John F. Doyle

John F. Doyle
Member of the Nebraska Legislature from the 29th district
In office
January 5, 1943 – January 4, 1949
Preceded byJoe Knezacek
Succeeded byHugh Carson
In office
January 3, 1939 – January 7, 1941
Preceded byTracy Frost
Succeeded byJoe Knezacek
Member of the Nebraska House of Representatives from the 65th district
In office
January 1, 1935 – January 5, 1937
Preceded byGeorge W. O'Malley
Succeeded byPosition abolished
Personal details
Born(1892-10-08)October 8, 1892
DiedDecember 19, 1962(1962-12-19) (aged 70)
PartyDemocratic
Spouse
Anne Agnes Dewhurst
​
(m. 1920)​
Children3
OccupationMerchant, insurance
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Army
Years of service
1917–1918

John F. Doyle (October 8, 1892 – December 19, 1962) was a Democratic politician from Nebraska who served as a member of the Nebraska House of Representatives from the 65th district from 1935 to 1937 and as a member of the Nebraska Legislature from the 29th district from 1939 to 1941 and again from 1943 to 1949.

Early life

Doyle was born in Greeley, Nebraska, on October 8, 1892. He graduated from Greeley High School, and served in the U.S. Army during World War I. Doyle owned and operated a grocery store in Greeley for forty years, and after retiring, he sold insurance. He served on the Greeley City Council and as chairman of the Greeley County Democratic Party.

Nebraska Legislature

In 1934, Doyle ran to succeed former State Representative George O'Malley in the 65th district, which included Greeley and Wheeler counties. O'Malley, the former Speaker of the Nebraska House of Represntatives, resigned from the legislature in 1933 upon his appointment as the internal revenue collector in Omaha. In the Democratic primary, Doyle faced John A. Nealon, N. H. Teilmann, Ernest R. Murphy, and E. H. Hoefener. Doyle won the primary, receiving 32 percent of the vote. He advanced to the general election, where he faced C. M. Anderson, the Republican nominee, and narrowly won, receiving 53 percent of the vote to Anderson's 47 percent.

Effective with the 1936 election, the state legislature was consolidated from a bicameral body to a unicameral body. Doyle ran for re-election in the 29th district, which included Greeley, Howard, Valley, and Wheeler counties. In the nonpartisan primary, Doyle faced seven opponents: former State Representative E. H. Sorenson, former State Senator F. E. McCormick, State senator Homer Leggett, State Representative Tracy Frost, Stanley Mead, S. W. Roe, and J. W. Liberski. In the primary election, Doyle placed first, winning 24 percent of the vote, and he advanced to the general election with Frost, who narrowly placed second with 18 percent. In the general election, Frost narrowly defeated Doyle, winning 52 percent of the vote to Doyle's 48 percent.

Frost ran for re-election in 1938, and Doyle ran against him. Doyle placed first in the primary, winning 22 percent of the vote to Frost's 20 percent. They advanced to the general election, which Doyle won in a landslide, winning 64 percent of the vote to Frost's 34 percent.

Doyle ran for re-election to a second term in 1940. He was challenged by former Valley County Clerk Joe Knezacek and Charles Leftwich. Doyle placed first in the primary, receiving 45 percent of the vote to Knezacek's 41 percent and Leftwich's 14 percent. Knezacek narrowly defeated Doyle by a thin margin in the general election, receiving 53 percent of the vote to Doyle's 47 percent.

In 1942, Knezacek declined to seek re-election, and Doyle ran to succeed him. He faced former State Senator Tracy Frost and insurance agent E. C. James. Doyle won 45 percent of the vote in the primary, and advanced to the general election with James, who placed second with 32 percent. Doyle won re-election in the general election, defeating James, 55–45 percent.

Doyle ran for re-election in 1944. He was re-elected unopposed.

In 1946, Doyle sought another term, and was challenged by real estate broker Harold Conklin. In the primary election, Doyle narrowly placed first, receiving 53 percent of the vote to Conklin's 47 percent. In the general election, he defeated Conklin by 189 votes, receiving 51 percent of the vote to Conklin's 49 percent.

Doyle ran for another term in 1948, and faced a crowded field of opponents. Two of his former opponents, former State Senator Tracy Frost and Harold Conklin, filed to run against him, as did Ord City Councilman Hugh Carson. Doyle received 30 percent of the vote, and placed second in the primary to Carson, who received 37 percent of the vote. Carson defeated Doyle in the general election, winning 57 percent of the vote to Doyle's 43 percent.

In 1952, Doyle challenged Carson for re-election. In the primary, he faced former Greeley County Commissioner C. M. Anderson, Valley County Supervisor Bert Cummins, and farmer A. W. Krueger. Doyle placed a distant fourth in the primary, receiving 11 percent of the vote.

Death

Doyle died on December 19, 1962, while spending the winter in Jacksonville, Florida, at his son's house.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Ex-State Senator Is Dead". Grand Island Independent. December 20, 1962. p. 1. Retrieved April 28, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ↑ Nebraska Blue Book 1946 (PDF). Nebraska Legislative Council. 1947. Retrieved April 28, 2026.
  3. ↑ "Greeley Man files for O'Malley's Place". Omaha World-Herald. January 10, 1934. p. 15. Retrieved April 28, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ "O'Malley Resigns as State Legislator". Omaha World-Herald. July 14, 1933. p. 6. Retrieved April 28, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ Swanson, Harry R. (1934). Official Report of the Nebraska State Canvassing Board, Primary Election, Held August 14, 1934 (PDF). Nebraska Secretary of State. Retrieved April 28, 2026.
  6. ↑ Swanson, Harry R. (1934). Official Report of the Nebraska State Canvassing Board, General Election, Held November 6, 1934 (PDF). Nebraska Secretary of State. Retrieved April 28, 2026.
  7. ↑ "Senator Norris Keeps Fog Over State Picture". Grand Island Independent. January 18, 1936. p. 7. Retrieved April 28, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ↑ "Doyle and Frost to Compete for Post". Grand Island Independent. April 21, 1936. p. 9. Retrieved April 28, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ Nebraska Blue Book 1936 (PDF). Nebraska Legislative Council. 1937. p. 471. Retrieved April 28, 2026.
  10. ↑ "Tracy Frost of St. Paul Files". Greeley Citizen. March 10, 1938. p. 1. Retrieved April 28, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ "John Doyle, Greeley, Files For Unicameral". Lincoln Star. May 26, 1938. p. 10. Retrieved April 28, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ↑ "Eighty-Six Are Seeking Places In Unicameral". Grand Island Independent. August 1, 1938. p. 5. Retrieved April 28, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. 1 2 Swanson, Harry R. (1938). Official Report of the Nebraska State Canvassing Board, Primary Election, August 9, 1938, General Election, November 8, 1938 (PDF). Nebraska Secretary of State. Retrieved April 28, 2026.
  14. ↑ "John F. Doyle Files in Unicameral Race". Ord Quiz. January 31, 1940. p. 1. Retrieved April 28, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ↑ "Ord Man Files for Legislature". Grand Island Independent. February 10, 1940. p. 3. Retrieved April 28, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. 1 2 Swanson, Harry R. (1940). Official Report of the Nebraska State Canvassing Board, Primary Election, Held April 9, 1940, General Election, Held November 5, 1940 (PDF). Nebraska Secretary of State. Retrieved April 28, 2026.
  17. ↑ "Doyle of Greeley Files for Legislature". Scotia Register. June 18, 1942. p. 1. Retrieved April 28, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ↑ "Carpenter urged to make race". Nebraska State Journal. Lincoln, Nebraska. July 3, 1942. p. 1. Retrieved April 28, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ↑ "Ord Man Enters Unicameral Race". Greeley Citizen. July 2, 1942. p. 1. Retrieved April 28, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. 1 2 Marsh, Frank (1942). Official Report of the Nebraska State Canvassing Board, Primary Election, Held August 11, 1942, General Election, Held November 3, 1942 (PDF). Nebraska Secretary of State. Retrieved April 28, 2026.
  21. ↑ "Sen. J. F. Doyle Asks Re-election". Lincoln Star. January 25, 1944. p. 10. Retrieved April 28, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ↑ "A Heavy Vote Expected Here". Greeley Citizen. November 2, 1944. p. 1. Retrieved April 28, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ↑ "Senator Doyle To Seek Re-election". Greeley Citizen. January 31, 1946. p. 1. Retrieved April 28, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. ↑ "Who's Who in Primary". Omaha World-Herald. June 8, 1946. p. 2. Retrieved April 28, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. 1 2 Marsh, Frank (1946). Official Report of the Nebraska State Canvassing Board, Primary Election, June 11, 1946, General Election, November 5, 1946 (PDF). Nebraska Secretary of State. Retrieved April 28, 2026.
  26. ↑ "Doyle Will File For Reelection". Greeley Citizen. February 26, 1948. p. 1. Retrieved April 28, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  27. ↑ "Demos' State Ticket Filled". Lincoln Evening Journal. March 3, 1948. p. 1. Retrieved April 28, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  28. ↑ "Hugh Carson Favors More Irrigation". Scotia Register. March 18, 1948. p. 8. Retrieved April 28, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  29. 1 2 Marsh, Frank (1948). Official Report of the Nebraska State Canvassing Board, Primary Election, April 13, 1948, General Election, November 2, 1948 (PDF). Nebraska Secretary of State. Retrieved April 28, 2026.
  30. 1 2 "Anderson, Doyle File for Legislature". Scotia Register. February 28, 1952. p. 1. Retrieved April 28, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  31. ↑ "Bert Cummins Heads Valley Supervisors". Lincoln Star. January 12, 1952. p. 5. Retrieved April 28, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  32. ↑ "A. W. Krueger Enters Race for State Senator From This District". The Phonograph. St. Paul, Nebraska. February 20, 1952. p. 1. Retrieved April 28, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  33. ↑ Marsh, Frank (1952). Official Report of the Nebraska State Canvassing Board, Primary Election, April 1, 1952, General Election, November 4, 1952 (PDF). Nebraska Secretary of State. Retrieved April 28, 2026.