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Saturday, May 19, 2012
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You are here ::PoliticsMayors of MemphisJoseph Patrick Boyle
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Joseph Patrick Boyle

Born: circa 1891

Died: 1956

"Holy Joe" Boyle may or may not have lived up to his nickname.  As one of the youngest parts of a very old Crump machine, he basically took orders from the boss.  Valued by Crump due to his loyalty and low key approach Boyle rose as high as vice Mayor, often serving in the capacity of Police Commissioner where earned such titles as "Holy Joe" and as his police officers called him, "Boyle on the neck".

Boyle was by most accounts very honest and hardworking.  On the other hand his "crackdowns on crime" were inconsistent and probably by order of Crump.  Crump on the other hand was reacting to outside pressures from the U. S. Justice Department or the Tennessee Legislature.

Joe Boyle was never elected mayor, but as a long-term City Commissioner he did hold that post briefly twice.

  
Here the history of Memphis is presented.  From the Chickasaw to the great New Madrid earthquake of 1811 on to the land's purchase by John Overton and Andrew Jackson, followed by incorporation and Civil War occupation.  Picking up with the yellow fever followed by the surrender of the city charter and the tenure of the former city as a taxing district of Shelby County and the state of Tennessee.  We continue Memphis history into the days of Crump and the progressive era when the city would be made to conform to order.  Memphis history is rich with time, music and commerce.  From the blues of Beale Street to Elvis Presley and Sun Records the City of Memphis been enriched by transporation, cotton, mules and hardware; bridge openings to celebrate and the sorrows of the 1968 Sanitation Strike which culminated in the death of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  Memphis has persevered through pain and has been anything but dull.  This is our story...
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