Born February 14, 1874, J. Irvine Lyle was raised on the family farm in Fayette County, Kentucky. In 1896, he received a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, and a master’s degree in mechanical engineering 1902, from the Kentucky State University, now the University of Kentucky. While at the University he was a member of the varsity football team, Sigma Chi social fraternity and Tau Beta Pi engineering honor society.