John A. Lyall served as President of AFSCME Ohio Council 8 from 2007 to 2019, having been unanimously elected for four consecutive terms. Lyall served the Council and its membership in various capacities for over 50 years. 

A native of Cleveland, Lyall first joined AFSCME as a member of Local 2681, City of North Olmsted. He began his career with AFSCME Ohio Council 8 in 1979 as an assistant administrator for the Ohio AFSCME Care Plan. He went on to serve as an organizer, Cleveland Staff Representative, Cleveland Regional Director, and State Organizing Director. In 2001, he was elected First Vice President and then President in 2007. He was also elected to serve as AFSCME International Vice President from 2007 to 2019. Brother Lyall is proud to have worked his way up the ranks in his union, earning the respect of the members, staff, and union leadership alike. 

After retiring in 2020, Lyall has remained active in the Ohio Democratic Party and serves on the Ohio Election Commission. He’s an avid gardener and golfer who enjoys traveling the country with his wife and visiting their three children. Lyall is a graduate of Baldwin-Wallace College and the Harvard University Trade Union Program.