UC Law alumnus, law library namesake remembered as DAV celebrates 100 years

The Disabled American Veterans, a nonprofit organization that works to improve the lives of those who’ve sacrificed for their country, celebrates its 100^th anniversary this year. And as The Enquirer details, the organization got its start in 1920 thanks to University of Cincinnati College of Law alumnus Robert S. Marx, for whom UC’s Law Library is named.

On Christmas Day 1919, Marx, a newly elected judge on the Superior Court in Cincinnati, hosted a party at a hotel for more than 100 disabled World War I veterans who were receiving special job training from the Ohio Mechanics Institute.

Marx, a wounded veteran himself, knew the challenges the veterans faced, and the conversation turned to the scarce support available and need for a national organization for disabled veterans. Within a few months, DAV was born as Disabled American Veterans of the World War.  Marx served as DAV’s first national commander and biggest promoter, according to The Enquirer.

Today there are nearly 1,300 DAV chapters and 1 million members across the nation.

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Watch a one-hour documentary detailing the history of DAV here