When my Daddy was a young boy there was not a Boy Scout troop in his town, so he started his own. He and some buddies formed their own troop, did their own paperwork, earned badges and even went to Camp Philmont.

He had stories about riding a horse down steep terrain by letting it have the reins. His guide told him to point the horse toward the ravine and drop the reins. I envisioned my Daddy as a young boy leaning back on his horse as it charged over the cliff like Jim Craig in The Man from Snowy River. I guess liability was not a concern back in those days.

Decades later he started another troop with his friend Jack, this time as a leader. Daddy  kept his training records. If you look at that date, you will see March 1961. Just three months before I was born. This is more proof that he wanted a boy. Sorry Daddy!

Daddy and Jack took their troop, which included lucky Jack’s son Jay,  on many trips. They even took their scouts back to Camp Philmont. I am glad for Daddy that he got to return there again with the boys from our church.

I was envious of those boys going on all those adventures with my Daddy. He took my sister and me on adventures too, but we did not get to earn any colorful badges.

I am proud of my Daddy for going ahead with male bonding and high adventures with the boys of the community. He was a very patient mentor. His scouts have shared how much that troop and those trips meant to them.

I saved these badges incase some of those boys never picked theirs up. If any of you guys have a troop of your own, let me know. I have the brass flagpole toppers for your flags.

Female Flower