Marguerite A. Richard Lyle was an associate professor of Communication at the University of Southwestern Louisiana (now the University of Louisiana at Lafayette), a communication consultant, member of the Lafayette Parish School Board, and a local civic leader.

Ms. Lyle was born on Sept. 13, 1929 in Lafayette, LA, the daughter of Clarence Phillip and Jacqueline Mathilde (Weil) Richard. She died Nov. 27, 1994 in Lafayette. She married Michael G. Lyle on Aug. 3, 1952, and they had five children. She received her bachelor’s degree in speech and English in 1950 and her master’s degree in education in 1971, both from U.S.L. She taught school in Oberlin, LA before joining the faculty of the Communication Department at U.S.L. in 1964. Her teaching and research interests included listening, memory, thinking skills, and communication, topics that also informed her work as a communication consultant. She left the University in 1984 to become a full-time communication consultant.

Ms. Lyle was also active in civic affairs. She was a member of the Lafayette Parish School Board from 1981 until her death, and was remembered for putting the best interests of students before any other consideration. She also helped create the Lafayette Natural History Museum and Planetarium and chaired the Museum Commission. She served as curriculum chair for Leadership Lafayette, and served on the Board of Directors for Downtown Lafayette. She was the first woman to serve as parish president for St. Pius X Catholic Church.