[1] The Bartle family was musical, and at age thirteen, Harold was playing the piano and organ at his father's church.

[5] Bartle met Margaret Ann Caroline Jarvis in Lebanon, and they were married on September 26, 1923, in St. Joseph, Missouri, where his father had taken another pastorate.

[15] He claimed he was inducted into a local Arapaho tribe, and used the name "Chief Lone Bear" as part of the Mic-O-Say program with the Boy Scouts.

He also served on the board of directors of numerous corporations and banks, including the largest independent liquor dealer in Missouri.

[18] As a professional public speaker, he regularly addressed political, fraternal, educational, religious, civic, business, and service organizations.

"[21] The money Bartle made in the private sector subsidized his public service and allowed him to fund organizations in which he took an interest.

[24] After the war, from 1945 to 1952, Bartle was president of Missouri Valley College, a small coeducational school associated with the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

Now at seventy-five colleges and universities nationwide, the program prepares students for leadership in nonprofit, public service organizations such as the Boy Scouts, Camp Fire Girls, and the YWCA.

[30] Bartle was a devout member of Central Presbyterian Church in Kansas City from 1929 until his death, although he was often not in attendance because he was filling a pulpit somewhere else.

[33] In 1955, Bartle, a Democrat, with no previous political experience, was asked to run for mayor of Kansas City on the Citizens' Association ticket.

[20] However, in his reelection campaign of 1959, Bartle also accepted the tacit support of the remnants of the Pendergast machine, leading to unfounded fears about the possible revival of "boss politics."

[25] Also during his two terms, the Dallas Texans professional football team moved to Kansas City, adopting Bartle's nickname, "Chief.

"[36] While he was mayor, Bartle went to all two-alarm fires in a fireman's hat, coat and boots; and every weekday morning at 8:00—or when he could actually make it to the station—he broadcast a radio report to the city.

[39] On Christmas, he would regularly spend the day visiting orphanages, the Boys' Home, the city jail, and other places that might be overlooked on such a holiday.

[41] Kansas City Star editor Roy A. Roberts was puzzled by Bartle, "You can say almost anything you like about Roe Bartle—call him demagogue, opportunist, tycoon or dedicated saint—and you will be correct, but you will speak only half truths.

"[17] In later years, Bartle was plagued by health problems including phlebitis and injuries to his back and legs caused by a 1944 plane crash.