Sons of Veterans Reserve Commanding Officer Robert E. Grim Commander-in-Chief

On November 17, 2007, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (SUVCW) Past Commander-in-Chief Robert E. Grim became the sixth person ^(*) to hold the rank of Brigadier General in the Sons of Veterans Reserve (SVR).

Brigadier General Grim served a four year enlistment in the United States Air Force. He was assigned to the Strategic Air Command (SAC) and served during the beginning of the Vietnam War. He served a two year tour of duty in Morocco, North Africa. On November 2, 2006, he was inducted into the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame by Ohio Governor Bob Taft. He’s a member of the Paul H. Hughey American Legion Post No. 25.

Brigadier General Grim joined the SUVCW on March 26, 1988 as a member-at-large in the Ohio Department. His membership is based on the military service of his Great Grandfather William F. Grim, who served in Company K, 8th Ohio Volunteer Cavalry from 29 Feb. 1864 to 30 July 1865. In 1990, he transferred his membership to Gov. William Dennison Camp No. 125. In 1992, he recruited 26 new members and organized Henry Casey Camp No. 92. He was elected Commander of this new camp and held that post until 1995. He was elected treasurer of the camp in 1996; a position he still holds.

He served as Commander of the Ohio Department from June 1994 to June 1995. He served as Commander of the Grand Army of the Republic Allied Orders Central Region Association (1997 - 1998) and served as the 116th Commander-in-Chief of the SUVCW (2002 - 2003). He received the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War Meritorious Service Award with Gold Star at the 2006 National Encampment held in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Brigadier General Grim started his SVR career by enlisting as a private in Battery I, 1st Ohio Light Artillery on May 12, 1992. He is still a member of this unit. He qualified as an Artillerist having completed the National Civil War Artillery Training School courses at Old Fort Niagara, New York on May 23, 1993. He also completed the National Civil War Artillery Association School of the Piece sponsored by the First Ohio Light Artillery Battery I held in Chillicothe, Ohio.

He organized Company C, 20th Ohio Volunteer Infantry in 1993 and was elected its commander and commissioned a Second Lieutenant on March 12, 1993. On December 4, 1993, he was commissioned a First Lieutenant. On October 29, 1996, he was commissioned a Captain. He gave up command of Company C, 20th Ohio Volunteer Infantry on September 1, 1997 when he was commissioned a Major and appointed Commander of the 3rd Military District. He remains a member of Company C, 20th Ohio Volunteer Infantry.

On October 30, 1998, he was commissioned a Lieutenant Colonel and appointed Adjutant General of the SVR. On August 19, 2000, he was commissioned Colonel in the SVR. On November 17, 2001 he was awarded the SVR Distinguished Service Medal and appointed Deputy Commander of the SVR, a position he held until he was commissioned Brigadier General and appointed Commander of the SVR on November 17, 2007.

Brigadier General Grim was born in Madison Mills, Ohio and grew up in nearby Bloomingburg, Ohio and graduated from Bloomingburg High School. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Maryland and a Master of Education degree from Xavier University. In 1968 he was elected President of the Bloomingburg Board of Trustees of Public Affairs. Two years later, he was elected to the Bloomingburg Village Council (1970) but resigned his seat to fill an unexpired term as Village Clerk-Treasurer (1970 - 1972). In 1972, he was elected to a four-year term as Village Clerk-Treasurer.

He retired in 2001 from Miami Trace High School near Washington Court House, Ohio after 34 years as an educator. He received numerous awards during his teaching career and at the time of his retirement was serving as President of the Miami Trace Education Association and had been Chairman of the Social Studies Department for ten years. He is a Life Member of the Ohio Retired Teachers Association and an active member of the Fayette County Retired Teachers Association. He received their Community Service Award in 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005.

He has been active in a variety of civic and fraternal organizations. He was elected Worshipful Master of New Holland Lodge 392 Free and Accepted Masons in 1983 and again in 1984. He received the Lodge’s Distinguished Service Award in 1985 and the Lodge’s Service to Community Award in 1991. He served as Deputy Grand Master of the 8th Ohio Masonic District from 1986 - 1989. He served as Representative from the Grand Lodge of Ohio to the Grand Lodge of the Philippine Islands from 1986 - 1989.

He has been a member of the Columbus Valley of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite since 1979. He is also active in the Masonic York Rite. He served as Excellent High Priest of Fayette Chapter No. 103 Royal Arch Masons in 1989 and as Illustrious Master of Fayette Council No. 100 Royal and Select Masons in 1988. He received the Council’s Distinguished Service Award in 1997. In 1990, he served as Commander of Garfield Commandery No. 28 Knights Templar. He received their Meritorious Service Award in 1992.

He was knighted in Ohio Priory No. 18 Knights of the York Cross of Honour in 1991. He served as President of the Clinton County Knights of the York Cross of Honour Club from 1998 - 2000.

He served as High Priest of Tabernacle No. 2 Apollo Dramatic Chapter of Ohio in 1994 and 1995. He served as Sovereign Master of Harry E. Stark Council No. 186 Allied Masonic Degrees 2002-2003. He was elected to the Red Branch of Eri in 2000.

He is a Knight of the Royal Order of Scotland; received the Silver Trowel in the Council of Anointed Kings and is a member of the Holy Order of the High Priesthood. He is a member of Shannon Council No. 28 Knight Masons of Ireland and Iowa Research Lodge No. 2. He also is a member of the Civil War Lodge of Research No. 1865 in Virginia.

Brigadier General Grim also belongs to the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States; the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels, and the Lt. Jonathan Bressler Camp No. 1536 Sons of Confederate Veterans.

He served as Governor General of the National Society of the Sons of Colonial New England from 2005 - 2007 and was President of the Arthur St. Clair Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution from 2003 - 2005. He received the Sons of the American Revolution Silver Good Citizenship Medal in 2004. He is the vice chairman of United States Selective Service Ohio Board No. 15. He has served on that board since 1990 when he was appointed by President George H. W. Bush.

He served as President of the Ohio Society of the War of 1812 from 1993 to 1996 and has been the Registrar General of the General Society of the War of 1812 since 2002. He is active in numerous historical and genealogical societies including the Ohio Genealogical Society. He qualifies as a member of the First Families of Ohio based on 14 ancestors who were in Ohio before 1820, and is also a member of the Settlers and Builders of Ohio and the Society of Civil War Families of Ohio.

Brigadier General Grim married Charlotte Ann Morris on July 31, 1976. They have lived on a farm outside Sabina, Ohio since that time. They have one son, Irven Robert, who is married to Carolin J. Gruber. They have three grandsons: Jason Robert born April 7, 2000, Michael Irven David born February 18, 2002, and Joshua Jo born July 9, 2007.

In his free time, Brigadier General Grim and his wife Charlotte enjoy Western Square Dancing. They serve as co-secretary of the Clinton County Country Squares. They dance at least once a week and have missed only three national square dance conventions since 1993.

* Other SUVCW Brothers who have held the SVR rank of Brigadier General and have had the honor to serve as the Commanding Officer of the SVR include, David V. Medert (1997 – 2007), PCinC Keith G. Harrison (1996 - 1997), PCinC Charles Corfman (1990 - 1996), PCinC Richard Schlenker (1989 - 1990), and PCinC Chester S. Shriver (1967 - 1989).

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