Leo Boyle

Major General Leo Martin Boyle (July 20, 1899 – May 3, 1969) was a senior United States Army and Illinois National Guard officer. He served as one of the longest adjutants general of Illinois, serving continuously from 1940 until three months prior to his death in 1969.

As the adjutant general, he was responsible for leading and coordinating the use of the Illinois National Guard in both territorial and federal matters.

Career Born in Chicago, Boyle first enlisted in the US Army and Illinois National Guard in 1916 at the age of seventeen, taking part in the Pancho Villa Expedition. From there he went on to serve with distinction in World War I, earning a Silver Star for gallantry.

Immediately prior to the outbreak of World War II, Boyle was appointed as the adjutant general of Illinois on 8 November 1940 and promoted to brigadier general by Illinois governor John Henry Stelle. He was further promoted to major general in 1945, becoming federally recognized in 1952. This federal recognition was withdrawn in July 1963 upon Boyle reaching the mandatory retirement age of 62; however, he continued to receive federal support for his role as adjutant general, attending several professional military courses well after his federal recognition was withdrawn. He further provoked the ire of the active-duty Army when he directed the Illinois National Guard to begin training to respond to civil disturbances in addition to military training. He would later be exonerated in his beliefs when the Illinois National Guard was called up to quell the riots during the 1968 Democratic Convention. Lieutenant Colonel ARNG 9 July 1937 Colonel ARNG Never Held Brigadier General ARNG 8 November 1940 Major General (IL) IL 2 July 1945 Major General ARNG November 1952 (withdrawn July 1963)