The Congregation of the Holy Spirit, founders and sponsors of Duquesne University, presented the Spiritan Cor Unum Award to William J. Lyons at a special Mass last fall in the Chapel.

Established in 1996, the Cor Unum Award is presented to an individual who exemplifies the charism of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit as well as Duquesne’s mission and goals. It was last presented in 2006 to Duquesne President Charles J. Dougherty.

Lyons earned a bachelor’s degree in business in 1970 and master’s degree in accounting in 1978 from Duquesne University’s Palumbo-Donahue School of Business. In 2013, he retired as chief financial officer at CONSOL Energy, where he first started working as an accountant in 1976 after serving as a commissioned officer in the United States Air Force.

In addition to his membership on boards of numerous firms, Lyons was elected to the Duquesne University Board of Directors in 2005, ultimately serving as vice chair of the board and chair of its Audit and Finance Committee before finishing his term this past June.

Recognized for his professional reputation and experience, Lyons received the 2002 Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award from the Palumbo-Donahue School of Business. In 2004, he was named an A.J. Palumbo School of Business Administration Distinguished Accounting Alumnus.

Lyons, a resident of Bridgeville, has also shared his expertise and time with the Spiritans, for whom he has served as chair of the USA Province’s Audit Committee.