Early Life

Born June 26, 1900 in Barr Township Daviess County, Indiana, to Martin and Cisley (Kelly), Doyle was the second of eight children. Thomas married Rose Nalin on September 28, 1927 at St. Patrick’s Church, Corning, Indiana. She died August 2, 1974. They had six children, Charles Edward Doyle, Vincent Walter Doyle, Lewis Eugene Doyle, Mariam Rose Knese, Thomas E. Doyle, Jr., Jean Ann Sorensen. There are 17 Grandchildren, and 27 Great-grand children. Thomas married Louise (Young) Richardson at St. Simons Church on May 10, 1980. Doyle began working at the US Post Office as a Parcel Post carrier. He later served as a city carrier for thirty years. Thomas was an avid Gardner all his life.

Later Life

Thomas Doyle became well known nationally as the “plastic man” and “blackberry man”. In 1959 he developed a method of using black plastic to cover a garden and planted through small holes. In the early 1970’s he discovered a thornless blackberry that can product up to 10 gallons of extra large and extra sweet blackberries that were thornless. Next in 1975, was granted a patent on the plant as “Doyles Thornless Blackberry” He was inducted into the Agricultural Hall of Fame for this achievement. He has been featured on television and in several national publications, including Grit (twice), Mother Earth News (three times, last being in 1999) and Organic Gardening, Montgomery Times, Washington Times Herald and Evansville Courier. During his lifetime, Doyle strongly encouraged education and many people have reported how his encouragement led them to continue with school and enabled them to become nurses, accountant, bankers, a county treasurer, or successful businessmen and businesswomen.

- Lewis E. Doyle