CPT Albert H. Leyerle, ’54

Albert H. Leyerle is a distinguished scholar and teacher and a committed community servant-leader whose Ohio State University Army ROTC and military experiences help shaped his personal life and career.

Albert (Al) graduated from The Ohio State University in 1954 with a B. S. Degree in Business Administration. He was designated as a Distinguished Military Student. After graduation, Albert was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant, and branched artillery, in the Army Reserve. He reported for active duty to Ft. Sill, Oklahoma in December of 1954 where he completed the Field Artillery Officers Basic Course in May of 1955.

After completing the artillery course, Albert served in the 24th Division, South Korea from 1955-1956 (16 months). First, he served as a forward observer with the 21st Infantry Battalion
for a brief period of time and then as Executive Officer of Charlie Battery (C Battery), 52nd Field Artillery Battalion, 24th Division Artillery. Both battalions were on line at the DMZ. During his time with the battery, Al was honored to serve as the Officer in Charge of the 19 gun salute for William S. B. Lacy, U.S. Ambassador to South Korea. Later in his Korea tour he served in Headquarters, 24th Division Artillery as the Air Ground Operations Officer. As a result of this assignment, Al satisfactorily completed the Indoctrination Course of the Far East Air-Ground Operations School in Tokyo, Japan. For his military service in Korea, he was awarded the Korea Service Defense Medal and the Korean Ambassador for Peace Medal. The Korean Medal was presented to Al in Korea when Al and his wife were on a Korea Revisit Tour in August of 2015. In October,1956, Al returned to the United States, was promoted to Captain in 1960, and remained in the Army Reserve until honorably discharged in June of 1964.

Following active military service, Albert enrolled in Case Western Reserve University School of law and graduated in1960 with a Juris Doctor Degree (J.D.Degree)). He then entered a long and successful civilian career in the legal profession, including the general practice of law, criminal investigation of the federal tax laws as a Special Agent with the Criminal Investigation Division of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Associate Counsel for a large bank for eleven years (1963-1974), and Professor at the University of Akron School of Law for twenty- two years (1974-1996). During his time with the IRS, Al was assigned to the Organized Crime Drive, a multi-agency unit headed by the then Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy. As a result of this assignment, Al satisfactorily completed three courses on taxation and law enforcement. Also, during his tenure at the Law School, Al taught many students, as well as producing many articles, publications, and speeches, in the fields of Wills, Trust, Estates, and Fiduciary Administration. He also served as liaison for international visitors and faculty to the Law School. Al was also selected as a Fulbright Scholar to England for one year in 1989-90 where he taught English Trusts and the American legal System at the University of Wolverhampton. After his retirement from the Law School in1996, he taught as a visiting (and distinguished visiting) Professor of Law at six different law schools throughout the United States (1996-2007).

Al is a life member of the Korean War Veterans Association and a member of the Akron Chapter, where he is a Trustee and member of the Executive Committee.

His chapter activities include fundraising, being a member of the Honor guard, and a member of the Final Salute Team for funerals of deceased Korean veterans. He is also a life member of the Ohio State University Alumni Association, the Army ROTC Alumni Association, the Presidents Club, and other organizations. One of Al’s favorite activities is ballroom dancing. Al and his professional partner have competed in many dance sport competitions and have won many medals and trophies. They have also performed at many exhibitions and shows.

Albert is married to the former Suzanne M. Dimengo of Akron, Ohio. She is a retired Akron Public School Teacher. They have established two scholarships at Ohio State, one is for the University Honor’s Program and the other is for the Army ROTC Cadets.