Robert S. Beightler
Encyclopedia
Maj. Gen. Robert S. Beightler (March 21, 1892 – February 12, 1978) was an American military officer and Ohio political insider, engineer, and business owner. In the military, he reached the rank of major general, and served as military Governor of Okinawa, War Department General Staff, and as commander of the 37th Infantry Division, the only National Guard General to lead his troops through training and into battle during World War Two. In political activities in Ohio, he served as head of the Ohio State Highway Department, President of the Army Personnel Board, Executive Director and board member of the Ohio Turnpike Commission.
Beightler was the only World War II National Guard general to have commanded his division for the length of the war. In addition to being one of only eleven generals who commanded their divisions for the entire war and the longest serving of these eleven, Beightler was appointed to the regular army in 1946 as one of only two National Guard major generals to receive such an appointment at that time.
, the name has been transcribed numerous ways by English clerks not familiar with the ethnic surnames and anglicized
, including Beighler, Beigler, and Beegler. The "t" was added to the name upon the arrival of Robert's ancestor in Marysville because of how the name sounded, where his ancestors were said to have spoken with a strong German accent which was barely understandable. The traditional pronunciation of the name is "Beat-ler", reflective of the origins of the name, and is still used by many descendants of Robert's Marysville ancestor Tobias, however, other descendants have adopted the evolutionary pronunciation, "Bite-ler".
Beightler was born on March 21, 1892 in Marysville, Ohio
, of German-British-French descent. He was the son of William P. Beightler, an elected local surveyor, city and state engineer. His father was also the president of the Perfect Cigar Company. His mother was Joana Sprague, daughter of Franklin B. Sprague
and a cousin of Cdre. Oliver Hazard Perry
, Gov. William Sprague IV, and U.S. Senator William Sprague III
.
Beightler's paternal ancestors came from Germany, having immigrated to and settled in Berks County, Pennsylvania
in the 18th century. In the early 19th century, those ancestors were some of the first pioneers of the western United States, first settling in eastern Ohio, and eventually in Marysville. They had served in the American Revolution
, and would serve as well in the American Civil War
, among other early United States conflicts.
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Beightler was raised in a Protestant home that stressed church, community, service, duty, and patriotism. They lived on the westside of Marysville on 7th street. As a young man he learned from his father's industriousness and grew vegetables in the back yard to sell door to door. He was an excellent student, and avid hunter, having been quoted saying "from the time I was knee high to a grasshopper, (I had a rifle in my hands)."
in 1909, he enrolled at The Ohio State University for two years. While there he studied civil engineering, was active is Sigma Alpha Epsilon, trained as a cadet, and was manager of the basketball team. Following the two years at OSU, Beightler left to take employment as an assistant engineer with Union County.
, the future Governor of Ohio, U.S. Senator, and 1944 Republican Vice Presidential Nominee.
. He was part of the 4th Ohio Infantry
, which had been re-organized from the 14th Ohio National Guard. Beightler served with Company E, based out of an armory in Marysville. By 1913 Beightler had achieved the rank of first sergeant, and second lieutenant by 1914.
mobilized 400,000 troops from across the nation, including from the Ohio National Guard, to be sent to the Mexican border to deal with the border crisis and Pancho Villa
. The forces were led by John J. Pershing
. A young Beightler would serve in this conflict.
for the 3rd Battalion. The 4th infantry would be designated the 166th U.S Infantry Regiment by the U.S. War Department. Beightler would be moved to Camp Mills
on Long Island
in preparation for deployment to France
in the European theater of World War I
.
Before departing for Europe in October 1917, Anne would visit to wish Robert well and inform him that they were expecting their first child. Upon arriving in France, Beightler's regiment undertook basic training operations, including learning the French language. He would be involved in the Sedan incident, as well as other combat during his time stationed in France.
Beightler would complete his engineering degree at OSU. He would also start a private civil engineering firm with Adolph Stellhorn. He went on to Command and General Staff School in Leavenworth, Kansas, to complete a course on National Guard Officers where he was first in his class. In 1930, he graduated from the Army War College's G-2 course.
.
In 1936 he returned to Ohio, working as chief of staff for the 37th Infantry Division, and commander of the 74th Infantry Brigade. Having earned the opportunity, in 1939 his longtime friend John W. Bricker, who had become Governor of Ohio, appointed Beightler to Ohio State Highway Director. In 1940, Bricker would appoint Beightler commanding General of the 37th Infantry Division.
Beightler assumed his duties as commanding General of the division in 1940, and immediately began exhaustive training and preparation of the soldiers. His philosophy was simple, the better trained the soldiers are, the less casualties there would be. He also had moral reasoning, having been quoted after World War Two saying "... I have never been able to completely harden myself to the sacrifice of American lives. I have always felt a deep-seated responsibility to the families of these men, many of whom might be called my neighbors."
The 37th would participate in the Louisiana Maneuvers
, in which future senior military leaders Dwight Eisenhower, George Patton, Omar Bradley, and Leslie McNair were present. McNair would say of Beightler that he was "one of the best" National Guard commanders. A few months later, America would be thrown into World War II
following the Pearl Harbor
attacks.
The Buckeye Division produced 7 Medal of Honor
recipients during this war. Beightler was the only National Guard commanding officer to have led his troops throughout the course of the entire war. They were demobilized in November 1945.
He was active in the Ohio Republican Party, having been a longtime friend of John W. Bricker
, and close friends of Ohio Republican leader Ed Schorr and U.S. Senate Majority Leader and Presidential Son Robert A. Taft. He had extensive media contacts in Ohio, from Preston Wolfe at the Columbus Dispatch, David Baylor and Carl George of WGAR Cleveland, Gene DiMario of the Cincinnati Post, and Robert Harper of the Ohio State Journal that he would use to the 37th's advantage in a dispute with the War Department in Washington, as well as to keep up on the political environment personally. At one point he was the mayor of Marble Cliff, Ohio
, a tony hamlet just outside downtown Columbus. He was an alternate delegate from the Ohio delegation to the 1940 Republican National Convention
.
. This would have provided early key endorsements. Hundreds of insider Republicans wrote to Beightler stating he would have their support, would easily clinch the Republican nomination for Governor, and could defeat Lausche.
However, citing the lack of a completely unified party around his potential candidacy, he didn't want to cause a factional split in the party. He also cited the unlikelihood that he could beat Lausche because he was a great campaigner, as well as the fact that he agreed with him on almost every issue, in deciding that the attempt was not worthwhile. His decision was also influenced by the fact he was still engaged in battle in the Pacific theater.
He did write that ending his public career as governor of "the grand old state of Ohio" was an appealing prospect. Beightler miscalculated the political atmosphere, as Lausche would lose by 40,000 votes the following year in a banner year for Republicans.
In 1946, talks circulated again of Beightler running for political office, this time for Congress. However, he said was not interested in a legislative position and called it "a nobody's job."
. Over the years he had been a good investor, and had a large retirement savings. He enjoyed gardening and fishing, and spent his winters in Florida. He followed national and international affairs closely, as well as Wall Street out of interest of his own financial holdings. He was also active in veterans and civic groups.
Beightler had two children with Anne, Robert Jr., who would go onto attend the United States Military Academy
at West Point, and Marjorie. Robert Jr. served in the Philippines during World War II as a platoon leader in the 511th parachute infantry regiment of the 11th Airborne Division. Despite both father and son fighting in their respective divisions in the Battle of Manila, neither would meet in combat until April in northern Luzon.
Beightler died on February 12, 1978. He is buried at Oakdale Cemetery in Marysville.
Beightler had said of his hometown “With you, I lived many of my greatest moments, from which I have many of my fondest memories. Memories of Marysville during my 28 years here are among my warmest thoughts.”
Robert Beightler was the recipient of numerous honors, including the Distinguished Service Cross for his leadership in the Philippines campaign, the Silver Star
Medal, the Purple Heart
, the Combat Infantryman Badge
, the Distinguished Service Medal
for the New Georgia campaign, with an Oak Leaf
cluster for his service in Bougainville and Luzon, and the Legion of Merit
with an Oak Leaf cluster.
On September 25, 1945, Beightler received his 33d degree from the Scottish Rite
of Freemasonry. He was awarded the Legion of Honor
from the Philippine government. In June 1952, Beightler was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of the Ryukyus
for his work in rebuilding the infrastructure. The National Guard armory in Columbus is named in his honor. It is the headquarters of the Ohio National Guard
.
In 1969, the city of Marysville, Ohio dedicated 5th Street in honor of Beightler, naming it Major General Robert S. Beightler Way.
In 1993, the Ohio Department of Veterans Affairs inducted him into the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame. In 2007, the Union County, Ohio
Chamber of Commerce declared September 28 to be Major General Robert S. Beightler Day.
In 2007, the Ohio Historical Society dedicated an historical marker on 5th Street in Uptown Marysville in honor of Beightler. Hundreds of citizens attended the ceremony, with officials present from the office of Gov. Ted Strickland
, U.S. Senator George Voinovich
, and the Ohio National Guard. In 2007, the Ohio Department of Transportation funded his memorial marker at the Veterans Memorial in Marysville, Ohio.
Beightler was the only World War II National Guard general to have commanded his division for the length of the war. In addition to being one of only eleven generals who commanded their divisions for the entire war and the longest serving of these eleven, Beightler was appointed to the regular army in 1946 as one of only two National Guard major generals to receive such an appointment at that time.
Surname etymology
Beightler is derived from Bigler. Because some German immigrants were illiterate when they came to Colonial AmericaColonial America
The colonial history of the United States covers the history from the start of European settlement and especially the history of the thirteen colonies of Britain until they declared independence in 1776. In the late 16th century, England, France, Spain and the Netherlands launched major...
, the name has been transcribed numerous ways by English clerks not familiar with the ethnic surnames and anglicized
Anglicisation
Anglicisation, or anglicization , is the process of converting verbal or written elements of any other language into a form that is more comprehensible to an English speaker, or, more generally, of altering something such that it becomes English in form or character.The term most often refers to...
, including Beighler, Beigler, and Beegler. The "t" was added to the name upon the arrival of Robert's ancestor in Marysville because of how the name sounded, where his ancestors were said to have spoken with a strong German accent which was barely understandable. The traditional pronunciation of the name is "Beat-ler", reflective of the origins of the name, and is still used by many descendants of Robert's Marysville ancestor Tobias, however, other descendants have adopted the evolutionary pronunciation, "Bite-ler".
Early life
Marysville, Ohio
Marysville is a city in and the county seat of Union County, Ohio, United States. The population was 15,942 at the 2000 census, and the Census Bureau estimated that it had risen to 17,621 by 2006.Marysville's longtime slogan is "Where the Grass is Greener"...
, of German-British-French descent. He was the son of William P. Beightler, an elected local surveyor, city and state engineer. His father was also the president of the Perfect Cigar Company. His mother was Joana Sprague, daughter of Franklin B. Sprague
Franklin B. Sprague
Franklin Burnet Sprague was an American military officer, businessman, and judge. He joined the Union Army during the Civil War, serving on the Oregon frontier. During his military service, Sprague explored much of Southern Oregon. While building a road near Fort Klamath, Sprague led a party...
and a cousin of Cdre. Oliver Hazard Perry
Oliver Hazard Perry
United States Navy Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry was born in South Kingstown, Rhode Island , the son of USN Captain Christopher Raymond Perry and Sarah Wallace Alexander, a direct descendant of William Wallace...
, Gov. William Sprague IV, and U.S. Senator William Sprague III
William Sprague (1799-1856)
William Sprague, also known as William III or William Sprague III , was a politician and industrialist from the U.S. state of Rhode Island, serving as the 14th Governor, a U.S. Representative and a U.S. Senator. He was the uncle of William Sprague IV, also a Governor and Senator from Rhode...
.
Beightler's paternal ancestors came from Germany, having immigrated to and settled in Berks County, Pennsylvania
Berks County, Pennsylvania
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 373,638 people, 141,570 households, and 98,532 families residing in the county. The population density was 435 people per square mile . There were 150,222 housing units at an average density of 175 per square mile...
in the 18th century. In the early 19th century, those ancestors were some of the first pioneers of the western United States, first settling in eastern Ohio, and eventually in Marysville. They had served in the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
, and would serve as well in the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, among other early United States conflicts.
Education
After graduating from Marysville High SchoolMarysville High School (Ohio)
Marysville High School is a public high school in Marysville, Ohio. It is the only high school in the Marysville Exempted Village School District...
in 1909, he enrolled at The Ohio State University for two years. While there he studied civil engineering, was active is Sigma Alpha Epsilon, trained as a cadet, and was manager of the basketball team. Following the two years at OSU, Beightler left to take employment as an assistant engineer with Union County.
Marriage
While he was in college, he met his future wife Anna Lawrence Porter, who was a student at Ohio Wesleyan University. Her father was an executive with the Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Company, and her grandfather was a judge in Union County. They would marry on October 14, 1914 and have three children, two who lived, Robert Jr., and Marjorie. Beightler's best man at this wedding was John W. BrickerJohn W. Bricker
John William Bricker was a United States Senator and the 54th Governor of Ohio. A member of the Republican Party, he was the Republican nominee for Vice President in 1944.-Early life:...
, the future Governor of Ohio, U.S. Senator, and 1944 Republican Vice Presidential Nominee.
National Guard enlistment
On August 7, 1911, Beightler had enlisted with the Ohio National GuardOhio National Guard
The Ohio National Guard comprises:* Ohio Army National Guard* Ohio Air National Guard-External links:* compiled by the United States Army Center of Military History...
. He was part of the 4th Ohio Infantry
4th Ohio Infantry
The 4th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It served in the Eastern Theater in a number of campaigns and battles, but perhaps is most noted for its actions in helping secure Cemetery Hill during the Battle of...
, which had been re-organized from the 14th Ohio National Guard. Beightler served with Company E, based out of an armory in Marysville. By 1913 Beightler had achieved the rank of first sergeant, and second lieutenant by 1914.
Mexican Conflict
In August 1916, President Woodrow WilsonWoodrow Wilson
Thomas Woodrow Wilson was the 28th President of the United States, from 1913 to 1921. A leader of the Progressive Movement, he served as President of Princeton University from 1902 to 1910, and then as the Governor of New Jersey from 1911 to 1913...
mobilized 400,000 troops from across the nation, including from the Ohio National Guard, to be sent to the Mexican border to deal with the border crisis and Pancho Villa
Pancho Villa
José Doroteo Arango Arámbula – better known by his pseudonym Francisco Villa or its hypocorism Pancho Villa – was one of the most prominent Mexican Revolutionary generals....
. The forces were led by John J. Pershing
John J. Pershing
John Joseph "Black Jack" Pershing, GCB , was a general officer in the United States Army who led the American Expeditionary Forces in World War I...
. A young Beightler would serve in this conflict.
World War One
On August 5, 1917, Beightler was commissioned as a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army, serving as an adjutantAdjutant
Adjutant is a military rank or appointment. In some armies, including most English-speaking ones, it is an officer who assists a more senior officer, while in other armies, especially Francophone ones, it is an NCO , normally corresponding roughly to a Staff Sergeant or Warrant Officer.An Adjutant...
for the 3rd Battalion. The 4th infantry would be designated the 166th U.S Infantry Regiment by the U.S. War Department. Beightler would be moved to Camp Mills
Camp Mills
Camp Mills was a military installation on Long Island, New York. It was located about ten miles from the eastern boundary of New York City on the Hempstead Plains near Garden City....
on Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
in preparation for deployment to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in the European theater of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
Before departing for Europe in October 1917, Anne would visit to wish Robert well and inform him that they were expecting their first child. Upon arriving in France, Beightler's regiment undertook basic training operations, including learning the French language. He would be involved in the Sedan incident, as well as other combat during his time stationed in France.
Post-World War One civilian life
Following the war, he returned home to Ohio in 1919. Re-entering civilian life, he worked as an engineer for the state in Columbus over requests by his father to work in Union County as an engineer. His daughter was over a year old after he left the military, and the young family moved to Columbus to be closer to Beightler's employment. Columbus was also a booming city with many opportunities.Beightler would complete his engineering degree at OSU. He would also start a private civil engineering firm with Adolph Stellhorn. He went on to Command and General Staff School in Leavenworth, Kansas, to complete a course on National Guard Officers where he was first in his class. In 1930, he graduated from the Army War College's G-2 course.
Return to active duty
In 1932, Beightler returned to active duty, serving with the Army General Staff in Washington D.C. This exposed him to the highest levels of the Army, something rarely afforded to National Guard officers. He would spend most of his time working on plans for the Interstate Highway SystemInterstate Highway System
The Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, , is a network of limited-access roads including freeways, highways, and expressways forming part of the National Highway System of the United States of America...
.
In 1936 he returned to Ohio, working as chief of staff for the 37th Infantry Division, and commander of the 74th Infantry Brigade. Having earned the opportunity, in 1939 his longtime friend John W. Bricker, who had become Governor of Ohio, appointed Beightler to Ohio State Highway Director. In 1940, Bricker would appoint Beightler commanding General of the 37th Infantry Division.
Training the 37th Infantry Division
The 37th would participate in the Louisiana Maneuvers
Louisiana Maneuvers
The Louisiana Maneuvers were a series of military exercises held all over north and west-central Louisiana, including Fort Polk, Camp Claiborne and Camp Livingston, in August and September 1941...
, in which future senior military leaders Dwight Eisenhower, George Patton, Omar Bradley, and Leslie McNair were present. McNair would say of Beightler that he was "one of the best" National Guard commanders. A few months later, America would be thrown into World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
following the Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...
attacks.
World War two
Following the training of the 37th, Beightler would lead them into battle in the Pacific theater of the war. The "Buckeye Division," as the 37th was called, entered the theater in 1942. The 37th were victorious in numerous battles, including victories at New Georgia, Bougainville and at the Battle of Manila. They would go on to liberate 1300 internees at the Bilibid Prison in Muntinglupa.The Buckeye Division produced 7 Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
recipients during this war. Beightler was the only National Guard commanding officer to have led his troops throughout the course of the entire war. They were demobilized in November 1945.
Japanese surrender
On September 5, 1945, Beightler accepted the articles of surrender from Major General Iguchi, Commanding General, 80th Brigade, Imperial Japanese Army, in Luzon, Philippines.Post-War
At the end of the war, Beightler was the only World War II National Guard general to have commanded his division for the length of the war. In addition to being the army's longest serving division commander in 1945, Beightler was appointed to the regular army in 1946 as one of only two National Guard major generals to receive such an appointment at that time. Following the war, Beightler was assigned command of the 5th Service Command at Fort Hayes in Columbus. In 1947, he was appointed President of the Personnel Board of the Secretary of War, moving back to Washington. In 1949, he was assigned to the Far East, taking over the Marianas-Bonins Command on Guam.Military Governor of Okinawa
In 1950, he was appointed the Deputy Military Governor of Okinawa, as well as the Deputy Governor of the Ryukyus Islands Command. During this period he dedicated most of his time toward rebuilding the infrastructure of the Ryukyus Islands. Following a massive heart attack in 1952, one of nine Beightler would suffer throughout his life, he was flown to Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington D.C. Beightler retired from the military after 42 years of service, in 1953.Politics
Beightler had been involved in politics since his return from World War One. He was a lifelong critic of too much federal power, and constantly feuded with Washington in defending the National Guard. He was a staunch conservative in the classical liberal sense, believing in the freedom of the States and a skeptic of the federal government.He was active in the Ohio Republican Party, having been a longtime friend of John W. Bricker
John W. Bricker
John William Bricker was a United States Senator and the 54th Governor of Ohio. A member of the Republican Party, he was the Republican nominee for Vice President in 1944.-Early life:...
, and close friends of Ohio Republican leader Ed Schorr and U.S. Senate Majority Leader and Presidential Son Robert A. Taft. He had extensive media contacts in Ohio, from Preston Wolfe at the Columbus Dispatch, David Baylor and Carl George of WGAR Cleveland, Gene DiMario of the Cincinnati Post, and Robert Harper of the Ohio State Journal that he would use to the 37th's advantage in a dispute with the War Department in Washington, as well as to keep up on the political environment personally. At one point he was the mayor of Marble Cliff, Ohio
Marble Cliff, Ohio
Marble Cliff is a village in Franklin County, Ohio, United States. The population was 646 at the 2000 census.Marble Cliff was one of the first suburbs of Columbus, Ohio, settled as a community in 1890 and incorporated as the "Hamlet of Marble Cliff" in 1901. It took its name from the Marble Cliff...
, a tony hamlet just outside downtown Columbus. He was an alternate delegate from the Ohio delegation to the 1940 Republican National Convention
1940 Republican National Convention
The 1940 Republican National Convention was held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from June 24 to June 28, 1940. It nominated Wendell Willkie of Indiana for President and Senator Charles McNary of Oregon for Vice-President....
.
Gubernatorial and congressional consideration
In the spring of 1945 the Ohio Republican Party attempted to draft Beightler to run for Governor against Frank Lausche in 1946. His candidacy was urged by Bricker, and Ohio Congressman Clarence J. BrownClarence J. Brown
Clarence J. Brown, Sr. was an American newspaper publisher who represented Ohio as a Republican in the United States House of Representatives from 1939 to 1965.-Life and career:...
. This would have provided early key endorsements. Hundreds of insider Republicans wrote to Beightler stating he would have their support, would easily clinch the Republican nomination for Governor, and could defeat Lausche.
However, citing the lack of a completely unified party around his potential candidacy, he didn't want to cause a factional split in the party. He also cited the unlikelihood that he could beat Lausche because he was a great campaigner, as well as the fact that he agreed with him on almost every issue, in deciding that the attempt was not worthwhile. His decision was also influenced by the fact he was still engaged in battle in the Pacific theater.
In 1946, talks circulated again of Beightler running for political office, this time for Congress. However, he said was not interested in a legislative position and called it "a nobody's job."
Opposition to Eisenhower candidacy
On November 9, 1950, he sent a letter to Robert A. Taft congratulating him on his Senate re-election victory while stationed in the Pacific. The letter offered a little insight into Beightler's political world, in which he expressed doubt in Dwight Eisenhower being President of the United States, if elected in 1952. The letter discussed a personal meeting with Gen. Douglas MacArthur on the subject, in which Beightler had encouraged MacArthur to run in '52, but MacArthur showed no interest. MacArthur shared the same views as Beightler on Eisenhower, and both would go on to endorse Taft in 1952. In Taft's reply on November 24, 1950, he implies to Beightler that Eisenhower is incompetent and likely to be influenced by money and political endorsements.Ohio Turnpike Commission
After leaving the military in 1953, Beightler would head the Ohio Turnpike Commission, being appointed executive director. Beightler oversaw the construction and completion of the Ohio Turnpike. He resigned as executive director to become a member of the commission, before he retired altogether in 1962.Retirement and family
Beightler retired officially in 1962 to Worthington, OhioWorthington, Ohio
-Dissolution of the Company:By August 11, 1804 the plat maps were completed, payments or notes promising payments collected and deeds prepared for all sixteen thousand acres of the Scioto Company's purchase...
. Over the years he had been a good investor, and had a large retirement savings. He enjoyed gardening and fishing, and spent his winters in Florida. He followed national and international affairs closely, as well as Wall Street out of interest of his own financial holdings. He was also active in veterans and civic groups.
Beightler had two children with Anne, Robert Jr., who would go onto attend the United States Military Academy
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
at West Point, and Marjorie. Robert Jr. served in the Philippines during World War II as a platoon leader in the 511th parachute infantry regiment of the 11th Airborne Division. Despite both father and son fighting in their respective divisions in the Battle of Manila, neither would meet in combat until April in northern Luzon.
Beightler died on February 12, 1978. He is buried at Oakdale Cemetery in Marysville.
Beightler had said of his hometown “With you, I lived many of my greatest moments, from which I have many of my fondest memories. Memories of Marysville during my 28 years here are among my warmest thoughts.”
Honors
Silver Star
The Silver Star is the third-highest combat military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces for valor in the face of the enemy....
Medal, the Purple Heart
Purple Heart
The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York...
, the Combat Infantryman Badge
Combat Infantryman Badge
The Combat Infantryman Badge is the U.S. Army combat service recognition decoration awarded to soldiers—enlisted men and officers holding colonel rank or below, who personally fought in active ground combat while an assigned member of either an infantry or a Special Forces unit, of brigade size...
, the Distinguished Service Medal
Distinguished Service Medal (United States)
The Distinguished Service Medal is the highest non-valorous military and civilian decoration of the United States military which is issued for exceptionally meritorious service to the government of the United States in either a senior government service position or as a senior officer of the United...
for the New Georgia campaign, with an Oak Leaf
Oak Leaf
Oak leaf may refer to:Military* Oak leaf cluster, a U.S. military decoration* A bronze oak leaf device is also used to signify a Mention in Despatches or the award of the Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in Commonwealth militaries...
cluster for his service in Bougainville and Luzon, and the Legion of Merit
Legion of Merit
The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
with an Oak Leaf cluster.
On September 25, 1945, Beightler received his 33d degree from the Scottish Rite
Scottish Rite
The Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry , commonly known as simply the Scottish Rite, is one of several Rites of the worldwide fraternity known as Freemasonry...
of Freemasonry. He was awarded the Legion of Honor
Philippine Legion of Honor
The Philippine Legion of Honor was established by President Manuel Roxas, through Philippine Army Circular No. 60 dated July 3, 1947. The Philippine Legion of Honor was patterned after the Legion of Merit of the United States of America, and was meant to honor both civilians and members of the...
from the Philippine government. In June 1952, Beightler was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of the Ryukyus
University of the Ryukyus
The , abbreviated to Ryūdai , is a national university of Japan. It is located in the town of Nishihara on Okinawa Honto in Okinawa Prefecture. There are also campuses in Nakagusuku and Ginowan. It is the westernmost national university of Japan and the largest public university in Okinawa Prefecture...
for his work in rebuilding the infrastructure. The National Guard armory in Columbus is named in his honor. It is the headquarters of the Ohio National Guard
Ohio National Guard
The Ohio National Guard comprises:* Ohio Army National Guard* Ohio Air National Guard-External links:* compiled by the United States Army Center of Military History...
.
In 1993, the Ohio Department of Veterans Affairs inducted him into the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame. In 2007, the Union County, Ohio
Union County, Ohio
Union County is a county located in the US state of Ohio. As of the 2010 census, the population was 52,300. Increasingly becoming more of a suburban county, the population was estimated at 47,234 in 2007 by the U.S. Census Bureau...
Chamber of Commerce declared September 28 to be Major General Robert S. Beightler Day.
In 2007, the Ohio Historical Society dedicated an historical marker on 5th Street in Uptown Marysville in honor of Beightler. Hundreds of citizens attended the ceremony, with officials present from the office of Gov. Ted Strickland
Ted Strickland
Theodore "Ted" Strickland was the 68th Governor of Ohio, serving from 2007 to 2011. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served in the United States House of Representatives, representing ....
, U.S. Senator George Voinovich
George Voinovich
George Victor Voinovich is a former United States Senator from the state of Ohio, and a member of the Republican Party. Previously, he served as the 65th Governor of Ohio from 1991 to 1998, and as the 54th mayor of Cleveland from 1980 to 1989.-Personal life:Born in Cleveland, Ohio, his father was...
, and the Ohio National Guard. In 2007, the Ohio Department of Transportation funded his memorial marker at the Veterans Memorial in Marysville, Ohio.