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Fort Collins Area

Troop 97 BSA
Fort Collins,
Colorado USA

ADVENTURE!
THE SAGA OF TROOP 97

1952—TODAY
A Brief History of Troop 97

Contents

• Introduction
• Troop 97 Milestones
• Scoutmasters of Record
• The 1950s
• The 1960s
• The 1970s
• The 1980s and 1990s
• Troop 97 Uniform

Introduction

Members of the few troops that survive longer than 25 years get to wear a special year "bar" above the troop number on their uniform. Troop 97 began in 1952, failed in 1956, then started again in 1959, so our "bar" now shows 45 years. The story of Scouting and of Troop 97 over those years makes an interesting tale. This story was researched and written by Scoutmaster Jeff Snowden in 1984 on the occasion of the troop's 25th anniversary. It has been updated several times since. The occasional opinions expressed are those of the author, based on research and personal experience. Corrections of fact are always welcome.

Troop 97 Milestones

• March, 1952—Original Charter (8 Scouts)
• April, 1954—First 2 Eagles
• Late, 1956—Troop 97 dies after 4-1/2 years
• June, 1959—Troop 97 starts up again (5 Scouts)
• May, 1969—Highest charter enrollment (84 Scouts)
• May, 1976—Lowest charter enrollment (5 Scouts)
• Fall, 1976—Troop 97 is revitalized after near failure
• July, 1984—50th Eagle Scout
• June, 1999—100th Eagle Scout
• May, 2004—Troop 97 completes 45 consecutive years
• January, 2005—136 Eagle Scouts
• Over 750 boys have been registered members of Troop 97.
• The troop is double to triple the size of the average troop. More than 22% of our Scouts earn the Eagle honor.

Scoutmasters of Record

1. 1952-53 (1-1/2 years)—Norton Miner
2. 1953 (3 months)—Charles Hagemeister
3. 1953-54 (1 year)—Stanley Harris
4. 1954-55 (1 year)—Carl Newport
5. 1955-56 (? months)—C. H. Wasser
   1956-59—troop not in existence
6. 1959 (1 month)—Jerry Lamson
7. 1959-62 (3 years)—Scott Peterson
8. 1962-69 (7 years)—Wayne Parsons
9. 1969 (5 months)—Carl Andrews
10. 1969-70 (1 year)—Tom Blake
11. 1971-72 (2 years)—Yank Banowetz
12. 1973 (1 year)—Windol Wyatt
13. 1973-74 (1 year)—Lyle Antrobus
14. 1975-76 (1-1/2 years)—Orm Sherwood
    1976—troop nearly fails
15. 1976-79 (2-1/2 years)—John Nicol
16. 1979-now (26+ years)—Jeff Snowden

The 1950s

BSA

The late 1940s and the 1950s were a time of gradual change and rapid growth for the BSA (Boy Scouts of America). During this period, Cub Scout and Boy Scout age limits were lowered, Scout advancement underwent several changes, Cub Scouting added the Webelos program, and the Exploring program was extensively modified. In 1959, the BSA increased the dimensions of the Boy Scout Handbook (to its present size) and used full color throughout for the first time.

Between 1950 and 1960, BSA membership soared from 2.8 million to 5.2 million.

Troop 97

Troop 97 began in March, 1952, with eight Scouts on the first charter application. Started by the Brotherhood of St. Andrew (an Episcopal men's group), the troop has always been sponsored by St. Luke's Episcopal Church. For many years, the troop met at the old downtown church on the southeast corner of Oak & College (the beautiful stone Parish Hall is still there), until the present building at 2000 S. Stover was completed in 1965 (this was the south edge of town at that time). Troop 97's first Scoutmaster was Norton Miner. The troop reached a peak of 24 Scouts on the 1954 Charter, and produced its first two Eagle Scouts in April, 1954. Troop 97 had five Scoutmasters in four years and died in 1956. It would be almost three years before the troop was revived by a new group of leaders.

The 1960s

BSA

For the BSA, the 1960s were a time of increasing membership and high hopes for the future. The turmoil in American society of the late '60s (Vietnam protests, race riots, drug abuse) had little visible effect on the BSA until the early '70s. But childhood was becoming more complex, as illicit drugs and moral permissiveness became widespread. Scouting helped to provide solid standards during this era.

Sadly, the 1960s saw the BSA forfeit its valued reputation for conservation leadership, as the BSA failed to re-examine and update its now-antiquated and destructive outdoor practices. Not until the 1970s would the BSA begin to catch up with modern practices and begin again to teach Scouts to be leaders in preserving our outdoor resources.

The late 1960s finally saw the BSA end its 58-year record of allowingofficial racial segregation in its chartered Scout Councils, districts, troops, and camps.

Between 1960 and 1970, BSA membership climbed from 5.2 million to 6.3 million.

Troop 97

Troop 97 was reborn in June, 1959, with five Scouts on the charter application. The troop has been in continuous existence since then, making our troop officially 45 years old (as of May, 2004). Jerry Lamson was the first Scoutmaster of the new troop, but Scott Peterson took over as Scoutmaster during summer camp the month after the troop was organized.

From 1962 to 1966, St. Luke's also sponsored Sea Explorer Ship 97, a short-lived offshoot of the active Scout program at the church during that period (only 23 boys were members of the ship over its four-year life). The ship was closely allied with Troop 97, and about half of its registered adults and youth members had been members of Troop 97.

For Troop 97, the 1960s were dominated by the seven-year leadership of Scoutmaster Wayne Parsons (1962-69). Under Parsons, Troop 97 became one of the largest and most active troops in the area. Troop 97 achieved its highest charter enrollment of 84 Scouts in 1969 (although some remember troop membership exceeding 100 members at one time!). Eighteen Troop 97 Scouts earned Eagle under Parsons (including Ship 97's only Eagle). Parsons, who worked for the US Forest Service, also directed the troop in work on the Hornaday Award, which several Scouts received. This national award recognizes significant contributions to conservation, and is rarely given.

Last Revision to This Page: 18 March 2005
Copyright © 1996-2005 by Troop 97 BSA

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