Pearse Lyons

The Irish-born Kentucky billionaire and founder of international agribusiness company Alltech has died. Pearse Lyons was 73. Alltech released a statement saying Lyons died Thursday from an acute lung condition that developed during recovery from heart surgery in November. Dr. Lyons received his bachelor’s degree from University College Dublin, Ireland, graduating with first-class honors. He continued into postgraduate study at the British School of Malting and Brewing in Birmingham, where he gained masters and doctoral degrees in brewing science from the University of Birmingham. In fact, he was the first Irishman to receive a formal degree in brewing and distilling from the university. He interned at the Guinness and Harp Lager breweries and later worked as a biochemist for Irish Distillers, makers of Jameson whiskey. He was instrumental in designing the Midleton Distillery for Jameson, an opportunity which he considered to be a highlight of his early career. Dr. Lyons moved to the United States in 1976, having been asked by Irish distillery Gems Whisky to help ethanol distillers in Kentucky improve their processes and launched Alltech from his Lexington garage in 1980. The company focuses on all-natural nutrition products for animals and humans. Dr. Lyons is survived by his wife, Deirdre; daughter, Aoife; and son, Mark and Mark’s wife, Holly. His business, Alltech, will remain privately held under the ownership of the family.