Bartle was born in Richmond, Virginia on June 25, presumably 1896. He died in his adopted Kansas City approximately 77 years later. The intervening years he filled with Scouting, eating, public speaking, banking and mayoring.

A living legend, Roe Bartle was a vast man with a volcanic voice. He championed his early shyness to become a professional public speaker. He was much in demand and highly compensated.

Bartle came to Kansas City in 1928 in his early thirties. Professional Scouting became the love of his life. Weighing 350 pounds at his apogee, 6' 3" Bartle in his tent-like hiking shorts was affectionately dubbed "The Biggest Boy Scout of All."

Nevertheless, he was a serious, hard-working organizer and educator as well. On top of all else, he was a lawyer who became mayor of Kansas City.

Cigar-chomping Bartle was elected Mayor in 1955. The same day the Detroit Tigers arrived to celebrate Kansas City's inauguration into big league baseball. During his second term, his negotiations with Lamar Hunt led to the Chiefs' move here from Dallas in 1963.

Bartle died May 9, 1974, never revealing his exact age. Post-humously, giant-sized Bartle Convention Hall was built downtown, memoralizing Kansas City's larger-than-life former mayor.