Name/Title
Boder, Bartlett: Portrait of Veterans You Should Know Meet Bartlett Boder, News Article, c. 1950Entry/Object ID
AM2017.25.28Scope and Content
Boder, Bartlett: Portrait of Veterans You Should Know Meet Bartlett Boder, News Article, c. 1950. News clipping from St. Joseph newspaper, undated (A). Profiles Boder's life, service and his establishment of 35th Division Tank Company, reserve unit in St. Joseph, Mo. by Carl Castel. Also Turning Back the Pages excerpt, 1945 (B)--mentioning 1925 drill pay by national guard unit.
In the diversity of his interests perhaps the key to his personality, Bartlett Boder, St. Joseph banker, is as familiar with the news room and command post as he is with the counting room. The sum of many heterogeneous parts is the real Bartlett Boder.
The Boder family observed its 78th anniversary of it entry into banking on Feb. 4 of this year. Mr. Boder's father, the late Louis Boder, was president of the old Merchant's Bank, on Third & Edmond streets, for many years. His sons, Louis F, Frank A, and Bartlett eventually became associated with him in business. Bartlett, who alone survives, succeeded his brother Frank as president of the Missouri Valley Trust Company in 1931. Frank Boder had served in World War I and was a member of the American Legion.
Bartlett began his banking career in 1903 at Troy, Kansas. But the scent of printer's ink was strong in his nostrils and in 1905 he became a reporter for the St. Joseph News-Press. After two years of news gathering he went to Europe where he remained for several years.
He spent considerable time in the Old World Capitals, especially London, Paris and Berlin. He was in London at the time of the coronation of George V. "It was the most magnificent pageantry I have ever seen." said Mr. Boder. While in Berlin he caught a glimpse of the Kaiser.
Back in St. Joseph, Mr. Boder again became engaged in banking for a while, but in 1916 he became the Jefferson City correspondent for the St. Joseph Gazette. How far this second excursion into Journalism might have gone will never be known, for in April, 1917, the United States went to war, and Mr. Boder donned an army uniform the same month,.
That he was slightly over draft age was no deterrent. He received his commission at Fort Riley, Kansas, and served in France as an artillery officer with the 34th and 27th divisions. He was discharged in 1919 with the rank of 1st Lieutenant.
Upon his return to St. Joseph he organized the 3th division tank company, which later was to play a memorable and tragic part in World War II. In 1935 he ended his activities with the 35th division. He was, at that time, a lieut. colonel and all of his military career had been with national guard units.
During World War II Col. Boder was director of the civilian defense operations in the St. Joseph area. This was a huge undertaking and involved many thousands of men and women. He continued in his wok until the trend of the war caused its demobilization.
His journalistic experience and travels abroad serve him well in his avocation as a contributor to various periodicals. The by-line "Bartlett Boder" is seen frequently in various banking an veteran publications. Last spring the New York French language newspaper "France-Amerique" carried a story about early French settlers in the region west of the Mississippi River. Written in flawless French, the story was recopied (in English) in the Missouri Historical Review. The author? Bartlett Boder.
Col. Boder has been a member of both the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars since 1919. He was commander of the Jack Schneider Post, V.F.W., in 1922, and in 1926 he was commander of the Malcom McDonald, the Donald Duncan, and the Ross Dugger Posts. The consolidation was completed in 1927 and the new post assumed the name, "McDonald-Dugger-Duncan Post. No. 11". Col. Boder was commander of the Legion 4th district in 1926 and served as vice-commander of the Missouri Department in 1927. He is currently a member of the Legion's national committee for distinguished guests.
The colonel's command post--er--pardon us--residence is at 2649 Frederick avenue. Mrs. Boder is the former Vira Price."Lexicon
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Boder Family, World War I, World War II, Boder, Bartlett Biography, American Legion, 35th Tank Division, National Guard, V.F. W., Missouri Valley Trust Company, St. Joseph News-Press, St. Joseph GazetteRelationships
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