Honor A Veteran

Albany County Honors World War II Veteran And Former Albany County Health Department Commissioner Dr. John Lyons

Albany County Executive Mike Breslin and the Honor-A-Veteran Committee commemorated World War II veteran Dr. John Lyons in a ceremony held on Monday, October 4, 2004 at the Albany County Office Building.  

Lyons lived most of his life in Albany. He attended Christian Brothers Academy, Union College and Albany Medical College, earning his medical degree in 1937. He served during World War II in the United States Army as a major with the 33rd General Hospital in the North African and Italian campaigns.

After the war, he practiced internal medicine until 1967 when he became the commissioner of the Albany County Department of Health until 1982. As commissioner, he oversaw the design and construction of the Albany County Health facility in Albany’s South End, which was dedicated in his name in February 2001; created the Albany County Sewer District in 1968; increased access to prenatal care for women; founded the first-ever walk-in clinics to address the growing problem of sexually transmitted diseases while maintaining patients’ confidentiality; and established the lead paint program, the Chronic Chest Disease Clinic and Pediatric Care units. Lyons also served as the division physician to the New York State Police for 27 years and was a consultant to the State Department of Health for seven years.

Lyons served his community in many capacities including associate professor of medicine at Albany Medical Center and St. Peter’s Hospital; consultant to the V.A. Hospital; a member of the Council of Community Services, the Albany County Mental Health Board, the New York State Health Planning Advisory Council; the board of Blue Cross-Blue Shield; the advisory board of Child’s Hospital; the board of Bender Laboratory and the Environmental Conservation Advisory Committee.

Printer-friendly page