DEAN JOHN D. LYONS, JR.: 1947-1966

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Before Arizona Law Deanship

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John D. Lyons, Jr., was born on April 3, 1904, in Monticello, New York.^[1] A son of an attorney, he was eldest of three boys and grew up on a farm.^[2] Lyons earned his bachelor of arts degree in 1923 from Cornell University.^[3] When Lyons fell ill with tuberculosis in his last year at Cornell, doctors recommended Lyons move to a dry climate to recover from the disease and his family bought a home in Tucson, Arizona.^[4]

After regaining his health, Lyons attended the University of Arizona College of Law where he served as Student Body President.^[5] During his law school years, Lyons was an active member of the social fraternity, Kappa Delta Ro, and the professional law fraternity, Delta Theta Phi.^[6] Lyons earned top marks, ranked second in his class, and graduated with his juris doctor cum laude in 1932.^[7]

Lyons was the only student in his class of 30 to get hired in Arizona^[8] during the Depression.^[9] He worked at E.T. “Tim” Cusick’s law office in 1932.^[10] Although Lyons did not receive pay, he was compensated with office space and library access.^[11] The law firm eventually became Cusick & Lyons, where Lyons was employed until 1945.^[12]

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Lyons married his wife, Nan Elizabeth Shurtz, in 1938. Nan was a University of California at Los Angeles graduate.^[13] She and Lyons had three children: Nancy, Johnny, and Rick.^[14]  Their son, John III, followed in his father’s footsteps and pursued law at Stanford University,^[15] while their daughter, Nancy, married and moved to California.^[16]

Lyons served as the Tucson City Attorney from Jan. 1941-June 1944. He resigned to care for his private practice, which was impacted after his partner, Cusick, and assistant, Thomas McKay, left to serve in the armed forces during WWII.^[17] Lyons also served as a Pima County Superior Court Judge from May 1945-Dec. 1946. He lectured at the University of Arizona College of Law from 1940-1941 and again from 1946-1947. ^[18]

Tenure as Dean

Lyons was appointed dean of the College of Law on July 1, 1947.^[19] He was one of the longest serving deans with a tenure of 19 years. During his time as dean, Lyons dealt with myriad issues and growing pains, including overcrowded classrooms and a lack of space in Douglass Hall due to thereturn of WWII veterans.^[20] Under Lyons’ leadership, the College of Law became three times larger, growing from 160 students and 5 faculty in 1947 to 464 students and 16 faculty in 1966, his last year as dean.^[21] Lyons implemented the Law School Admission Test in 1955.^[22] In 1959, Lyons established the Arizona Law Review, the College of Law’s flagship student-edited journal, along with many new law courses including seminars.^[23]

Lyons oversaw the College of Law’s move to Franklin Hall in 1960. Soon after moving into its new home, it became apparent that Franklin Hall was insufficient in size to accommodate the growing college. At the same time, Lyons urged the university to respond to changes in legal education and the university acquiesced by, in part, allocating $120,000 to the library to expand its collection.^[24]

Lyons was involved in numerous activities beyond those expected of him as dean. He was a public member of the Regional Wage Stabilization board from 1951-1953.^[25] Lyons took a leave of absence to serve on the Regional Wage Stabilization board for the US government during the Korean War.^[26] He was the chairman of the Committee on Continuing Education for the State Bar of Arizona from about 1952-1961. From 1953-1960, Lyons worked as an Arbitrator for the Mediation and Conciliation Service. He was a member of the Special Committee on Relations between Church and State for the United Presbyterian Church, 1962-1963. He was also a member of the Arizona Governor’s Committee on Reapportionment in 1964. ^[27]

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In 1965, University of Arizona President Dr. Richard Harvill praised Lyons’ efforts as dean when he learned of Lyons’ decision to return to teaching.^[28] In October of the same year, Lyons was recognized for his service during University of Arizona’s homecoming week.^[29] In 1966, Lyons was honored with a plaque at the annual Law School Senior Breakfast by Professor J. Byron McCormick, former University of Arizona president and College of Law dean.^[30] At the annual Pima County Bar Association dinner in June 1966, Lyons was commemorated with a plaque for his service to the legal profession. That same evening, Arizona Governor Sam Goddard presented Lyons with the Merit Scroll and the Governor’s Seal plaque for service to the state of Arizona.^[31]

Lyons was remembered as having humor and grace when dealing with the many and varied competing demands during his long tenure as dean.^[32] Before his time as dean ended, Lyons penned “The First Fifty Years of The College of Law" in the Arizona Law Review.^[33]

Retirement and Beyond

After nearly 20 years at the helm, Lyons resigned from the deanship in 1966 and returned to his position as a full-time member of the College of Law faculty.^[34] After he stepped down, Lyons was named Dean Emeritus.^[35]

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As a professor, Lyons taught courses on contracts, government regulation of business, judicial remedies, unfair trade practices, and environmental law.^[36] He was also recognized for developing a course on environmental conservation law.^[37] In 1972, the Presidents Club presented Lyons the Creative Teaching Award for his 25 years of contributions to students while on the law faculty at the University of Arizona. 

Lyons was considered by many as one of “the finest teachers in the Law School” when he retired in 1973 after 26 years of service.^[38] In 1981, Lyons received the Distinguished Citizen Award for service to the community from the University of Arizona and passed away later that year.^[39] To honor his father, John Lyons III named a classroom after him (#21) on the law library’s lower level.^[40]

-- Tanya Furlong (’26)