Richard Bechtol, 28, of Coshocton, Ohio, is a third-generation service member. Growing up with a father who served in the Marines, he always saw the military as an option. Bechtol seriously considered joining ROTC out of high school but opted to play golf at a small school instead. The call of duty never left though, and he joined the Ohio Army National Guard while finishing his bachelor’s degree.
Bechtol served for six years with the National Guard and completed a nine-month tour in Afghanistan doing air defense artillery work. He’s now pursuing a Juris Doctorate at the University of Dayton School of Law and hopes to practice in the area of estate planning and probate work. He considers himself a numbers guy who enjoys the tax side and working with older adults and veterans.
At one time, Bechtol didn’t think he would be able to attend law school because it’s so expensive. He happened to be getting a haircut at Sport Clips one day and saw a flyer for the VFW “Sport Clips Help A Hero Scholarship” and applied. Bechtol was awarded funds that helped make law school possible and is extremely grateful for the scholarship. He hopes to repay the favor by giving back to the veteran community as a part of his law practice.
“I would like to say thank you to everyone who made this scholarship possible. Law school is very expensive, and I did not ever believe I would go because of the financial obligation it is. However, between the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill and this scholarship, it has truly made a dream become a reality,” said Bechtol.
“This scholarship has greatly reduced the financial burden and my student loan debt. This is going to give me a greater opportunity to help the veteran community in the future.”
Bechtol also hopes more veterans are able to receive financial assistance to pursue an education and are motivated by stories like his to follow their dreams.
“You just need to buckle down and do what needs to be done,” Bechtol said. “Sometimes you may feel out of place because you are a little older than the traditional students, but that should never stop you from pursuing what you are passionate about.”