The University of Louisiana at Lafayette Alumni Association has recognized Jim Doyle with the 2013 Outstanding Alumni Award.
The award is the highest honor bestowed upon a former student by the Alumni Association. It recognizes outstanding professional and personal achievements that have brought honor and distinction to the University. To be eligible for the award, a person must be a UL Lafayette graduate or former student who attended no less than 10 years ago.
Doyle was honored during a reception on Friday at the UL Lafayette Alumni Center. He also was honored during halftime at Saturday’s football game at Cajun Field.
Doyle is a Milwaukee, Wis., native who enrolled at the University after being recruited to play football by former Coach Raymond Blanco. During his football career from 1967-1970, Doyle played on teams that won two conference championships and competed in the Grantland Rice Bowl.
He earned a bachelor of science degree in business administration in 1971 and became a salesman at Coastal Chemical of Abbeville. He was soon promoted to sales manager there.
Doyle later became president of the company, then chairman and CEO. In 1997, he sold his ownership in the company, and continued to work in senior management.
He has served as chairman of the board of the National Association of Chemical Distributors. In 1992, he was recognized by that organization as Distributor of the Year.
Doyle is a member of the UL Lafayette Foundation’s Board of Governors. He was president of the UL Alumni Association from 2001-02 and was the annual Alumni Spring Gala Honoree in 2007. Doyle remains active in the UL Lafayette Alumni Association, as well as the Ragin’ Cajun Letterman’s Club.
Also, he is a member of the board of directors for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Acadiana and the Miles Perret Cancer Center, and a member of the advisory board for Iberia Bank.
Doyle and his wife of 40 years, Charlotte, live in Abbeville, La. The couple has three children and three grandchildren.
The Doyles were recently honored as the 2013 Leaders in Philanthropy by the Community Foundation of Acadiana for their contributions to Vermilion Parish.
Photo info: Jim Doyle, center, a 1971 UL Lafayette graduate, received the Outstanding Alumni Award during a reception at the Alumni Center on Friday. The award is the highest honor bestowed upon a former student by the UL Lafayette Alumni Association. He is flanked by Dr. Joseph Savoie, president of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, and Margaret Trahan, president-elect of the UL Lafayette Alumni Association.