Robert Inglis Jr.

Robert Inglis Jr. (December 26, 1919 – October 2, 2012) was a Boy Scout, Arctic explorer, World War II veteran, and public health officer. Inglis was a Lawrenceville, New Jersey resident most of his life.

Early years
Robert was born in Philadelphia, to Scottish parents Robert Inglis Sr. and Dorothy Lawrence, who had immigrated to the United States just after World War I.

The 1920s were a tragic time for the young Inglis family. In 1925 Robert lost his grandfather Lawrence. Robert's father, Robert Inglis Sr. drowned while swimming in the ocean off Avalon, New Jersey in 1926 when Bob was only eight years old. His grandmother Lawrence died in 1928. Bob his mother and brother Lawrence traveled to Scotland in 1928. Upon their return they took up residence in Trenton, NJ.

In 1932 the family moved to Sheridan, Wyoming when Dorothy married Will Wyland a meteorologist with the Weather Bureau. Robert joined the Boy Scouts in Sheridan, learned to ride horse back and studied Meteorology with his step-father. By 1937 the family moved back in Trenton, NJ, Dorothy’s marriage to Will Wyland having not worked out.

Boy Scouting
Inglis joined the Boy Scouts at age 12 while still in Sheridan, Wyoming. Upon returning to Trenton, New Jersey Bob joined Troop 12.

In 1937 while still attending Trenton Central High School, Bob approached a colleague of his step-father’s, Clifford J. MacGregor, who was organizing an arctic expedition to Ellesmere Island, Canada to study arctic weather and how it affects weather conditions in North America. Bob was enlisted as assistant surveyor for the MacGregor Arctic Expedition and as Carpenter's Mate for the Schooner A.W. Greely that the expidetion would use to get to and return from Ellesmere Island, Canada. The Expedition left Port Newark on July 1, 1937 and returned October 4, 1938 after wintering over in Etah, Greenland, Ellesmere Island being inaccessible the fall of 1937.

Bob was a member of the only (at that time) Boy Scout Mounted Lancer Troop which was sponsored by the 112th Field Artillery in Lawrenceville, New Jersey. Bob was an Eagle Scout.

After World War II Bob was instrumental in the reformation of Boy Scout Troop 28 and served as Scout Master and as the Pack Master for Cub Scout Pack 28. Bob attended the National Jamboree at Valley Forge, PA in 1957 where he combined his love of scouting with his professional expertise, serving as health officer for the encampment.

After retiring as Scout Master, Bob continued to serve Troop 28 as institutaional representative and as a member of the Eagle Scout Board of review.

For 80 years Bob served as a youth and adult leader to Boy Scouting. For this, Bob was awarded the Silver Beaver award for his distinguished service.

Education
In 1939 Robert graduated from Trenton Central High School.

In 1943 Robert graduated from Rutgers University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Animal Husbandry.

In 1961 Bob earned his Masters degree in Public Health from Columbia University.

Military service
Bob was an Army World War II veteran having served in France and Germany.

In August 1944 Robert was inducted (drafted) into the United States Army.

After basic training at Camp Blanding, Florida in the fall of 1944, Bob was shipped to France landing at Marseilles on January 18, 1945. Bob was assigned to the 275th regiment of the 70th Infantry Division, where he operated a heavy machine gun. Robert fought in the battle of the Rhineland, the battle of Saarbrücken and the reduction of the Saar Basin. He served in combat for 70 continuous days for which he was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge.

Following VE Day, Bob served as an instructor in the GI schools during the occupation of Germany and attended classes at the University of Basel, Switzerland.

Bob departed Europe in April 1946 after visiting his grandfather William Inglis in Scotland for only the second time in his life.

Bob was discharged from Fort Dix, New Jersey on July 31, 1946.

Public service work
Inglis worked for the State of New Jersey Department of Health. He started his career as a dairy farm inspector in 1946 and retired as the Assistant Director of Consumer Health Services in 1985. During his 39 years of public service, he also served for 10 years as the health officer for Lawrence Township.

Other activities
Inglis was a member of the Lawrence Road Presbyterian Church where he served as a Deacon, Elder and the representative between Boy Scout Troup #28 and the church.

He was a member and past Master of Lawrenceville Grange #170. He was a member of American Legion Post #414 for over 50 years.

Retirement
During his retirement, Robert cared for his aging Mother Dorothy and continued his involvement with the Boy Scouts, Church and the Grange.