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Craig Mattick: Welcome to another edition of In Play. I'm Craig Mattick. Today's guest was a longtime coach and administrator. He was among the first officers of the South Dakota High School Athletic Directors Association, which was formed back in 1973. He started a girl's track program. He started a wrestling program. He coached basketball and football. Plus, he was the principal and athletic director. 31 years in the Wall School District. Plus, he served in the South Dakota National Guard for 27 years and retired as command sergeant major. And one more item, he also has a meal named after him at the Wall Restaurant. We want to welcome Merlin Doyle, along with his wife, Mary Jane, to In Play.
Hello there, Merlin. Welcome to the program.
Merlin Doyle: Thank you.
Craig Mattick: You were born in Sturgis, weren't you?
Merlin Doyle: Yes.
Craig Mattick: But eventually moved to Chamberlain when you graduated in 1954. How long did you live in Sturgis?
Merlin Doyle: Oh, I don't know. I don't have any idea how long I lived there. It's been so long ago.
Mary Jane Doyle: In sixth grade.
Merlin Doyle: Oh, I was in the sixth grade, my wife told me.
Mary Jane Doyle: And he moved to Chamberlain.
Craig Mattick: Sure, sure. So when you were at Chamberlain, were you involved in sports?
Merlin Doyle: Yes.
Mary Jane Doyle: Basketball.
Merlin Doyle: Basketball mainly.
Craig Mattick: Did you have success as a basketball player?
Merlin Doyle: Yeah, I did.
Craig Mattick: You did. Did Chamberlain ever make it to the state tournament when you were playing for the Cubs?
Merlin Doyle: It's been so long. I can't remember any changes.
Craig Mattick: Well, you celebrated your 90th birthday here back in last summer, so congratulations and happy birthday to you.
Merlin Doyle: Well, thank you very much.
Craig Mattick: After you graduated at Chamberlain, you went to the University of South Dakota for college. What was the reason why you picked USD?
Merlin Doyle: I don't really have any reason. They just came and said, "We'll do this and this." I just went ahead. I didn't get many people that wanted to talk to me.
Craig Mattick: So you got your degree at Black Hill State. I assume it was in education, wasn't it?
Merlin Doyle: Yes.
Craig Mattick: So your first teaching job though, was it Wall? Was that your first choice?
Merlin Doyle: Yes.
Craig Mattick: Were there other schools that were there that you could have gone to, but you chose Wall instead?
Mary Jane Doyle: No.
Merlin Doyle: No, I don't think so.
Craig Mattick: Sure. Sure. I hear the story that your dad bought a bar in Wall. When was that?
Merlin Doyle: Oh, that's been so many years ago I could-
Mary Jane Doyle: '55 or '56.
Craig Mattick: So it had been shortly after you had graduated to Chamberlain?
Merlin Doyle: Yeah, I think so.
Craig Mattick: Well, let's talk about 1959. 1959, you're teaching middle school at Wall. What were you teaching back then?
Merlin Doyle: Probably in the government and that type of thing.
Mary Jane Doyle: Yeah, science.
Craig Mattick: Yeah. And you taught in the middle school for four years. Were you doing any coaching at that time?
Merlin Doyle: Junior high.
Craig Mattick: Junior high athletics, doing a little coaching there on that side. Did a little basketball and football?
Merlin Doyle: I can't tell you. I don't know. It's been so long ago.
Craig Mattick: Sure. Well, you made a nice jump in 1963, you moved to Wall High School. You're in the high school now. Were you teaching government as well in the high school?
Merlin Doyle: Yes.
Craig Mattick: And then when did the coaching start?
Merlin Doyle: I did a little coaching in boys football and basketball.
Craig Mattick: As an assistant though, you weren't the head coach?
Merlin Doyle: Yes, I wasn't the head coach. No.
Craig Mattick: Sure, sure. And then it was five years later you become the high school principal and the activities director.
Merlin Doyle: Yeah.
Craig Mattick: What was that like? That's a big jump in responsibility.
Merlin Doyle: Yes, but what happened is I took in the girls and got them to start working, doing sports really good. And they did well, let me tell you.
Craig Mattick: Well, I know that you started the girls' track program in 1970.
Merlin Doyle: Yes.
Craig Mattick: What was that like? Did you have to try to encourage girls to come out for track?
Merlin Doyle: Not really. No. Matter of fact, I had more girls than I needed. And I'll tell you, I got one girl that I really worked with a lot. She came up to me and she said, "Mr. Doyle, I'm going to tell you one thing. If they get me the ball, I'm going to score." And I said, "Go ahead."
Craig Mattick: The success you had in 1974, your Wall girls won the state track championship in class B that year.
Merlin Doyle: Yeah. Yeah, they did. And I tell you what, with the field that we have over here for track, it's amazing, because there's nothing but a bunch of dirt. Now they've got a good field and with a lot of concrete around it. It's just amazing how much they did. They moved from the old building into a new building, and that new one is out by the highway.
Craig Mattick: I see it every time I go by Interstate 90. I go by Wall. I see it every time. That state track meet was in Watertown and you had some pretty good relay teams. You guys were dominant.
Merlin Doyle: Oh yeah. I'll tell you, see, the girls never got much to do. And I said, "Girls, we got to work at it and this is what I want you to do." And they just went out and they went at it. Some people said, "Well, how many girls did you have on your team that scored?" I said, "Every one of them."
Craig Mattick: I think you had like, what, 17 or 19 girls on that track team that year.
Merlin Doyle: Oh yeah, you bet.
Craig Mattick: Girls like Twila Kjerstad, your relays had the Jensen, Denky, Peters, and Johnson team. You guys were dominant. You guys easily won the state track meet with 51 points beating Springfield.
Merlin Doyle: Yes. I'll tell you, it was the first time these girls have ever had a chance to do anything. And I told them, "Ladies, we aren't started yet, but we're going to be starting. Here's what I want you to do. I want you to play like you're getting basketball, go up down the court and you just put it on them."
Craig Mattick: Well, that talent that you had in 1973, most of them came back in 1974 and you won the state track title again.
Merlin Doyle: Yeah.
Craig Mattick: Let's see. That one was in Huron, I think, that year.
Merlin Doyle: Yeah, I think that's right.
Craig Mattick: And you guys just barely won it, three points over Freeman. And again, you had those relays that you guys were so dominant.
Merlin Doyle: Yeah, they were. And you know what? Those girls loved to get on against the team that didn't guard them, because they could move so quick and move quickly.
Craig Mattick: Well, talking about Pam Wyatt and Carla Wilson, Liz Sawder. Those were some great relay teams that you had, didn't you?
Merlin Doyle: Yes.
Craig Mattick: By the way, you were named the Coach of the Year in '74 and '75.
Merlin Doyle: Yes.
Craig Mattick: What did that mean to you, being the coach of the year?
Merlin Doyle: That made me feel good. Meant that I was doing what I was supposed to do. And I'll tell you what, the people that I worked with, they were on the board and I never had to worry about anything.
Craig Mattick: Yep. The South Dakota High School Athletic Directors Association was formed in 1973, and you were one of the first directors of that organization. What do you remember about that organization and what-
Merlin Doyle: Not very much. I'm about 80 years old. Other than basketball and stuff like that, I started cross country here too, and they were tough.
Craig Mattick: Now, was it boys and girls cross country at the time that you also started?
Merlin Doyle: No. The girls came about two years after the boys. We had an old track building up from my house. It was for track and it was cross country track and all that. But those girls took to that and they said, "Just leave us in there. We'll get them."
Craig Mattick: 1973, I'm going to go back to the South Dakota High School Athletic Directors Association. Again, you were among the first officers of this group. The group was different from the South Dakota High School Athletic Association, which had been formed back in 1905. So this was a brand new group.
Merlin Doyle: That's been a long time ago.
Craig Mattick: Yeah. And that was a brand new group, Carold Heier of Rapid City Stevens, Dan Barker of Madison. You had Don Reschatar of Aberdeen Central, Max Hawk of Yankton. You had some pretty big time names there with this organization.
Merlin Doyle: Yeah.
Craig Mattick: Wally Diehl out of Sioux Falls, Ken Greeno, Earl Hilton, Mitchell. What a great start for that organization with those guys.
Merlin Doyle: Yes, that's right. I did.
Craig Mattick: Well, you started girls track in 1970, but the year before that you started the wrestling program at Wall. What led you to decide to start wrestling there at Wall?
Merlin Doyle: Well, I was getting a lot of parents that wanted to know why till they couldn't get in. So I went to the school board and said, "We got to do this and this and this. These people need to have some help." And they said, "Okay, go with it. Whatever it takes."
Craig Mattick: With your principal and athletic director duties, you're also an assistant coach in basketball and football. How did you make the time with all this work at Wall?
Merlin Doyle: Those kids were so good at working that I said, "I can go out there and I don't have to work hard because they know that I want them to win and they know what they're supposed to be doing."
Craig Mattick: 1986, you're chosen the principal of the year. What did you do to get that ore there, Merlin?
Merlin Doyle: Well, I was also almost the head of the school because we didn't have lots of teachers and stuff, and so I got that job and started it again. Boy, in about two years, we had so many people that were good that wanted to work with us and we hired them.
Craig Mattick: You were also involved with the South Dakota High School Coaches Association. You did that for over 25 years. You were inducted into their Hall of Fame back in 1990. What was special about you being involved with all those coaches?
Merlin Doyle: I don't have any idea. I was so surprised when it happened that I had to stop and think, "Now, what did I do that was right?"
Craig Mattick: With all of your duties at Wall, Merlin, you were also involved in the South Dakota National Guard. You did that for 27 years. Thank you for your service.
Merlin Doyle: Yes.
Craig Mattick: You retired as Command Sergeant Major.
Merlin Doyle: Yes.
Craig Mattick: What were some of your duties when you were with the National Guard?
Merlin Doyle: Oh, everything. It would go from using the shovel or getting a tractor in or... It was hard, but you could do it. And I was used to that.
Craig Mattick: You still live in Wall, don't you, Merlin?
Merlin Doyle: I do. I live in Wall. As a matter of fact, my wife's standing here listening to me.
Craig Mattick: How long have you been married to Mary Jane?
Mary Jane Doyle: We've been married 67 years.
Craig Mattick: Mary Jane, 67 years. How did you guys meet Mary Jane?
Mary Jane Doyle: I'll tell you how we met. His dad had bought the bar in Wall, and he was transferring from USD, he was going to go to Black Hills and he took a year off. I was Ted Husteds's secretary at Wall Drug.
Craig Mattick: Ted was the founder of Wall Drug. Yes. The Hustads. Yes.
Mary Jane Doyle: Then he came and applied for the job and Ted hired him. Well, you know what? We got married the next summer, Merlin and I. And it's worked evidently because 67 years is quite a while.
Craig Mattick: Mary Jane, I understand that you were a longtime employee in the Wall School District. Weren't you the secretary to the superintendent?
Mary Jane Doyle: Yes, I started out as school secretary, I worked as a business manager. Then I became secretary to the superintendent, which I held this position for 31 years. During that time I clerked wrestling tournaments, I punched lunch tickets. You name it, I did it. So in fact, my boss, Ken Poppe, said to me, "What's your job description?" And I said, "Anything no one else wants to do." And that's my story.
Craig Mattick: Well, we've talked to Merlin about all of his duties, whether it was coaching track or helping out with wrestling and basketball and football and principal and athletic director. Did you see him much when he was at the peak of his working career?
Merlin Doyle: Well, she saw me a lot when I'd get home.
Craig Mattick: You guys do get out once in a while to eat at one of your favorite restaurants. It's the Red Rock there in Wall. In fact, they've named a meal after you, Merlin. What is the meal?
Merlin Doyle: Yeah, the Merlin Burger was one of them.
Mary Jane Doyle: You're talking about his meal at the red Rock?
Craig Mattick: That's it. At the Red Rock, the Merlin Burger. What's on the Merlin Burger for when I get there to want to eat?
Mary Jane Doyle: Well, we started going to the Red Rock for lunch real often, and he always ordered the same thing, that was a hamburger with Pepperjack cheese, and that was a cheeseburger, and then fries. And the owner said, "Hey, we got to name that burger after him." So it was his 90th birthday, and they invited him down and took pictures of him and named the burger.
Craig Mattick: You and Merlin, Mary Jane, 67 years of marriage. I hope your health has been well. Are you guys doing okay today?
Mary Jane Doyle: We do pretty well. We still live in our own house and take care of our own yard. Merlin mows with the riding lawnmower and I follow behind and trim.
Craig Mattick: How much do you guys follow Wall Eagle Athletics today?
Mary Jane Doyle: We're Wall Eagle fans. In fact, the Wall Eagles are playing Jones County right now on TV. So we follow all those. The football team won state this year, those kids are just awesome. I can't say enough nice things. Saw a couple of them this morning and I got my big hug.
Craig Mattick: Merlin, Wall High School Athletics has seen some success recently. Girls basketball, they've been in the state tournament three of the last four years. The boys' basketball team has been at the state tournament in 2025. You had the football team win two titles over the last four years. Boys track, finishing second in 2019. After running the athletic program at Wall for over 30 years, what has it been like watching Wall Athletics today?
Merlin Doyle: It's been great. Because some of the coaches I had that worked with me when I was started and I said, "You guys take it over." I said, "I can't do this anymore."
Craig Mattick: How tough was that, giving up some of the duties to somebody else?
Merlin Doyle: Not really very hard. Because I'll tell you what, I was fairly old when that happened. See, I'm in my what now?
Craig Mattick: You're 90.
Merlin Doyle: 90.
Craig Mattick: Yes, you're 90 there, Merlin.
Merlin Doyle: Yeah. And I bet I could go up there and coach, but I don't want to go coach.
Craig Mattick: You coached track, you're involved with wrestling... Although did you do any coaching in wrestling?
Merlin Doyle: In what?
Craig Mattick: In wrestling. Did you do a lot of coaching in wrestling?
Merlin Doyle: Not a lot, but a little. The coaches would ask me, "Mr. Doyle, would you come down and tell me what we're doing wrong and what we can do to make a right?" And that was part of my job.
Craig Mattick: What do you miss the most after serving the Wall School District for so many years?
Merlin Doyle: I feel like it's nice to get out and go when I want to go.
Craig Mattick: You were inducted into the Wall Eagles Athletic Hall of Fame back in 2016. What a great honor. What did that mean to you, Merlin?
Merlin Doyle: A lot. It told me that I had people that were proud of what I did.
Craig Mattick: What is the one thing that he misses the most about being at Wall?
Merlin Doyle: Well, I've never left Wall. I'm still living in Wall and I still love to go watch boys and girls. It's fun for me. See, and I'm what now? 80.
Craig Mattick: You're 90 there.
Merlin Doyle: I'm 90 years old and I still love to go see them. But I don't go all the time. I just pick a time I want to go and then I go. It's amazing how many people come up and say, "Mr. Doyle, can you tell us something?" I said, "What do you want me to tell you?"
Craig Mattick: We talked about what you've missed the most, but what would you be most proud of, Merlin, of what you did at Wall High School?
Merlin Doyle: I would say it was the girls' track team, because before that they didn't have anything. I went to the superintendent and I said, "Our girls would like to run track." So they said, "We'll take care of it. " Well, they moved our track for both boys and girls up by the meat plant. They did a good job doing it. Those kids were so happy because they were running a track and not just running down the water-
Mary Jane Doyle: Sidewalk.
Merlin Doyle: Or the sidewalk.
Mary Jane Doyle: In fact, your daughter got hit by a car.
Merlin Doyle: Yeah. My wife was informing, matter of fact, my daughter got hit by a truck because we were doing things differently and-
Mary Jane Doyle: Running on the road.
Merlin Doyle: We had to go out on the road to get to the track.
Craig Mattick: Mary Jane, I know there's one story about track team, it was one of the state championships. It may have been the second one, 1975. It came down to, I believe, the last event of the state track meet. The girls had a relay and there was a conversation with one of those runners on the team.
Merlin Doyle: Well, we had to win the last race.
Craig Mattick: To win the state championship?
Merlin Doyle: Yeah. And I'll tell you, I talked to those people and I said, "We want to win. Do the best that you can and I'll be proud of you." But now we've got an all weather track and all that type of stuff now, which we didn't have back then. We had a piece of concrete went around and the inside was some grass, I'd say, and that was where we ran. And somebody said, "How can you guys do that?" And I said, "We know about what we can do and that's where we go." I have some girls that said, "Mr. Doyle, can we just stay a little longer?" So it's been great for me. I'm so proud of these kids.
Craig Mattick: Merlin and Mary Jane Doyle, married for over 67 years with two kids, four grandkids, six great-grandchildren, and 10 step-grandchildren. Merlin Doyle served the Wall School District for over 31 years, beginning as a middle school teacher, then on to being the principal and athletic director. Started track, cross country, assisted with basketball and football. He did start the programs of girls' track, girls basketball, wrestling, and gymnastics. So much respect for Merlin from the Wall community. So much so, even Wall residents who are over 70 years old, they still call him Mr. Doyle. At 90 years of age, Merlin doesn't necessarily remember all of the great times at Wall, but he still has the passion for the kids and the community of Wall.
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