Luther Halsey Reichelderfer

Luther Halsey Reichelderfer
Reichelderfer in 1905
16th President of the Board of Commissioners of Washington, D.C.
In office April 10, 1930 – November 16, 1933
President	Herbert Hoover Franklin D. Roosevelt
Preceded by	Proctor Lambert Dougherty
Succeeded by	Melvin Colvin Hazen
Personal details
Born	February 4, 1874 Hallsville, Ohio, US
Died	June 19, 1945. (aged 71) Washington, DC, US
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Mary McCauley
Alma mater	Columbian University
Profession	Doctor, Politician
Military service
Branch/service	United States Army
Years of service	1895-1917 (National Guard) 1917–1919 (Army) 1919-1921 (Army Reserve)
Rank	Colonel (Army Reserve)
Unit	Medical Corps
Battles/wars	World War I

Luther Halsey Reichelderfer (1874–1945) was a Washington, D.C., politician who served as the 16th president of the Board of Commissioners of the District of Columbia, from 1930 to 1933. He was also a founder of the American College of Surgeons and the first commander of the District of Columbia National Guard's Medical Corps.

Early life

Reichelderfer was born in Hallsville, Ohio, in 1873 and moved to Washington, D.C., when he was 3 years old. He attended the Franklin School and Central High School in DC and then Columbian University, where he received his medical degree in 1899. He practiced medicine in Washington, D.C., at Garfield, Children's and Tuberculosis Hospitals, while teaching at the George Washington University of medicine until he retired from medicine in 1924.[1]

Reichelderfer had a 26-year military career as well. In high school he'd been a colonel in the school cadet corps. After graduating he was hired as the assistant military instructor of the High School Cadet Corps and in 1895 became a Lieutenant in the District Guard.[2] He was an accomplished marksman with the guard who participated in national competitions and instructed others on shooting. In 1905 he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and in 1909 put in charge of the new Medical Corps as Surgeon General.[3] In 1915, he was called up to U.S. Military service with the rank of Major and began preparing troops for service along the Texas border, but was discharged when they departed Fort Myer.[4] He was called up again and promoted to lieutenant Colonel as part of the AEF during World War I and deployed to France. Upon returning to the states he was promoted to the rank of Colonel in the Medical Reserve Corps and then left the military in 1921.[5]

Public life

Despite no prior political background, President Hoover appointed Reichelderfer to the District of Columbia's Board of Commissioners in 1930 on the advice of the District of Columbia Medical Society. As his term coincided with the Great Depression his advice on matters of public health and social welfare were considered of high value.^[citation needed]

Death and honors

Reichelderfer died on June 19, 1945, at his home in Adams Morgan. DC flags were flown at half-staff in his honor. He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.[6]

References

1. "Dr. Luther H. Reichlderfer 1874-1945". Records of the Columbia Historical Society, Washington, D.C. 47: 417–419. 1945. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
2. "The District Guard". The Washington Post. 2 November 1895.
3. "PROMOTIONS IN GUARD". The Washington Post. 14 July 1909.
4. "Militia Officers Promoted". The Washington Post. 2 July 1915.
5. "REICHELDERFER AND CROSBY PLAN NO SWEEPING CHANGES AS NEW CHIEFS OF DISTRICT". The Washington Post. 22 March 1930.
6. "Reichelderfer Funeral on Saturday". The Washington Post. 21 June 1945.

Political offices
Preceded by Proctor Lambert Dougherty	President of the D.C. Board of Commissioners 1930-1933	Succeeded by Melvin Colvin Hazen