jesus. While a novice in Maryland, he suffered a nervous breakdown and was sent to Georgetown University as prefect. He then resumed his studies at Woodstock College, teaching intermittently at Gonzaga College in Washington, D.C. and Loyola College in Baltimore. After his ordination, he became a professor at St. Francis Xavier College in New York City and at Boston College.
In 1908, Lyons became the rector of Gonzaga College, where he remained for a year before being appointed the president of Saint Joseph's College in Philadelphia. While there, he had constructed a new building for the faculty, and his tenure came to an end when he became the president of Boston College in 1914. He continued the major construction plan of his predecessor, overseeing the completion of St. Mary's Hall and Alumni Field. He also dealt with the severe downturn in enrollment due to World War I. His term came to an end in 1919, and for the next several years, he taught at Boston College, was a priest at the Church of St. Ignatius Loyola in New York, oversaw the construction of Weston College, and led retreats around the country.
He was finally appointed president of Georgetown University in 1923. While he managed construction of the New North building, he was regarded as a poor leader, and his term ended in 1928. Lyons spent his final years as a missionary, and was awarded the Order of the Star of Romania.
Charles William Lyons was born on January 31, 1868, in Boston, Massachusetts. He was one of seven children, and his brother George also became a priest. As a young boy, he moved to South Boston and became a parishioner of the Church of Saints Peter and Paul. He attended the Boston public schools, including Bigelow Grammar School, and The English High School. Upon graduating from high school, he went to work in the wool industry, where he advanced quickly. During this time, he studied Latin on his own, and joined the Young Men's Catholic Association, which was founded by the Church of the Immaculate Conception in the South End of Boston. He eventually became a member of the association's board of directors.
Following his exposure to the Jesuits at Immaculate Conception Church, Lyons joined the Society of Jesus, and his application was accepted by the provincial superior, Thomas J. Campbell. He proceeded to the Jesuit novitiate in Frederick, Maryland, on August 14, 1890. He found his formation at Frederick difficult, and suffered a nervous breakdown during his juniorate, which affected his eyesight. As a result, he was sent to Georgetown University, where he was appointed prefect of the young students, who were fond of him. He remained in this position for one year, before resuming his studies in Frederick. Lyons completed his juniorate in 1895 and commenced his study of philosophy at Woodstock College. There, he gained a reputation as being a good tenor singer, and he assisted with the annual plays. During this time, he was also a catechist at St. Alphonsus Church in Woodstock, Maryland.
Following his philosophical studies, Lyons was sent to Gonzaga College in Washington, D.C., where he taught chemistry to the high school students. He was then sent to Loyola College in Baltimore, Maryland in 1901 to teach grammar and mathematics. The following year, Lyons returned to Woodstock for his theological studies. At Woodstock, he was ordained a priest in 1904. In 1906, he returned to Georgetown as the prefect of discipline. Lyons then spent his tertianship year at St. Andrew-on-Hudson in Hyde Park, New York.
Following his tertianship, Lyons was appointed a professor of philosophy and political economy at St. Francis Xavier College in New York City. He then transferred to Boston College as a professor of psychology.
Lyons was at Boston College for only a short while, before being appointed the rector of Gonzaga College. He assumed the position on December 27, 1908, succeeding Joseph J. Himmel. Shortly after he took office, an earthquake struck Messina, Italy, and the school offered a solemn high requiem mass for the victims, which was celebrated by Bishop Diomede Falconio and sung by Bonaventura Cerretti. In attendance were Bishop Denis J. O'Connell, Attorney General Charles Joseph Bonaparte, the Italian ambassador to the United States, Joseph Himmel, and priests from the Dominican, Franciscan, and Paulist orders. A banquet was held to honor the new president on February 10, which was attended by Congressman William Bourke Cockran. Lyons' term came to an end on July 8, 1909, when he was succeeded by Eugene DeL. McDonnell.
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