J. Edwin Kyle, Jr., was born on Columbus Day in New Iberia, Louisiana. He attended Sewanee Military Academy, Tulane University and Louisiana State University.
Mr. Kyle served with distinction in the United States Navy during World War II and, later as Vice-President and General Manager of Kyle-Taylor Lumber Company, a family-owned business which serviced the oilfield industry with drilling mud, pipe storage, trucks, cranes, and labor services. He was also a founder and the first President and Chairman of the Board of Tidewater Marine, Inc. whose direct successor is Tidewater, Inc., the largest service boat company in the world.
Mr. Kyle is recognized nationally and regionally for his accomplishments in securing major partnerships between the business community, state government, the Corps of Engineers and various Congressional Committees associated with funding water resource development. He has been instrumental in conveying the ideas and needs of the maritime business community and the general safety of the public. He has fostered close working relationships among the Coast Guard, the Army Corps of Engineers, and local industry on a variety of river and port issues.
In 1997, Mr. Kyle was presented with the prestigious Silver Order of the deFleury Medal for Inspirational Leadership in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and for unwavering support of the Corps missions in the state of Louisiana and throughout the Mississippi Valley from 1967 to present. Mr. Kyle was the first civilian to receive the honor in the 200-year history of the deFleury award.