Working to confirm, but news from Florida and a highly reliable source is that Walter Hart died over the weekend, at 91 by my calculations.
You would remember Hart as the oldest Eagle Scout, having gotten his award three years ago, when he was 88.
Mr. Hart should be remembered as a hero, and certainly as an inspiration to aspiring Eagle Scouts — especially those facing a short time to their 18th birthday.
Leave a Comment » | 
Boy Scouts of America, Eagle Scout, History | Tagged: Eagle Scout, Hero, History, Oldest Eagle Scout, Walter Hart | 
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Posted by Ed Darrell
Tragic accident at a spectacular site in Utah’s desert.
A Scout from Wisconsin attempted a leap from one part of a natural bridge to another, lost his balance and fell to his death. According to the Salt Lake Tribune in Salt Lake City:
A Wisconsin Boy Scout died Saturday after falling 100 feet from Grand County’s Gemini Bridges.
Anthony Alvin, 18, of Green Lake, Wis., was with a Scout group at the Gemini Bridges rock formation, which is on federal land northwest of Moab, deputies wrote in a press statement. At about 9:30 a.m., Alvin tried to jump from one span of the double bridge to the other span, six feet away, when he fell backwards, dropping 100 feet to the bottom of the bridges.
Rescuers rappelled off the bridges and found Alvin had died. His body was lowered down two separate cliffs to the bottom of Bull Canyon, deputies wrote.
Erin Alberty
Anthony Alvin was a member of Troop 630 from Green Lake, Wisconsin, in the Bay Lakes Council, BSA. The Troop has years of experience in high adventure trips. This was a transition trip for Alvin, moving from Scout to leader.
High adventure Scouting takes teens to outstanding places with some risks. Strict safety rules protect Scouts and leaders from most accidents. Jumping the gap between the two natural bridge sections is a leap that experienced rock climbers and Scouters should advise against — and probably did — precisely because of the dangers of minor mishaps, 100 feet or more in the air. A six-foot gap would look eminently leapable to a capable young man.
This is a picture of Gemini Bridges from below:
Gemini Bridges, near Moab, Utah, from below. Image from NaturalArches.org image, photo by Galen Berry.
NaturalArches.org includes details about many of these natural spans in the desert Southwest, in Utah and Arizona. For Gemini Bridges we get this warning note:
These magnificent twin bridges are a popular 4-wheel drive destination on BLM land northwest of Moab, Utah. A few foolhardy individuals have lost their lives here. One person fell to his death while attempting to jump the 10 feet between the two spans, and in October 1999 a jeep and driver fell 160 feet off the outer span.
From atop the bridges, the gap between the two can appear deceptively small — see one view here.
For safety’s sake, no one should attempt to leap the gap without proper rock-climbing safety equipment in place and in use — and frankly, I’m not sure how it could be secured even then, in the sandstone.
Redrock country brings out the worst in otherwise adventurous-but-mostly-sane people. Even rock climbers will act irresponsibly.
Four-wheelers and off-road vehicles frequently climb these trails — despite the dangers, the area offers a huge playground for people out of the jurisdiction of the National Park Service or National Forest Service, each of which discourage excessive vehicular risk taking. Several sites extoll the glories of conquering these deserts with gasoline-power.
Irresponsible jump at Gemini Bridges captured on film, from rockclimbing.com
The photo at the bottom shows a memorial plaque to the four-wheeler who lost his life off of Gemini Bridges in 1999. So long as people make monuments to people who pull daredevil stunts, others who have less experience, or even more sense, will be tempted to try the same daredevil stuff.
Go to these wild and beautiful places. Please remember they are treacherous, however, and stay safe.
Tribute to Beau James Daley, who died when his jeep plunged off of Gemini Bridges, Utah
Also at Millard Fillmore’s Bathtub:
More:
5 Comments | Boy Scouts of America, Deserts, Disasters, Geography - Physical, History, Outdoor Recreation, Travel, Utah, Wilderness | Tagged: 4-wheeling, Accident, Boy Scouts of America, Desert, disaster, Gemini Bridges, geography, Hiking Safety, Natural Bridges, Outdoor Recreation, Rock Climbing Safety, Travel, Utah, Wilderness | Permalink
Posted by Ed Darrell
President Barack Obama shakes hands with a young Cub Scout, during a meeting with representatives from the Boy Scouts, in the Oval Office, July 12, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
I suspect this was a press release from BSA, which I found at the Cracker Barrel, a blog for Scouting Magazine:
BSA representatives meet with Obama to discuss top concerns for nation’s youth
A group of Boy Scouts of America youth members and executive leaders met with President Barack Obama today to discuss top priorities for the organization’s next century of service.
During the White House meeting, the president and the BSA delegation shared their mutual goals for addressing key concerns for our nation’s youth: healthy living, service to the community, and environmental stewardship.
Obama has shown his support for each of these issues by introducing three relevant programs: Let’s Move!, United We Serve, and America’s Great Outdoors.
As has been the case with every U.S. president since William Howard Taft, Obama serves as the Honorary President of the BSA and helps recognize the achievements of more than 50,000 Eagle Scouts each year by signing their Eagle Scout cards.
Obama’s three initiatives match several concerns not just for the BSA but also for the entire country, said Chief Scout Executive Bob Mazzuca.
“Health, community service, and preserving our environment are priorities for all Americans,” Mazzuca said. “Our first 100 years in Scouting taught us the importance of these issues to America’s youth; our next century of Scouting will focus on creating programs to expand our efforts in these areas.”
To show its commitment to these issues and in honor of the BSA’s 100th Anniversary, the organization presented Obama and the first lady, Michelle Obama, with two camperships for Scouts in their home councils. These scholarships will help two Scouts attend summer camp: one each from the Aloha Area and Chicago Area councils.
While at summer camp, these two deserving Scouts will see first-hand how much fun it is to stay active in the outdoors and learn how preserving our environment is critical in today’s world.
The camperships were presented by the youth members of the BSA’s delegation. This group was made up of young people who represent several of the BSA’s programs. Eagle Scout Brad Lichota, national Order of the Arrow chief, led the youth members.
Others were Cub Scout Raphael Cash from Bowie, Md.; Venturer Shannon Hoff from Falls Church, Va.; Sea Scout M. Robert Marks Jr. from Pittsburgh, Pa.; and Boy Scout Arnold Mears from Parkville, Md.
The photo came from the White House‘s website, separate from the press release.
2 Comments | Barack Obama, Boy Scouts of America, Citizenship, National Parks, National Wilderness Area, Outdoor Recreation, President Obama, Presidents | Tagged: America's Great Outdoors, Bob Mazzuca, Boy Scouts, Boy Scouts of America, Citizenship, President Obama, Scout Centennial, White House | Permalink
Posted by Ed Darrell
Dan Beard, a founder of Boy Scouts of America, and cartoonist Ed Dodd, photo dated (incorrectly) February 14, 1950 – Georgia State University Library Photography Collection, Atlanta Area Photographs from the Lane Brothers and Tracy O’Neal Collections
Daniel Carter Beard was best known as an illustrator of children’s adventure books. He founded a group for boys, the Sons of Daniel Boone, in 1905. That group was merged into the Boy Scouts of America at BSA’s founding in 1910.
Ed Dodd (November 7, 1902 – May 27, 1991) was an illustrator and cartoonist, probably best known for his comic strip “Mark Trail,” which is still carried in many newspapers today.
According to his listing at Wikipedia:
Ed Dodd went to work for Dan Beard, founder of the Boy Scouts of America, at the age of 16. Dodd worked at Beard’s camp in Pennsylvania for thirteen summers, where he honed his writing and illustration skills under Beard’s guidance. Dodd became a scoutmaster and the first paid Youth and Physical Education Director for the city of Gainesville, Georgia.
Another story of Scouting providing a career for a kid, another story of Scouting providing a career for an illustrator (see also Norman Rockwell, and the Csataris).
Dodd was a Georgian. This photograph, dated February 14, 1950, shows a meeting of the two illustrators, with Dodd appearing older than the 16 he was when he first met Beard. The photo is in the collections of the Georgia State University Library, in the Atlanta Area Photographs from the Lane Brothers and Tracy O’Neal Collections. We might assume it was taken in Georgia, perhaps at Dodd’s “Lost Forest” home and workshop.
We know that can’t be the right date, however, since Dan Beard died in 1941.
Who can shed more light on this bit of history?
Updates: See comments below — among other things, we know that the February 14, 1950 date was the date that a duplicate negative was made. Please note in comments if you have further details.
More:
Click on image: Marke Trail on NOAA’s 200th anniversary; King Features Syndicate
Dodd and others working on “Mark Trail”: The Mark Trail studio was on the second floor of Ed Dodd’s Frank Lloyd Wright-designed home in the Lost Forest at the Atlanta suburb of Sandy Springs, Georgia. At work are (l. to r.) Ed Dodd, Jack Elrod, Tom Hill and Rhett Carmichael. The 130-acre Lost Forest was the model for the fictional Lost Forest National Forest in the strip. Dodd’s house was located on Marsh Creek, a tributary of the Chattahoochee River. Wikimedia photo and caption
Tip of the old scrub brush to Chamblee54, for showing the way to the Georgia State University photographs.
[Editor’s note: Georgia State Library keeps changing the link url on the photograph; if you find a higher resolution version, please, please let us know where it is!]
9 Comments | Boy Scouts of America, Cartoons, Conservation, History, National Wilderness Area, Newspapers, Wilderness | Tagged: Boy Scouts of America, Cartoons, Comic Strips, Conservation, Dan Beard, Ed Dodd, History, Mark Trail, National Wilderness, Newspapers, Wilderness | Permalink
Posted by Ed Darrell
Let the light shine through:
Scouts and Girl Guides, at South aisle window by Alfred L Wilkinson, 1956, in St. Barnabas Church, Heigham, Norwich. Photo from Flickr, by Simon K
The photographer has additional photos of window details at his Flickr site.
Just a reminder that 2010 marks the 100th anniversary of Boy Scouting in the United States.
2 Comments | Boy Scouts of America, Geography - Physical, Geography - Political, History, Travel | Tagged: Boy Scouts, English Church, Girl Guides, History, Stained Glass | Permalink
Posted by Ed Darrell
Troop 1, Brownsville, Texas, May 20, 1916 - photo by Robert Runyon (The Center for American History and General Libraries, University of Texas at Austin; via American Memory, Library of Congress)
On June 15, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson signed the law granting a national charter to the Boy Scouts of America, which had been incorporated six years earlier. The charter is now encoded at 36 USC 309.
The purposes of the corporation are to promote, through organization, and cooperation with other agencies, the ability of boys to do things for themselves and others, to train them in scoutcraft, and to teach them patriotism, courage, self-reliance, and kindred virtues, using the methods that were in common use by boy scouts on June 15, 1916.
Good goals then, good goals now — maybe more important now.
Have you volunteered to be a leader?
Resources (and councils where I’ve Scouted and volunteered):
Tip of the old scrub brush to the Bill of Rights Institute on Facebook.
Click here for a larger view of the Troop 1 of Brownsville, Texas, in 1916
Click here for a larger view of a second photo of Troop 1 of Brownsville, Texas, in 1916
1 Comment | Boy Scouts of America, History, History images, photography | Tagged: Boy Scouts of America, Circle 10 Council, History, History images, photography, Scouting's National Charter, Wisdom Trail District, Woodrow Wilson | Permalink
Posted by Ed Darrell
From the digital collections at the Library of Congress:
Boy Scout wreath, 1924 - Library of Congress Digital Collection, National Photo Company Collection (Call Number: LC-F8- 28581 (P&P))
Three Boy Scouts and a wreath with the BSA’s fleur de lis, in 1924. Who are the Scouts? What was the occasion? Questions we have in the centennial year of Boy Scouting.
This photo is in the middle of a collection of photos taken at the funeral of President Woodrow Wilson, which was on February 6, 1924. Was this the Boy Scouts’ tribute to Wilson? By the way, Wilson is the only president interred in the District of Columbia (Arlington National Cemetery is across the Potomac River, in Virginia). Wilson’s sarcophagus in in the main chapel of the National Cathedral.
Woodrow Wilson's tomb in the National Cathedral, Washington, D.C. - Wikimedia image
Leave a Comment » | Boy Scouts of America, History, History images, Libraries, photography | Tagged: 1924, Boy Scouts, History, History images, Library of Congress, photography, Scouting Centennial | Permalink
Posted by Ed Darrell
What if you were a Cub Scout, hoping to win your Pack’s Pinewood Derby, but your father worked at the White House? Does the White House support Scouting?
Robert Gibbs at White House press briefing, February 12, 2010 - White House photo
Transcript of White House press briefing from February 12, 2010:
Q As the honorary President of the Boy Scouts of America, what is the President’s reaction to the New York Post report that because the Scouts have a policy similar to our armed forces, “New York institutions are barring scouts from meeting or recruiting in all public schools”?
MR. GIBBS: I have not seen the New York Post report and can have somebody —
Q Well, does he think that it’s fair for them to cut the Scouts out of this? How does he support — does he disagree with the Scouts or what? (Laughter.)
MR. GIBBS: Where are you on this, Lester? Are you — is this —
Q Nowhere. (Laughter.)
MR. GIBBS: Yes, I do know where.
Q I support the Scouts. Do you support the Scouts?
MR. GIBBS: My son is — we’re constructing the pinewood derby car as we speak. (Laughter.)
Q He’s a Scout, your son is a Scout?
MR. GIBBS: He is, and I think he’s going to be disappointed if his car doesn’t do well, but his father tends to be constructionally challenged.
Thanks, guys.
END
1:52 P.M. EST
2 Comments | Boy Scouts of America, History, White House | Tagged: Cub Scouts, Pinewood Derby, Robert Gibbs, White House | Permalink
Posted by Ed Darrell
Did I remember to tell you Scouting celebrates 100 years in the U.S. this year?
Stained glass Scout fleur de lis, Grand Canyon Council, B.S.A., offices, Phoenix (Decor to Adore photo)
More photos of Grand Canyon Council, B.S.A., offices, at Decor to Adore.
Leave a Comment » | Art, Boy Scouts of America | Tagged: Art, Boy Scouts of America, Grand Canyon Council B.S.A., Phoenix, Stained Glass | Permalink
Posted by Ed Darrell
No special post — I’ll be commenting all year — but today is the official anniversary date for the founding of the Boy Scouts of America.
100 million boys later, we can tell for certain it’s a good idea.
Boy Scouts paddling canoes on the Blackwater River, Virginia - Wikipedia image
4 Comments | Boy Scouts of America, Citizenship, History | Tagged: Boy Scouts of America, Citizenship, History | Permalink
Posted by Ed Darrell
In honor of Scouting’s 100 years in the U.S., I call your attention to the stained glass window in Trinity Episcopal Church in Torrington, Connecticut, The Boy Scout Window:
Described at the church’s website:
This is one of Trinity’s most well-known windows.
It was dedicated on Boy Scout Sunday, 13 February 1966, a service of Morning Prayer that began with the hymn “We Thank You, Lord of Heaven.” The window was given “to the Glory of God and in living tribute to Troop 2 and Seymour F. Weeks on the 50th anniversary of the Troop, 1916-1966.”
Mr. Weeks had been scoutmaster of Troop 2 since 1934 and would continue to lead the troop until his death in 1967.
Troop 2 produced Torrington’s first Eagle Scout, Paul Pfistner, whose family donated another window at Trinity Church.
Behind the kneeling scout with the flag is the seal of the Episcopal Church and above that a hand raised in the scout hand sign. Flanking the Episcopal seal are the emblems of the First Class Scout and the Eagle Scout badge. The words of the Boy Scout oath form the background. The border is composed of ropes showing some of the knots Scouts must learn. In between the ropes are two of the Scout’s mottoes: Do a Good Turn Daily, and Be Prepared.
Obviously, this window does not follow the architect’s pictorial plan for a window here showing the Holy Family with Jesus as a child.
Although several of Trinity’s windows were made by Len Howard of Kent, CT, one of Mr. Howard’s former associates is nearly positive this window was not made by Mr. Howard. However, a current parishioner’s great uncle, who was on the vestry in 1966, recalls that the church was dealing with an artist in Kent, CT, and there were no other stained glass artists in Kent except for Len Howard. Until further proof one way or another, this window will be attributed to Len Howard of Kent.
To the best of my searching, Troop 2 appears to have vanished from Torrington.
8 Comments | Art, Boy Scouts of America, History, History images, Stained Glass | Tagged: Boy Scout Window, Boy Scouts of America, Stained Glass, Torrington Connecticut, Trinity Episcopal Church, Troop 2 | Permalink
Posted by Ed Darrell
Which of these would be accurate in showing the insanity, but not so sharp as to raise the hackles of the climate contrarians?
Read these stories, and tell me.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) noted the delicate condition of the Antarctic with regard to its two main industries, fishing and tourism. IPCC AR4 noted that the tourism industry takes steps to protect Antarctic environments made more vulnerable by melting. (Footnote here; actual flyer here, assessment document here in Microsoft Word .doc format)
Contrarians come unglued, here at ClimateQuotes.com, and here at Air Vent.
It’s clear that the contrarians don’t have much experience in heavy documentation. If you follow the links they provide, you quickly get to the paper provided by the tourist industry noting their precautions to prevent contamination, provided to meet a request by scientists from the Australian team, and based on information well vetted to the point that it includes substantial excerpts from what appears to be a peer-reviewed journal on the types of solutions suitable for decontaminating foreign boots in the Antarctic (Polar Record, vol. 41, no. 216, Jan. 2005, p. 39-45; it is actually the official journal of the Scott Polar Research Institute at Cambridge, UK). There is astounding and commendable attention to detail, much more than the contrarians can grok, it appears.
More troubling to the Boy Scout in me is the contrarians’ contempt for what is, really, Leave No Trace Camping carried to an Antarctic tourist stop. This is part of the environment protection credo of the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, and it is sound policy that everyone should be teaching their children.
What is wrong with that? Why do the contrarians mock wise policies? Why do they make false claims against what amounts to good Scouting?
Contratians disapprove of the ethics of environmental stewardship?
One implicit complaint is that the footnote does not provide evidence of damage from climate change, in the Antarctic. It’s clear that the critics have not followed the footnote path to see why the boot cleaning poster and directive were issued, nor to see what is the research or official government action that prompted the tourist companies to implement the procedure.
It appears in a section of the IPCC reports on effects of warming on industries in affected areas. Only two industries are noted in the Antarctic, fishing and tourism. After establishing the increased chance of problem organisms, including micro-organisms, showing up in Arctic and Antarctic areas as the areas warm, and after noting two plagues that killed penguins recently, from micro-organisms, the IPCC paper notes that concern to prevent such tragedies have so far required only boot decontamination, and it offers a link to the flyer provided by an Antarctic tour operators group.
Got that? To show that the tour operators are affected, IPCC cited the flyer put out by the tour operators showing how and why they were changing their operations. It’s a minor, almost trivial point.
At no point did IPCC’s report claim this procedure as evidence of warming, or the effects of warming. So the claims of the contrarians and denialists are completely off base, as they’d recognize except for their own shouting for the lynching of science to proceed.
Criticism of IPCC for noting the good stewardship techniques used in the Antarctic comprises more political smear than scientific enlightenment, by a huge factor. Voodoo science from the contrarians begets voodoo criticism.
Contrarians lack wisdom in posing this complaint of theirs. This is one more point IPCC got right, factually and ethically. IPCC should be commended for that.
Wall of Shame (update added on February 7)
Outlets that cite the boot reference, falsely or stupidly, as some sort of flaw in the IPCC report, and thereby demonstrate malevolent intentions, and not scientific (“malice” for you Times v. Sullivan fans):
4 Comments | Boy Scouts of America, Climate change, climate_change, Ethics, Girl Scouts, Global warming, Hoaxes, Natural history, Natural resources, Political Smear, Science | Tagged: Antarctic, Boot Cleaning, Boy Scouts, Climate change, Ethics, Girl Scouts, Global warming, Green Politics, IPCC, Leave No Trace, Political Smear | Permalink
Posted by Ed Darrell
A posed photograph: Three Boy Scouts, from at least two different units, holding a poster Scouts were distributing about international cooperation in World War II. They are saluting, and behind them rises the dome of the U.S. Capitol on a brilliantly sunny day.
Caption from the U.S. Senate Historical Office: "Boy Scouts aid the war effort by delivering posters that encourage a united fight for freedom, ca.1943. credit: Library of Congress"
1943? Who were the Scouts?
The photo is online in the collection of the U.S. Senate Historical Office (a good source of images, by the way).
I just wondered, who are those Scouts, and where are they today?
Boy Scouts assisted war efforts in a lot of ways in a lot of American cities, towns and villages. Affiliates at the Tom Harbin Scout Museum at Camp Wisdom in Dallas (Circle 10 Council) have papers documenting and detailing massive scrap and paper drives, and a lot of other activities we probably wouldn’t let Scouts get into today.
The three Scouts in the photo wear what appears to be two different neckerchiefs, suggesting they come from at least two different troops or other units. All three wear the uniform of the Boy Scouts of America, but two of the three look as though they may be immigrants or children of immigrants.
The date given is a “circa 1943.” But the poster plugs a “United Nations” — could it have been as late as 1945 or 1946 and the official organizing of the United Nations?
What do you think? What do you know?
Update: Wikimedia puts the date of the poster as 1941. Shorpy says the photo is 1943:
“Washington, 1943. “United Nations Fight for Freedom: Colored, white and Chinese Boy Scouts in front of Capitol. They help out by delivering posters to help the war effort.” View full size. 4×5 Kodachrome transparency by John Rous for the Office of War Information. What photo expert out there can tell us about the numbers on these Kodachromes — how and at what point in the manufacturing/ exposure/ developing process they were made, and what they signify.
All those details and not the names of the Scouts? In comments at Shorpy we also see that the temporary patch for the Scout on the left is for a 1942 campout. So we know the photo was later than 1941. The community patch for the Scout on the right says Washington where the city patch should be, with no state patch (if they had separate patches then). So it’s probably a Washington, D.C. unit — and it’s Troop 11. Anybody from National Capital Council ever read this site? Were all three of these Scouts from Troop 11?
I have found, but cannot yet examine, another photo from the same roll of film, showing just the Scout in the middle.
Update 2: This may identify one of the Scouts, with an astounding story:
Caption from CityDesk.net: "July 1941. Local Boy Scout Anderson Grimes in front of the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C., holding a copy of a WPA poster designed for the city’s landmark water conservation program."
That solo Scout is clearly the same one in the first photo, so we have one name: Anderson Grimes.
But the entire story from CityDesk.net is more amazing, if true:
July 1941. Local Boy Scout Anderson Grimes in front of the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C., holding a copy of a WPA poster designed for the city’s landmark water conservation program. Shortly after this photo was taken, he was to present the poster to local congressman Harford Collins in a brief ceremony. Tragically, Grimes, along with several local reporters and congressional aides, instead found Senator Collins slumped over his desk, dead from a heart attack.
Thirty years later, Grimes ended up serving the same seat in Congress for four terms. He did not die in office.
– RJ White
More mystery. Is the Scout even named Anderson Grimes?
Okay, after j. a. higginbotham wrote in, I finally got it: CityDesk.net is a satire site. They wrote a phony story to accompany the photograph.
That’s right: I got hoaxed.
Still looking for information on the Scouts and their troop(s).
Update, November 15: Is the water conservation poster in the version above a PhotoShop addition? Here’s a photo held by the Library of Congress:
From Library of Congress: "United Nations Fight for Freedom: Boy Scout in front of Capitol. They help out by delivering posters to help the war effort"
11 Comments | 1941-1945, Boy Scouts of America, History, History images, Hoaxes, photography, World War II | Tagged: Boy Scouts of America, History, Hoaxes, Photographs, U.S. Capitol, World War II | Permalink
Posted by Ed Darrell
Wondering what to do while you’re in Wichita Falls, Texas?
Through March 2010, you can view a display commemorating Scouting’s 100th anniversary in the United States, featuring nearly 100 years of Scouting history in Wichita Falls.
Stephanie Wood, assistant curator of the exhibit “Boy Scouts of America: 100 Years,” hangs Boy Scout uniforms at the Museum of North Texas History. Photo by Photos by Marissa Millender/Times Record News
History teaches us if you learn from the past, you’ll be better prepared for the future. But being prepared is a quality also embraced by another organization — the Boy Scouts of America.
And so it seemed fitting that when the Boy Scouts reached their 100th anniversary this year, the Northwest Texas Council would commemorate the event at the Museum of North Texas History.
The downtown museum will open its latest exhibit, “Boy Scouts of America: 100 Years,” with a preview dinner at 6 p.m. Thursday at the dowtown museum, 720 Indiana, though more than 400 visitors got a sneak peek of the display Saturday during the Wichita Falls Museum Coalition’s Stroll ‘N’ Roll Museum Day.
The $40 preview dinner will include a viewing of the exhibit and a talk by Jim Hughes, George Adams and Darrell Kirkland.
Hughes, the Boy Scouts Chartered Organization Representative at Floral Heights United Methodist Church, has been involved in Scouting for about seven decades. A lot of his Scouting memorabilia peppers the exhibit, such as his Order of the Arrow badges and Boy Scout, Cub Scout and Explorer awards.
One of the most valuable pieces of memorabilia in the display, he said, is a flag hand-sewn by Scouts in 1913.
“Boys didn’t have money back then and had to make their own flag,” Hughes said.
Another impressive contribution to the exhibit is Bill McClure’s Eagle badge. McClure received his Eagle rank — the highest rank that can be achieved in the organization — in 1921. He was the first Eagle in the Wichita Falls Council to do so. He earned 21 merit badges and would eventually become a journalist for the Times Record News and sold advertising for KWFT before his death in 1982.
Hughes said what he treasures most among his scouting collection over the years is his own Eagle badge.
The exhibit, curated by Betsy O’Connor with Stephanie Wood as assistant curator, also includes a Pinewood Derby track on which visitors can race wooden cars, along with a display of a tent and camp fire.
Visitors will see Boy Scout, Cub Scout and Webelos uniforms on display, as well, such as the 1930s-era uniform of Billy Sims, the 1961 outfit of Tim Hunter and the 1998 uniform of Cory Wood, along with the “brag vest” of Cole Watson.
One area features information about Philmont Scout Ranch, a 137,493-acre ranch in the mountains of northeastern New Mexico in the Sangre de Christo Range of the Rockies, donated by Oklahoma oilman Waite Phillips.
Posters in the exhibit show various ropes and knots Scouts learn to tie, and things Scouts can do in nature conservation.
From left, Betsy O’Connor, curator, and Stephanie Wood, assistant curator, set up a camping display in the “Boy Scouts of America: 100 Years” exhibit at the Museum of North Texas History. Photos by Marissa Millender/Times Record News
Other items to look for: Carl Watson’s walking stick, an Order of the Arrow Native American headdress and Eagle Claw necklace and photographs of local scouts.
The Boy Scouts of America was incorporated on Feb. 8, 1910, by William D. Boyce and others. It was modeled after an organization in Great Britain founded by Lord Baden-Powell.
In 1911, Dr. J.L. McKee, pastor of First Presbyterian Church, organized the first troop in Wichita Falls with 27 members before the troop disbanded after McKee left town. But two years later, four more troops were organized. The Wichita Falls Council became the Northwest Texas Council in 1937.
All three of Jim Hughes’ sons, like their father, earned the rank of Eagle Scout. So has one of his grandsons. Another grandson is a Cub Scout who is continuing the tradition of Scouting in the Hughes family.
“I got so much out of it,” Hughes said. “I wanted to have my kids have the same experience.”
Following the exhibit’s opening, “Boy Scouts of America” can be viewed through March 2010.
Do museums in your area have Scouting exhibits planned, or already up? Let us know in comments.
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Leave a Comment » | Boy Scouts of America, History, History museums, Museums, Texas, Texas history | Tagged: Boy Scouts of America, History, Museum of North Texas History, Museums, Texas, Texas history, Wichita Falls | Permalink
Posted by Ed Darrell
Six kids from Fort Bend, Texas, did what very few did. From their start in a Tiger Cub Scout den 11 years ago, all six stuck with Scouting — and all six earned the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest rank award offered by the boy Scouts of America.
Here is the story in its entirety from the online publication Fort BendNow.com.
September 24th, 2009 | by FortBendNow Staff | Published in News
Six young men, all members of the same Den 2 as Tiger Scouts, have earned the rank of Eagle Scout. The six boys began their scouting journey 11 years ago as they went through the Cub Scout program together then joined two different Boy Scout Troops.
Keith Wedelich, David Sackllah, Vincent Lau, Vijay Rajan, Edward Zhou, Bryan Parker at the Eagle Court of Honor Ceremony.
Keith Wedelich of Boy Scout Troop 1631, and Vincent Lau, Bryan Parker, Vijay Rajan, David Sackllah, and Edward Zhou of Boy Scout Troop 441 were honored at a special ceremony to recognize their achievement at Christ United Methodist Church. Family, friends, teachers, scouts, and adult volunteers attended the ceremony. Troop 441 is chartered by Christ United Methodist Church and Troop 1631 is chartered by the Optimist Club of Sugar Land.
Only 1 in 4 boys in America will become a Boy Scout, and of those only 2 percent earn the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest honor a Boy Scout can achieve.
The ceremony was opened by Dennis Olheiser, Tomahawk District Commissioner, with introductions, followed by Chris Roberts, Boy
Scout Troop 441, who led the flag ceremony and provided a blessing for the ceremony.
Keith Wedelich, David Sackllah, Vincent Lau, Vijay Rajan, Edward Zhou and Bryan Parker as Cub Scouts at Wolf Rank.
Jim Rice, former Chairman of the Tomahawk District, and member of the Board of Directors of the Sam Houston Area Council BSA, gave a history of scouting and provided an introduction to a video of the 100 years of Scouting in America.
Scott Icenhower, Tomahawk District Advancement Chair, spoke on the significance of the Eagle Scout Rank; and Louis Alexander, Committee Chairman for Troop 441, spoke on the responsibilities of an Eagle Scout.
B.J. Bonner and Susan Fredericksen both spoke on the Trail to Eagle for the six scouts who started the journey 11 years ago. A summary of their achievements and eagle projects were presented.
Rick Conley, Tomahawk District Chair, presented the Eagle Scout Rank Award to the Eagle Scouts and recognized the contributions of their parents. Each Eagle Scout then spoke to thank those that have helped them along their journey and to share highlights of their scouting career so far.
Remarks were provided by Debbie Wedelich, the Den Leader for Den 2 in Cub Scout Pack 631, Jerre Parker, former Scoutmaster at Troop 441, and Arun Rajan, Committee Member of Troop 441 also spoke on the eagle scouts and how Boy Scouts had a profound effect on the families as well as the Eagle Scouts.
Jim Rice provided final comments and the ceremony concluded with a benediction and flag ceremony. A reception was held immediately following the ceremony.
The Eagle Scouts
Keith Wedelich, Boy Scout Troop 1631, joined Cub Scouting in 1999 with Pack 631 and earned the Arrow of Light Award in December 2002, the highest award in Cub Scouts. He joined Boy Scout Troop 1631 in January 2003. Wedelich joined Troop 1631 as both of his brothers were members. Wedelich held various positions of leadership in his Troop including scribe, quartermaster, assistant senior patrol leader, and Order of the Arrow representative. He was elected by his Troop to the Order of the Arrow. On the trail to Eagle, he earned 30 merit badges.
Wedelich’s scouting career has included all three high adventure camps; more than 50 miles of hiking in the mountains at Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico, 75 miles of canoeing in the boundary waters of Canada at Northern Tier, and scuba diving in the Florida Keys at Florida Sea Base. He also attended the 2005 National Boy Scout Jamboree in Fort A.P. Hill Virginia. He has more than 124 nights of camping, 134 canoe miles, 129 hiking miles.
For his Eagle Scout Service Project, Wedelich designed and led a crew to build a horse barn for Morning Glory Ranch, an organization that provides equine therapy for mentally and physically handicapped youth. The horse barn is 12 foot by 12 foot and 10 feet tall. The barn was built in a small pasture area where new horses are held for quarantine or horses that are ill or about to foal can be closely monitored. Wedelich directed 20 people over six work days for a total of 320 man hours. He also provided more than 200 hours of service to the community on various service projects.
Wedelich is a senior at Clements High School and is involved in the Clements Robotics Team, National Honor Society, Academic Decathalon, JETS, Mu Alpha Theta, choir and the computer science club. His parents are Hank and Debbie Wedelich and he has one sister, Laura, 25, who earned the Girl Scout Gold Award. His two brothers, Jeffrey, 24, and David, 23, are also Eagle Scouts from Troop 1631.
Vincent Lau, Bryan Parker, Vijay Rajan, David Sackllah, and Edward Zhou of Boy Scout Troop 441 all joined Cub Scouting in 1999 with Pack 631 and earned the Arrow of Light Award in December 2002, the highest award in Cub Scouts. All then joined Boy Scout Troop 441 in January 2003.
Sackllah held various positions of leadership in Troop 441 including patrol leader, troop guide, and chaplain aide. He was elected by his Troop to the Order of the Arrow. On the trail to Eagle, he earned 22 merit badges.
Sackllah’s scouting career has included National Youth Leadership Training and he attended various summer camps. He was also part of Frog Patrol which earned National Honor Patrol recognition. David earned the God and Me Religious Award.
For his Eagle Scout Project, he wanted to create a friendly environment for the students using Settler’s Way Elementary Library. Sackllah designed, built, and painted 12 flower-shaped tables. He also re-shelved more than 10,000 books so the books would be in the correct order and easier to find. He directed 24 people for a total of 148 man hours.
Sackllah is a senior at Clements High School and is involved in Clements Varsity Football, Student Council, PALS, and the National Honor Society. He also volunteers as a “Dream League Angel” and is a volunteer coach for the First Colony Youth Basketball Association. His parents are and Jimmy and Tracy Sackllah.
Lau held various positions of leadership in Troop 441 including assistant patrol leader, patrol leader, historian, troop guide, instructor, and assistant senior patrol leader. Lau was elected by his Troop to the Order of the Arrow. On the trail to Eagle, he earned 35 merit badges.
Lau’s scouting career has included National Youth Leadership Training in 2006; the New River Adventure Camp in Virginia in 2006; National Advanced Youth Leadership Experience in 2007; and 73 miles of hiking in the mountains at Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico in 2008. He was part of Frog Patrol which earned National Honor Patrol recognition. Vincent also earned the World Conservation, Winter Camper, and Mile Swim awards.
For his Eagle Project, Lau designed and constructed four 6’ x 3’ x 2’ shelves and a 6’ x 7’ x 2’ lockable cabinet for Colony Bend Elementary School. The shelves hold standardized storage bins filled with various props and musical equipment. The lockable cabinet provides secure storage for costumes. Lau brought together 20 volunteers over three work days to construct and install the shelves for a total of 390 man hours.
Lau is a senior at Clements High School and is involved in the robotics team, Clements Interact (currently hold Vice President position), Clements Earth, and ACES clubs. He is also a member of National Honor Society, Science National Honor Society, and National Eagle Scout Association. For the past three summers, he spent a total of 350 hours volunteering at Houston Museum of Natural Science (HMNS) as an Ecoteen assisting the science summer camp counselors and giving science presentations to the public. For his volunteer efforts at HMNS, he earned the President’s Volunteer Service Silver Award in 2008. His parents are Lawrence and Linda Lau and he has a 15-year-old sister, Stacey.
Vijay Rajan held various positions of leadership in Troop 441 including patrol leader, troop guide, librarian, historian, and Order of the Arrow representative. He was elected by his Troop to the Order of the Arrow. On the trail to Eagle, he earned 38 merit badges.
Rajan’s scouting career has included an expedition at Philmont Scout Ranch, and various summer camps in Texas, and he earned the Mile Swim award. He was also part of Frog Patrol which earned National Honor Patrol recognition. Rajan earned the Dharma (Hindu) Religious Award as a Boy Scout.
For his Eagle Scout Project, Rajan planned and supervised landscaping for a garden courtyard and cleaning a pond for Kids Unlimited. This non-profit organization benefits children with cancer. Their 12-acre facility provides an atmosphere where their illness can be temporarily forgotten. He directed 22 people for a total of 131 man hours.
Rajan is a senior at Clements High School and is involved in DECA, Rotary Interact and Indian Cultural Organization clubs. He hopes to major in Engineering and Business at College.
His parents are Arun and Padmini Rajan.
Edward Zhou joined Cub Scouts in 1998, and then joined Pack 631 when the family moved to Texas. He held various positions of leadership in Troop 441 including patrol leader, troop guide, historian, and instructor. He was elected by his Troop to the Order of the Arrow. On the trail to Eagle, he earned 24 merit badges.
Zhou’s scouting career has included National Youth Leadership Training, two summer camps in Texas, and he earned the Mile Swim award. He was also part of Frog Patrol which earned National Honor Patrol recognition.
For his Eagle Scout Project, Zhou designed and built a pair of storage shelves for the Chinese Civic Center. The storage shelves were pre-built on the first day and then they were moved to the site, assembled and stocked. He directed 14 people for a total of 133 man hours.
Zhou is a senior at Clements High School and is an active member of Rotary Interact and his high school debate team. He is a National AP Scholar and a National Merit Semifinalist. He earned a “Distinguished Volunteer” award from the Chinese Civic Center in 2009. His parents are John and Tina, and his brother Oliver is a student at UT Austin.
Bryan Parker held various positions of leadership in Troop 441 including assistant patrol leader, patrol leader, quartermaster, instructor, and senior patrol leader. Parker was elected by his Troop to the Order of the Arrow. On the trail to Eagle, he earned 31 merit badges and camped over 135 nights. He has also earned an Eagle Gold Palm.
Parker’s scouting career has included National Youth Leadership Training, New River Adventure in Virginia, the 2005 National Boy Scout Jamboree at Fort A.P. Hill Virginia, and hiking more than 150 miles during two treks at Philmont Scout Ranch including one selection as his trek’s crew leader. He was also part of Frog Patrol which earned National Honor Patrol recognition. Parker earned the God and Me Religious Award in 2001.
For his Eagle Project, Parker designed and constructed a storage cabinet for Colony Bend Elementary School to hold science equipment for various grades in a central, secure location. He directed 14 people for a total of 94 volunteer hours.
Parker is a senior at Clements High School and is a member of the National Honor Society. He plans to study Business at a major university next year. His parents are Jerre and Maureen Parker and he has one sister, Heather, who has earned the Girl Scout Silver award.
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