John R. Doyle, 76, veteran lawman

For John Richard Doyle Jr. "every day was like New Year's Eve."

"He was a happy guy," said longtime friend, James Kelly. "Everybody loved him."

But Jack Doyle had a nickname, "Slugger," indicating that he could be tough when it was called for.

And his long and harrowing career - as a wounded veteran of the Korean War, then as a Highway Patrol officer, district attorney's detective and U.S. marshal - often required toughness.

But he perfectly fit the old cliche of the tough guy with the heart of gold.

Jack Doyle, whose career in law enforcement spanned more than 30 years, died Wednesday after a lengthy illness. He was 76 and lived in the Far Northeast.

"He was fun-loving," said his wife of 54 years, the former Mary Harkins. "He was a good man. He would help anyone."

Jack was born in Philadelphia to John R. "Dutch" Doyle and the former Violet Ramsey. He grew up in St. Anne's Parish, in Fishtown, and graduated from Northeast Catholic High in 1949.

He entered the Army after graduation and was shipped to Korea with the 38th Infantry Regiment of the 2nd Infantry Division in 1950. He was wounded three times and received three Purple Heart medals.

He served as bazooka man, night sniper and radio operator. He was in the bitter fighting with North Korean and Chinese forces, battling the cold as well as the enemy. He suffered frostbite, as did many GIs in that war.

Each time, he was wounded, he would be sent to Japan to recuperate, then would return to on the line.

Jack told Jim Kelly how when winter clothes finally arrived they were pitched out of trucks and the men were hastily putting them on while firing at the onrushing Chinese.

After the Army, he worked in construction for a time before joining the Police Department in 1953.

Jack fractured his neck in a traffic accident and left the force in 1967.

He then joined the marshal's service, where he met Kelly. Both worked picking up and transporting prisoners and serving federal warrants until 1987, when Jack was again hurt on the job and finally retired.

"Jack was a great athlete," Jim Kelly said.

"He played football, basketball, baseball, but always for amateur teams. He was also a great dart shooter."

Jim told about a memorable basketball game when Jack's team, representing Ewing's Diner, in Mayfair, met a team from West Philadelphia at St. Anne's Church hall. The game went into triple overtime before West Philly pulled it out.

One of the players on the West Philadelphia team, playing under the name John Smith, was a gangling Overbrook High School student whose real name was Wilt Chamberlain.

"Jack was a handsome guy," Jim said. "He didn't look like Paul Newman, Paul Newman looked like him."

Despite his many injuries, from his war wounds, frostbite - which came back on him and hospitalized him in later years - broken neck and later knee surgery, Jack was "still a pleasant, happy person," Jim Kelly said.

Jack was a devoted family man who had seven children.

"He loved his family as much as he loved his country," Jim Kelly said.

Besides his wife, he is survived by three daughters, Maureen, Susan and Patricia; three sons, Michael, Sean and Brian; a brother, Joseph; a sister, Grace Hollawell, 10 grandchildren, and a great-granddaughter. He was predeceased by another daughter, Colleen, and two brothers, Ed and Bill.

Services: Funeral Mass 10 a.m. Monday at Our Lady of Calvary Church, 11024 Knights Road. Friends may call at 6 p.m. Sunday and at 8 a.m. Monday at the Mulligan Funeral Home, 11010 Knights Road. Burial will be in Resurrection Cemetery. *