Click Here to Return To Milestones Vol 13 No 1
February is Scout Month. Scouts all over the United States will be commemorating the beginning of .. scouting" when on February 8,1910, William D. Boyle, an American publisher from Chicago, and other outstanding men interested in boys founded the Boy Scouts of America.
Starting February 6 this year, the Midland Boy Scouts will join in the national observance of the 61st anniversary of scouting which will also mark the 59th anniversary of the founding of scouting in Midland.
The idea caught on in Midland in 1913 when, in that year and the two years following, a group of boys met regularly in a building at the rear of the present American Legion post home. Led by William J. Franklin, the boys organized a band and a drill team.
There is no record of scouting from 1915 until 1922 when Frank Ketterer, supervisor of Midland schools, organized and chartered the first scout troop in Midland. During the next 10 years. scouting became a popular activity.
In 1930 we had five troops each led by well-trained scoutmasters. A number of leading citizens also served as committeemen, and took a very active part in investiture services, courts of honor, camping, merit badge instruction, and raising funds to carry on the program.
In the early 1930's the troops were sponsored by the public school and were a part of the Allegheny County Council West.
During the summer months the scouts attended camp and many today have wonderful memories of good times at Camp Umpstedder, Camp Twin Echo, Camp Hubbard and Dunn-Eden.
A number of our boys attained the highest rank in scouting. Among those who became Eagle Scouts were Charles McNellie, Harry Bream, Val Vuletic, Scotty Bazard, Carl Michaels, Albert Troiani, James Huha, Bruce Humbert. John Mosura, Michael Brozic and Robert Swinker.
One of the most active of our citizens in scouting was Arthur W. Gittins. He was awarded the Silver Beaver Award, January 1, 1939, by the Midland Council in recognition of outstanding services.
At present we have two troops, Troop 415 with 40 members, sponsored by the United Steelworkers under the direction of James Green of Elm Street, and Cub Scout Pack 553 sponsored by Presentation Catholic Church under direction of Bill Yee, cubmaster. There are 45 boys enrolled in the pack.
Some other interesting facts on scouting are:
1. Of 65 astronauts, 52 were former scouts, eight were Eagle Scouts;
2. Some 328 members of the 90th Congress were scouts or scouters, 26 were Eagles;
3. In 1963, 29 governors were former scouts;
4. Seventy percent of the men admitted to West Point were former scouts, 11% are Eagles;
5. Of the most recent graduating class of the Air Force Academy, 55% of the class were scouts. In the first year. 71% of those who graduated were scouts, and,
6. Of the first 2500 men admitted to the Air Force Academy, 500 or one in five are Eagle Scouts.
My thanks to Bill Yee for the information on Scouting.