W. A. Boyle | |
|---|---|
| Born | William Anthony Boyle December 1, 1904 |
| Died | May 31, 1985 (aged 80) |
| Nationality | American |
| Other names | "Tough Tony" Boyle; Tony Boyle |
| Occupation(s) | Miner; Labor leader |
| Known for | President, United Mine Workers of America; Murdering Jock Yablonski |
William Anthony "Tough Tony" Boyle (December 1, 1904 – May 31, 1985) was an American miner, union leader, and convicted murder-for-hire conspirator. He became president of the United Mine Workers of America union in 1963, serving until 1972. Boyle was convicted in 1974 of charges of conspiracy in the murder of opponent Joseph A. Yablonski, Yablonski's wife Margaret, and their daughter Charlotte, on New Year's Eve, December 31, 1969. After an appeal, his conviction and sentence were upheld at a second trial; he was sentenced to three life terms and died while still incarcerated.
Yablonski had opposed Boyle for some time, arguing for more democratic representation among the locals, and had run against him in a bitter presidency election of the UMWA earlier in December, which Boyle won. Yablonski charged that fraud had been committed, asking for a Department of Labor investigation, and also filing five lawsuits against the union on specific related civil charges.