Bernard W. Doyle: Difference between revisions

'''Bernard Wendall Doyle''' (1873&nbsp;– December 26, 1949) was an American [[industrialist]] and [[philanthropist]]. In 1901, Doyle cofounded the [[Dupont Viscoloid Company|Viscoloid Company]] in [[Leominster, Massachusetts]].<ref name=Tremblay2006Industry>{{cite book | author = Leominster Historical Commission Book Committee |author2= Tremblay, Gilbert P. | year = 2006 | title = Combing through Leominster's History | url = | chapter = Business and Industry | chapterurl = | publisher = Office of the Mayor | isbn = | pages = 145–174}}</ref><ref name=Hazzard>{{cite book | author = Hazzard, Thomas |author2= Sanabria, Diane | year = 1999 | title = Leominster | url = | chapter = Business and Industry | chapterurl = | publisher = Arcadia Publishing | isbn = | pages = 9–32}}</ref> Doyle helped pioneer the use of pyroxylin plastic for making hair combs and accessories.<ref name=Hazzard /><ref name=halloffame>{{cite web| url=http://www.plasticshalloffame.com/articles.php?articleId=50| work=The Plastics Academy, Inc. | author= Plastics Academy Staff | title=Bernard W. Doyle Hall of Fame Entry | date=March 3, 2004}}</ref> Soon the Viscoloid Company would expand into a range of products and became one of the leading pyroxlyin plastic manufactures in the country.<ref name= halloffame /> Doyle would also help found the Merchants National Bank of Leominster in 1912.<ref name=Globe>{{cite news| url= | work=Daily Boston Globe | author= | title=Bernard W. Doyle | date=December 27, 1949}}</ref> By 1923, Doyle had become chief executive of the entire Viscoloid Company and by that same year, the company had a capital of three million dollars and employed over 60% of the Leominster workforce.

In 1925, he sold his interest of the Viscoloid Company to Dupont de Nemours. Bernard Doyle remained on as vice-president of the renamed Dupont Viscoloid Company until his retirement. The Leominster complex was also renamed the “Doyle Works” of the Dupont Viscoloid Company.

At the time of his death, Doyle was a director of the Merchants National Bank of Boston, Boston Edison Company, [[Boston and Maine Railroad]], Massachusetts Life Insurance Company of [[Springfield, Massachusetts|Springfield]], member of the Finance Committee of the [[United States Rubber Company]], directory of the Safety Fund National Bank of [[Fitchburg, Massachusetts|Fitchburg]], and vice-president of the Independent Lock Company of Fitchburg.<ref name=Globe /> Doyle was also a trustee of both [[Northeastern University]] and [[Cushing Academy]].<ref name=Globe />

Bernard Doyle first married Elizabeth Haley, together they had two daughters: Marjorie Doyle Rockwell and Louise Doyle.<ref name=Tremblay2006Industry/><ref name=Globe /> After his wife's death, Doyle remarried in 1949 to Rachel Butler. Bernard Doyle died on December 26, 1949.<ref name=Globe />