Skip to main content
  • Home
  • About
  • Faculty Experts
  • For The Media
  • Videos
  • Topics
    • Alumni
    • Events
    • Faculty
    • Library
    • Research
    • Students
    • All Topics
  • Contact
  • Submit
Veterans
  • All News
  • Arts & Culture
  • Business & Economy
  • Campus & Community
  • Health & Society
  • Media, Law & Policy
  • STEM
  • Veterans
  • |
  • Alumni
  • The Peel
  • Athletics
Sections
  • All News
  • Arts & Culture
  • Business & Economy
  • Campus & Community
  • Health & Society
  • Media, Law & Policy
  • STEM
  • Veterans
  • |
  • Alumni
  • The Peel
  • Athletics
  • Home
  • About
  • Faculty Experts
  • For The Media
  • Videos
  • Topics
    • Alumni
    • Events
    • Faculty
    • Library
    • Research
    • Students
    • All Topics
  • Contact
  • Submit
Veterans

Centenarian Alumnus Used Legal Training as Springboard to Success in Military and Private Practice

Monday, September 27, 2021, By Brandon Dyer
Share
College of LawNational Veterans Resource CenterRobert GangSyracuse University Army ROTC

Robert Gang, who at 103 is the oldest living alumnus from Syracuse University’s College of Law, was honored Sept. 25 at the National Veterans Resource Center. The WWII and the Korean War-era veteran attended Syracuse University as both an undergraduate and law school­ student, and he was a member of Syracuse University’s Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC).

two people shaking hands and a third person standing nearby

The College of Law held its Alumni Weekend event titled “Serving Veterans at the College of Law and in the Community” on Sept. 25, at the Grand Hall, National Veterans Resource Center. The oldest living College of Law alumnus and veteran, Robert Gang, was recognized with a certificate by Elizabeth G. Kubala, executive director of the Betty and Michael D. Wohl Veterans Legal Clinic, in front of current faculty, alumni, students and honored guests. (Photo by Mike Roy)

Gang grew up in the Syracuse area and attended Christian Brothers Academy for high school. His father gave Gang limited choices for his next steps after high school, “My father gave me an option. It was Syracuse University or no college,” says Gang.

Ultimately his goal was to attend law school, so he majored in political science. When Gang entered college in 1935, he said he needed to fulfill a requirement for a gym course. He was rejected from the athletic department, so he chose Army ROTC as a gym class alternative. He ended up joining the program as a cadet. Gang was a member of the Syracuse University Pershing rifle team. Gang made use of a rifle range in the basement of what was then Archbold Gymnasium, and practiced on targets 50 meters away.

Syracuse University was a smaller regional campus when Gang attended in the 1930s, and Gang did not live on campus as an undergraduate student. Instead, he lived at home with his parents and two siblings, walking 3 1/2 miles to campus for class, including during the harsh Syracuse winter weather. Gang would graduate in 1939, and immediately enrolled in the College of Law.

Before finishing his law degree in 1942, Gang took an Army physical in December. He was told he needed to report to the 630th Tank Destroyer battalion at Fort Jackson in South Carolina the following month. He was five credit hours from a degree in law. He would complete his degree by passing his finals while on duty, and passed the New York State Bar exam on May 22, 1946.

He went on to serve from 1942 to 1951 as a US Army infantry officer. Gang’s legal training was a huge resource to those he served with, especially when he represented soldiers charged with misconduct. In the military, Gang encountered many situations where he was given a task he had never done before. He would often do as much research as possible, employing the study habits he learned as a law student.

Bob Gang

Bob Gang served from 1942 to 1951 as a U.S. Army infantry officer.

When he was assigned to Camp Bowie in Texas, Gang worked with an inspector general who was very behind in his work despite working over 100 hours a week. After working with him for only month, the inspector general was discharged from the Army. “I reported back to the general and he said to me, ‘Until I find another job for you, go back to the inspector general’s office and do what you can.’” Gang picked up the general’s work and a month later had caught up the backlog. He would later serve as an inspector general at Fort Hood in Texas.

After serving his country, Gang came back to Syracuse and started a very successful career in private practice, working in the firm Smith, Dolan, Gieselman and Gang. He specialized in Real Property law and served as the assistant city corporate counsel during his career. Gang practiced law for 50 years, doing pro bono work into his 80s.

Today, Gang lives with his second wife, Holly. He has eight children and 15 grandchildren. Gang’s family continues his legacy. His son-in-law, Ed Moses L’68, and grandson Matt Moses L’97 both attended Syracuse University for their law degrees. Gang’s advice to people, especially law students, after a century plus of experience is, “Do your own homework.”

  • Author

Brandon Dyer

  • Recent
  • Funding Expands for Newhouse Professors’ Work on Technology to Combat Fake News
    Wednesday, May 18, 2022, By Wendy S. Loughlin
  • Biology and Earth and Environmental Sciences Departments Come Together on Diversity and Engagement Initiatives
    Tuesday, May 17, 2022, By News Staff
  • As the School of Education’s Italy Program Returns, Sara Jo Soldovieri ’18, G’19 Reflects on Its Influence
    Tuesday, May 17, 2022, By Martin Walls
  • Center for Fellowship and Scholarship Advising Team Helps Match Students With Unique Experiences That Enhance Their Studies
    Tuesday, May 17, 2022, By Jen Maser
  • COVID-19 Update: Public Health Protocols for Summer 2022
    Tuesday, May 17, 2022, By News Staff

More In Veterans

Vice Chancellor Haynie Appointed to Veterans Advisory Committee on Education

Earlier this month, J. Michael Haynie, Ph.D., vice chancellor for strategic initiatives and innovation and executive director of the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families, was appointed by United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough to serve on…

Senior Q&A: Tony Ruscitto ’22 Puts a New Mission on His Horizon

Q: How was your experience getting to Syracuse University? A: I’m a Syracuse native, and enlisted in the Marine Corps in 2013, out of high school. After five years of military service, I saw a crossroads. At 23 I realized…

OVMA Announces 2022 Awards Celebrating Student Veterans’ Achievements

The Student Veterans Organization (SVO) and the Office of Veteran and Military Affairs (OVMA) have presented two awards to student veterans in honor of their significant and notable achievements. The awards were distributed at SVO’s social held at the Inn…

Senior Profile: Katie Piston ’22 Solves Biomedical Engineering Challenges

Growing up in the Chicago suburbs, Katie Piston didn’t imagine herself looking to settle down in Central New York. After earning an undergraduate degree from Purdue University in biomedical engineering, Piston landed a job with Indiana-based medical technology company Zimmer…

Office of Veteran and Military Affairs Announces Spring 2022 Military-Connected Scholarship Recipients

The Office of Veterans and Military Affairs (OVMA) is pleased to announce the following awardees of military-connected student spring 2022 scholarships. These awards provide meaningful financial assistance to military-connected students as part of the University’s commitment to being the best…

Subscribe to SU Today

If you need help with your subscription, contact sunews@syr.edu.

Connect With Us

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • LinkedIn
Social Media Directory

For the Media

Find an Expert Follow @SyracuseUNews
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • LinkedIn
  • @SyracuseU
  • @SyracuseUNews
  • @SUCampus
  • Social Media Directory
  • Accessibility
  • Privacy
  • Campus Status
  • Syracuse.edu
© 2022 Syracuse University News. All Rights Reserved.