Frank Lyon

Frank Lyon (December 30, 1867 – November 29, 1955) was an American lawyer, newspaper publisher and land developer in Arlington County, Virginia. He developed the land in modern-day Clarendon, Virginia, Lyon Park and Lyon Village.

Early life and education Frank Lyon was born on December 30, 1867, in Petersburg, Virginia, to Mary Margaret (née Springs) and John Lyon. His siblings included army officer LeRoy Springs Lyon. His father was a lawyer in Petersburg and served in the office of the Advocate General of the Confederacy during the Civil War. The family moved to Richmond in 1875. He was educated in public schools in Richmond and graduated high school in 1884.

In 1907, Commissioner Franklin K. Lane of the ICC appointed Lyon to the semi-judicial position of examiner. In 1912, he resigned this position to practice exclusively before the ICC in matters concerning steamship lines and coal companies.

His development firm bore his own name until 1920 when he partnered with C. Walton Fitch. Then, the firm was called Lyon and Finch. Later it was renamed to Lyon Properties Inc. Following the development of Lyon Park, Lyon acquired rights to the tract adjoining Clarendon. In 1923, the firm started development of Lyon Village, a 191-acre tract of land. The properties sold well until the Great Depression in the 1930s.

In 1933, Lyon turned down a nomination on the Prohibition Party ticket for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia.

Personal life In 1889, Lyon and Georgie Hays Wright moved to Alexandria County and built a small house on Lubber Run near Ballston, Virginia. They were married on August 5, 1890, near Manassas, Virginia. She was the daughter of John V. Wright, a member of the U.S. Congress, member of the Confederate States Congress, colonel in the Confederate States Army and circuit judge of Columbia, Tennessee. Margaret Springs – married Charles W. Smith, a business associate of Frank Lyon. Their daughter Mary Bittinger and grandson Charles Bittinger III continued the property management business in Arlington County The family lived there until 1923.