Kansas City Mayor, Boy Scout Executive. The son of a poor minister who grew up in coal mining towns of Virginia, he served in the infantry during World War I, and saved most of his pay, which he invested in oil lands and banks after the war. Having vowed he would devote his life to public service once he had achieved financial security, he retired from his law practice and joined the staff of the Boy Scouts. His service with the Boy Scouts took him and his family to Wyoming, St. Joseph Missouri, and finally Kansas City as the Executive of the Kansas City Area Council in 1929. His accomplishments included establishing the elite Tribe of Mic-O-Say in 1925 and acquiring the Ozark acreage for Camp Osceola (now named the H. Roe Bartle Scout Reservation) in 1929. Under Harold Bartle, nicknamed "Chief", Boy Scouting in the area flourished and earned nationwide recognition. He ran as a Democratic candidate for mayor of Kansas City in 1955, serving two terms and leaving office in 1963. He was instrumental in bringing professional football to town with the Kansas City Chiefs, so named in part to honor Bartle. After leaving office as mayor, he continued to promote Kansas City and the importance of youth leadership through speeches and volunteer work. Poor health eventually caught up with the mayor and he died in the spring of 1974.
Kansas City Mayor, Boy Scout Executive. The son of a poor minister who grew up in coal mining towns of Virginia, he served in the infantry during World War I, and saved most of his pay, which he invested in oil lands and banks after the war. Having vowed he would devote his life to public service once he had achieved financial security, he retired from his law practice and joined the staff of the Boy Scouts. His service with the Boy Scouts took him and his family to Wyoming, St. Joseph Missouri, and finally Kansas City as the Executive of the Kansas City Area Council in 1929. His accomplishments included establishing the elite Tribe of Mic-O-Say in 1925 and acquiring the Ozark acreage for Camp Osceola (now named the H. Roe Bartle Scout Reservation) in 1929. Under Harold Bartle, nicknamed "Chief", Boy Scouting in the area flourished and earned nationwide recognition. He ran as a Democratic candidate for mayor of Kansas City in 1955, serving two terms and leaving office in 1963. He was instrumental in bringing professional football to town with the Kansas City Chiefs, so named in part to honor Bartle. After leaving office as mayor, he continued to promote Kansas City and the importance of youth leadership through speeches and volunteer work. Poor health eventually caught up with the mayor and he died in the spring of 1974.
Bio by: Bill Walker
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