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| Boy Scout Troop 74 |
The Sandersville Lions Club
and
Boy Scout Troop 74
1937 to 2004
Before the charter of the Sandersville Lions Club, an article in the February 15, 1928, Sandersville Progress gives an account of the Boy Scouts and their work in Sandersville,"The local organization, under the guidance of Dr. D. Stone, has accomplished much for the development of the characters of the boys of this community and the good work should be continued."
Since then, the Lions Club and the Boy Scouts of Sandersville have shared many experiences. The Lions initially sponsored and led the troop. Later, past Boy Scouts became Lions Club members.
The History of Washington County (1989) gives an account of the Boy Scouts written by Lion Ray Avirett. The article stated, "Boy Scout Troop 74 was chartered on September 30, 1937. Dr. M. D. Brooker was the scoutmaster. The troop met every Monday at the Scout Building behind the Sandersville Baptist Church, which, at that time, was at the corner of West Chruch Street and South Harris Street." According to the September 30, 1937 Sandersville Progress, the Lions Club was the sponsor.
An early article by Oscar Rogers in the Sandersville Progress stated that there was the establishment of Boy Scout Troops in Sandersville, as well as, in the surrounding county, with members of the Lions Club serving year in and year out as a committee for liaison purposes between the troops and the club.
The January 19, 1939, issue of the Sandersville Progress pointed out, for example, that Lion A. C. Gilmore was elected to represent the Central Georgia Council of the Boy Scouts of America on the National Council. In addition, the troop in Deepstep was sponsored jointly by the school and the Sandersville Lions Club. At this time, Lion John Conn was the scoutmaster of Troop 74.
During the 1940s, the Sandersville Lions Club sponsored the troop with Lion Dusty Rhoades assisting Scoutmaster Lion Julian H Dock Evans. The first Eagle Scout was Tom Harrison in 1945; and the second was Ben Tarbutton, Jr. also in 1945.
During World War II Troop 74 collected paper on Saturday mornings with a mule and wagon. People would leave their papers on their front porches; the scouts would collect it, then put it in bales. During this time, the scouts met at the old Sandersville School, where each patrol had its own room for meetings. The paper was baled and stored in Sandersville High School until being moved to Macon.
Under the direction of Lion A.C. Dickey and Lion Sanders G. Mercer, Sr., the troop also assisted with the collection of scrap iron on the square in Sandersville during the war.
The first International Jamboree after WWII was held in France with Powell Lang, Jr., Wilmer Newsome, Jr., and Ben Tarbutton, Jr., attending from Sandersville.
Also during World War II, the Central Georgia Council had sent clothing to the Boy Scouts in Normandy. While in France, the scouts from the Central Georgia Council were invited by the scouts of Normandy to spend several days in Cannes. The scouts were encouraged to paint scenes from their home area on the side of their tents. On their tent Powell Lang, Jr., and Ben Tarbutton, Jr., depicted the Sandersville Railroad hauling timber and kaolin. Ben Tarbutton, Jr., still has the tent.
Sandy Mercer, Charles Jordan, and Warren Newman attended the 1964 National Jamboree in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, and Jimmy Boatright and William Rawlings, Jr. attended the International Jamboree held in Greece.
The January 26, 1950, edition of Sandersville Progress stated that The Sandersville Lions Club honored the first group of Troop 74 Scouts to complete their first step toward becoming good citizens, the Tenderfoot Requirements. The article goes on to say that Lions' President R. O. Dukes presented the following Scouts with their awards: Marion Porter, Horace Avant, Joe Page, Jack Rhoades, Herbert McCaskill, David Bailey, Donald Denning, James Williams and Bill Wiggins.
Immediately following [the awards ceremony] Lion Julian "Dock" Evans presented the Lions Club with their troop Charter which completed the first step of organization for this troop.
A few years later, on Tuesday, May 31, 1956, the Sandersville Lions Club dedicated the Boy Scout Hut and property to the use of the scouts in Troop 74 and the Explorer in Troop 69. The hut and property are located on West Church Street at the rear of the Western Doolittle home.
The construction of the scout hut had been one of the main projects of the club for the previous two years. Through the efforts of the Lions Club members and generous gifts of materials, labor and time, the hut was completed, the grounds improved and everything made ready for use by the scout troops. The scout hut sits on one and one-half acres of land and was valued at approximately $2000.00 at the time. John Williamson was the Scoutmaster, and Lloyd McNally was the leader of Explorer Troop 69.
Scouting was very popular between 1960 and 1967, a time in which Lion Ray Avirett was the Scoutmaster. For his dedication and loyalty to the Boy Scouts, Lion Avirett received the Silver Beaver Award on January 28, 1969. The Silver Beaver Award is a national award presented by councils for noteworthy service of exceptional character to youth by registered Scouters within the jurisdiction of a local council. Others recipients of the award from Washington County include Lion Dusty Rhoades, Lion Julian H. "Dock" Evans, Pat Pate, Wyman Hodges, Lion Lewis West, Paul Thiele, Bennie Waters and Peggy Day (Pack 74 Cub Scouts). Cecil Hodges, Sr. and Bennie Waters have also received the Silver Beaver but from other troops in Washington County.
From 1969 to 1986 Pat Pate and Wyman Hodges were the Scoutmasters of Troop 74. Pat and Wyman did an outstanding job working with scouts and developing them into young men.
Others who have served as Scoutmasters of Troop 74 are Ed Lovell, Lion Fred Todd, Herman Wiggins, Hebert McCaskill, Tarver Averett, Leon Perry, George Lord, John Grosshans, Bill Durden, Sam McLeod and Lion Paul Van Loenen, who is the current Scoutmaster. Lion Paul also served at 1st Assistant Scoutmaster for the Central Georgia Council contingent to the 2001 National Jamboree and as Scoutmaster for the Central Georgia Council contingent to the 2005 National Jamboree. Lion Paul has served as Assistant Scoutmaster or Scoutmaster since his oldest son joined the troop in 1992.
The Sandersville Lions Club is indebted to all who have served as Scoutmasters of Troop 74. They all have done an outstanding job.
Troop 74 Eagle Scouts
1945
Tom Harrison
Benjamin Tarbutton, Jr.
1947
Powell Lang, Jr.
Wilmer Newsome, Jr.
Herbert McCaskill, Jr.
1960
Hugh Pascal
1962
Jimmy Boatright
William Rawlings, Jr.
1963
Sanders G. Mercer, Jr.
1965
Hampton Carruth
Tommy Veal
1969
Don Avirett
Mark West
William Todd
Bob Brackin
Robbie Thiele
Herb Brackin
1973
Jim Pate
Ben Layton
Tom Hutcheson
Frank May
Alan Sheppard
1976
Craig Henry
George R. Lord, lll
1979
Mark Hodges
1980
Mathew Hodges
1982
John Wilson
Adam Lee
Jon Lee
Charlie Durden
P. J. Law
Hans Van Loenen
Wes McLeod
Hill Thomas
Simmons Thomas
Billy Helton
Allan Helton
J. R. Grosshans
Kyle Wood
John Sweat
Logan Snow
2003
Richard Shurling, lll
2006
Brian Sweat
For more information on scouting: Go to Scouting
PO Box 671
Sandersville, GA 31082
Phone: 478-552-6826
Fax: 478-552-6683
Meetings @ 12:15 P.M. Fridays, Twin City Country Club
We Serve
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