Never-Ending Service “He was a good veteran and a good citizen. He was just a good man.”


Those are the words of Susan Green about her uncle, Robert L. Hartman (A.S. Business ’52).


“He was thrifty, yet generous. He always tried to do the right thing. He worked hard and he enjoyed life.”


Throughout his life, Bob served others: his country, his customers, his family and friends. Today, that service continues.


Bob Hartman was born in Columbus, Ohio, on March 23, 1919, and graduated from West High School in 1938. Following commencement, like so many others, he had a difficult time finding work in the aftermath of the Great Depression. And, like so many other young men of his day, Bob joined the Civilian Conservation Corps, working for two years in the high desert area of Oregon, clearing land and building transportation routes. He was paid $30 per month, of which he was required to send $25 home to help support his family.


When he returned to Columbus in 1940, Bob found that the job market hadn’t changed very much. For that reason, he and his brother Ray enlisted in the Army in early 1941. Upon completion of his training, he was assigned to the Tenth Regiment of the Fifth Infantry Division, in the Intelligence and Reconnaissance Platoon at Fort Custer, Michigan. On July 9, 1944, Hartman and his comrades came ashore at Normandy and were given the mission to conduct reconnaissance on enemy troops.


On Aug. 21, Sgt. Hartman and two other soldiers were found by a much larger group of German soldiers. What followed


was a four-month trek across the German countryside from one prison camp to another. When Bob and the other POWs were freed by Russian forces in January 1945, the 6’4” man weighed less than 100 pounds.


When Bob returned stateside two months later, he met his soon-to-be wife Marie, with whom he would share 63 happy years. But when it came to work, his income opportunities were limited as he bounced from job to job with little pay. With the support of his new bride, he enrolled


at Franklin University. He appreciated the availability, accessibility and quality of his education.


While pursuing his Franklin degree, Bob landed a job with a petroleum company, where he met his future business partner Bob Williams. The two formed a fuel oil and petroleum products delivery business that became known as Eagle Oil. Bob loved his work, and the people with whom he shared it. He also loved golf, fishing, an occasional visit to the track, and more than a Frosty or two at Wendy’s. He was everyone’s favorite uncle and the best friend a person could have.


On Jan. 16, 2014, Bob passed away, but his spirit of generosity and service did not. In his estate plans, he included bequests to the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army. He also left a gift to his alma mater, creating the Sergeant Robert L. Hartman Memorial Scholarship for the benefit of current and former service members and their immediate families, seeking a college education at Franklin.


Bob valued what Franklin University helped him accomplish in life and wanted to provide that same opportunity for others. You can, too. For more information on planned giving options, please contact the Alumni Development Office at 614.947.6095.


18. | Clocktower 2015 | alumni.franklin.edu


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