Robert Tyndall | |
|---|---|
 Tyndall in 1919 | |
| 34thMayor of Indianapolis | |
| In office 1943–1947 | |
| Preceded by | Reginald H. Sullivan |
| Succeeded by | George L. Denny |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1877-05-02)2 May 1877 Indianapolis, Indiana |
| Died | 9 July 1947(1947-07-09) (aged 70) Indianapolis, Indiana |
| Resting place | Crown Hill Cemetery and Arboretum, Section 36, Lot 162 |
| Political party | Republican |
| Parent(s) | William Eddy Tyndall Alice Boyd |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service |  United States Army |
| Rank |  Major General |
| Unit | 38th Infantry Division |
| Commands | 150th Field Artillery Regiment,38th Infantry Division |
| Battles/wars | Spanish–American War,Mexican Border Campaign, World War I, World War II |
Robert Henry Tyndall (2 May 1877 – 9 July 1947) was a United Statesartillery officer inWorld War I, amajor general, and mayor ofIndianapolis duringWorld War II.[1]
Robert Tyndall was born in Indianapolis, the son of William Eddy and Alice (Boyd) Tyndall.[2]
In 1897, Tyndall enlisted in Battery A of theIndiana National Guard. TheSpanish–American War erupted the following year, and he served with the 27th Indiana Volunteers inPuerto Rico.[3]
Following the war, Tyndall engaged in a number of business ventures. In 1908, he married Dean Spellman, a daughter of Samuel and Emma Spellman of Indianapolis. The couple had three children. During 1915 and 1916, he served as president of the Indiana SocietySons of the American Revolution.[4] In 1916, he sold out to his business partner and rejoined the military.[2]
Tyndall served as a major in command of a battalion of the Indiana Field Artillery, which was at service on theMexican border when the United States declared war on Germany in 1917.[5] As the United States mobilized for World War I, the Indiana Field Artillery became federalized as the150th Field Artillery Regiment, and assigned to the42nd Infantry "Rainbow" Division, which participated in several major battles in 1918. Tyndall was promoted to colonel in command of the entire regiment, which was issued French155 millimeter cannons. The men referred to him simply as "Bob," and generally admired him as an officer who had started as aprivate and worked his way up through the ranks.[6]
Colonel Tyndall was awarded theDistinguished Service Medal, theCroix de Guerre, andLégion d'honneur.[2] He served in the army of occupation in Germany until 1919, where he suffered from a severe case of theflu.[7] After recovering, Tyndall rejoined the 150th and returned to the United States, where he was honorably discharged from active service in May 1919.
Tyndall returned to business, and served as vice-president of the Fletcher American Bank from 1919 to 1925. During those same years, he was the national treasurer of theAmerican Legion, and worked to establish the organization in Indianapolis.[3] He continued to work with several businesses in the following years.
Tyndall continued to serve as a colonel in the Field Artillery Officer's Reserve Corps. In 1923, he was put in command of the38th Infantry "Cyclone" Division,[8] and he was promoted tomajor general on 29 October 1924.[3] In 1941, Tyndall mobilized the 50,000 troops of the 38th Division atCamp Shelby, but was forced to retire in May as he reached the mandatory retirement age of sixty-four.[2]
Robert Tyndall, aRepublican, was elected mayor of Indianapolis in 1942, and served until his death in 1947, at age 70. His term is remembered for long-term planning to achieve grade separation, smoke abatement, revamping of the city's sewer and sanitation systems, and non-partisan administration ofCity Hospital.[2]
He died on 9 July 1947 inIndianapolis, Indiana.[1] He is buried atCrown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis.[9]
Tyndall Armory, in downtown Indianapolis, is named in honor of Robert Tyndall.[10][11] The armory was the headquarters for the76th Infantry Brigade Combat Team from 1969 until 2011, when the unit moved to a new facility at the formerFort Benjamin Harrison.[10][12]
| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by | Mayor of Indianapolis 1943–1947 | Succeeded by |
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| International | |
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| National | |
| Other | |
