Bill Doyle | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Doyle in 2007 | |
| Member of the Vermont Senate from the Washington district | |
| In office 1969–2017 | |
| Preceded by | Daniel B. Ruggles III |
| Succeeded by | Francis K. Brooks |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 8, 1926 New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Died | August 15, 2024 (aged 98) Northfield, Vermont, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Olene Ottoway (m. 1956) |
| Children | 3 |
| Residence | Montpelier, Vermont |
| Alma mater | Princeton University Columbia University |
| Profession | Academic, author |
William T. Doyle (May 8, 1926 – August 15, 2024) was an American politician, academic, and author who served as a Republican member of the Vermont Senate. As a senator from the Washington Vermont Senate District from 1969 to 2017, he is the longest-serving state legislator in Vermont history.
Doyle was born in New York City, and raised in Sea Girt, New Jersey. He graduated from Princeton University in 1949, and received master's (1955) and doctoral (1960) degrees from Columbia University. In 1958, Doyle became a professor of political science at Johnson State College, and continued to teach while serving in Vermont's part-time legislature. After becoming a resident of Montpelier, he became active in politics as a Republican and served on the party's city and county committees, in addition to serving on the city school board and in other local government positions.
After two unsuccessful campaigns, in 1968 Doyle won election to the Vermont Senate. He continued to win reelection every two years until 2016, when he was defeated in his bid for a 25th two-year term. At 48 years, Doyle's service makes him the longest-serving member of the state legislature in Vermont history. During his tenure, he was the longtime chairman of the Senate's Government Operations Committee, and he served as both Assistant Minority Leader and Minority Leader.
After being defeated for reelection, Doyle continued teaching at Johnson State College until retiring in 2018. The author of a 1984 book on Vermont political history, The Vermont Political Tradition, in 2018 he also published a second work, A Lasting Impression: Vermont Historical Articles and Local Politics.