Robert S. Beightler
| Robert Sprague Beightler | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
March 21, 1892 Marysville, Ohio |
| Died | February 12, 1978 (aged 85) Worthington, Ohio |
| Buried at | Oakdale Cemetery, Marysville, Ohio |
| Allegiance |
 United States of America
|
| Service/branch |
 United States Army
|
| Years of service | 1911–1953 |
| Rank |
 Major General
|
| Commands held | 37th Infantry Division |
| Battles/wars |
World War I World War II -Bougainville, -New Georgia -Manila |
| Awards |
Distinguished Service Cross Distinguished Service Medal Silver Star Purple Heart Legion of Merit Combat Infantryman Badge |
| Other work | Engineer, owner of private engineering firm |
Robert Sprague 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 II. 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.
Beightler is derived from Bigler. Because some German immigrants were illiterate when they came to Colonial America, 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.
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