Three of Madge Moore's sons and two of her grandsons are Eagle Scouts. Her great-grandson is a Cub Scout, and in the ’60s, her late husband Walter Moore, led one of the most popular troops in Mexico's scouting history. To her family, Boy Scouts was not an option.
"Our family lived scouting for several years; I spent 11 years with the Cub Scouts," Moore told The Ledger in a recent interview. She and many area local families will come together next week to salute Scouting's 100th anniversary with years of fond memories. Incorporated in the United States on Feb. 8, 1910, the organization still proves essential.
"Many young men in this area become Eagle Scouts through Troop 38, and many of them are still involved in Boy Scouts in various ways in their adult life. Walter was always very proud of that fact.
"He always called them his boys."
The First Presbyterian Church, which sponsors Troop 38, is planning a special service – called Scout Sunday – to recognize the scouts in their congregation. During the program, the Scouts will serve as ushers and greet church members as they enter. In August, other troops throughout Mexico and Audrain County plan to attend the national jamboree in Valley Forge, Pa., along with other summer camp activities being held in commemoration of the age-old organization.
For many years, the Mexico community lived and breathed scouting. Thursday morning Moore took a moment to share some of her family’s most memorable moments. Her husband served as cub master from 1957 to 1960, and then after their sons finished that level, Walter Moore continued working with the Boy Scouts until 1969 – the year their youngest son received his Eagle.
"Every year, Walter would use all his vacation time taking trips with the boys," Madge Moore recalled. He took scouts to two jamborees, one Canadian canoe trip, and a trip to the Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico. "He always said that he couldn't have handled being a scout master without all the help from the families of his scouts. He enjoyed what he did, and it showed."
In 1968, Moore was presented the Scout Silver Beaver Award – the highest honor of the Boy Scout council – and in 1998, was honored as a James West Fellow, another prestigious scout honor. He served on the scouting council board for many years, and as a show of dedication, built a replica of the Statue of Liberty to mark the start of Independence Day in Mexico. The statue still stands on the courthouse lawn.
The Presbyterian Church also named a scouting room in Moore's honor. Charles Stribling had a large picture framed and mounted in the room when it was dedicated.
"I think scouting is a wonderful program for young men," Madge Moore said. "It teaches them good survival skills, character-building skills, and it offers the opportunity for the whole family to get involved and have fun.
"I think every boy should get involved. It's an experience they will never forget."
Mexico resident Sterling Oliver can appreciate Moore's sentiment. His great-grandfather was the scoutmaster of Troop 38 in St. Joseph in 1935. His dad was a scout in the ’40s. He joined the scouts at age six – he's now 55 – and his two sons, Cameron and Blake, joined in the ’90s.
"Mom and Dad encouraged us to participate in any of the opportunities that came along – school activities, sports, 4-H, stuff like that," Oliver recalled. But the Montgomery County native said the time he spent in Scouts has had the most impact on his life.
Oliver belonged to Pack 49, which was sponsored by the local Kiwanis. A lot of his memories include the fun games they played, their outdoor adventures, the troop trips they took, and the scout leaders who guided them.
"They took us places we never would have had the opportunity to go," Oliver said. "The den mothers taught us social skill stuff that was learned as part of an activity, and the Kiwanis that sponsored us, really got involved. They didn't just throw money on the table, and tell us to spend it. They took scouting seriously.
"We learned about animals, forestry, survival in the wild, and also things that you run into in everyday life. They wanted us to become responsible adults. They taught us, if you follow the oath and laws, you can't have a much better teacher than that."
It's men like Bob Brandkamp, Mel Block, John Fisher, Dan Deiter and Jim O'Keefe, that Oliver applauds. "They were the good guys, my mentors," he said.
"My father passed away when I was a teenager, and they took it upon themselves to make sure I stayed involved and made Eagle Scout. They cared about what happened to me."
He also remembers Walter Moore. He refers to the long-time scout master as "one of the greatest examples of scouting," and "gold" as far as scouting is concerned.
"These are the men that influenced our lives," he said.
Over the years, Boy Scouts has withstood the test of time. No other U.S. youth organization has served as many boys – an estimated 112 million – or can boast of congressional charter and a string a U.S presidents including Barack Obama, serving as its honorary leader.
The program has broadened in many ways. Technology seems to be the biggest change the group has encountered.
"Scouting has adapted to the changes and opportunities. The computer was an unknown word in the ’60s, and scouting," Oliver said, chuckling. "But the organization has adapted, and managed to bring us to the everyday life we see today, without forgetting the core values that make it the organization it is."
"It's still all about leadership, character building, and the confidence that comes with accomplishing something, as well as the service to your country and community."
After 100 years, scouting is still an active organization in Mexico. Currently, Audrain County hosts 17 organizations. Following is a list of the troops, their meetings locations and scout leaders:
Pack 37, Latter Day Saints Church, Mexico, Terry Nordwald; Pack 57, Hawthorne Elementary PTA, Mexico, Amanda Fergie; Pack 553, St. Brendan Knights of Columbus, Mexico, Paul Heuman; Troop 37, LDS church, Mexico, Gus Saxon; Troop 38, Presbyterian Church, Mexico, John Lumis; Troop 39,
Mexico Military Academy, Joe Ableman; Troop 57, St. John's Lutheran Church, Mexico, Larry Handlin; Crew 37, LDS church, Gus Saxon; Crew 57, St. John's Lutheran Church, Mexico, Tom Burke; Group 181, Audrain Crisis Intervention, Mexico, Sherry Levin; Pack 51, Second Baptist Church, Vandalia, Roosevelt Jackson; Pack 54, Vandalia Lutheran Church, Chad Hays; Troop 54, Vandalia, Stanley Atkinson; Group 183, Almost Home Daycare, Mexico, Brenda Benjamin; Crew 35, Knights of Columbus, Mexico, Paul Seigfreid; and Varsity Team No. 37, LDS Church, Nicholas Parrish.
Paul Oligschlaeger of Mexico is the scout master of Troop 57 – a role he recently assumed. As a kid, he never experienced scouting himself, but now that his son, Brandon, has joined the Tiger Cub, he sees the difference it can make.
"I've noticed changes in him. He's grown more mature and responsible for himself and others – which says a lot for a boy that age," Oligschlaeger said of his son. Once a year, his troop attends summer camp at Lake Ozarks, where they can accumulate badges, and each year they play an active role in the Miss Missouri Pageant. Recently they did bell ringing for the Salvation Army, and in August they plan to attend the Jamboree.
"Scouting is a fun, lasting experience that will hopefully impact their lives and their futures," Oligschlaeger said.
Oligschlaeger challenges any young boy interested in new experiences to join in the fun of scouting.
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Three of Madge Moore's sons and two of her grandsons are Eagle Scouts. Her great-grandson is a Cub Scout, and in the ’60s, her late husband Walter Moore, led one of the most popular troops in Mexico's scouting history. To her family, Boy Scouts was not an option.
"Our family lived scouting for several years; I spent 11 years with the Cub Scouts," Moore told The Ledger in a recent interview. She and many area local families will come together next week to salute Scouting's 100th anniversary with years of fond memories. Incorporated in the United States on Feb. 8, 1910, the organization still proves essential.
"Many young men in this area become Eagle Scouts through Troop 38, and many of them are still involved in Boy Scouts in various ways in their adult life. Walter was always very proud of that fact.
"He always called them his boys."
The First Presbyterian Church, which sponsors Troop 38, is planning a special service – called Scout Sunday – to recognize the scouts in their congregation. During the program, the Scouts will serve as ushers and greet church members as they enter. In August, other troops throughout Mexico and Audrain County plan to attend the national jamboree in Valley Forge, Pa., along with other summer camp activities being held in commemoration of the age-old organization.
For many years, the Mexico community lived and breathed scouting. Thursday morning Moore took a moment to share some of her family’s most memorable moments. Her husband served as cub master from 1957 to 1960, and then after their sons finished that level, Walter Moore continued working with the Boy Scouts until 1969 – the year their youngest son received his Eagle.
"Every year, Walter would use all his vacation time taking trips with the boys," Madge Moore recalled. He took scouts to two jamborees, one Canadian canoe trip, and a trip to the Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico. "He always said that he couldn't have handled being a scout master without all the help from the families of his scouts. He enjoyed what he did, and it showed."
In 1968, Moore was presented the Scout Silver Beaver Award – the highest honor of the Boy Scout council – and in 1998, was honored as a James West Fellow, another prestigious scout honor. He served on the scouting council board for many years, and as a show of dedication, built a replica of the Statue of Liberty to mark the start of Independence Day in Mexico. The statue still stands on the courthouse lawn.
The Presbyterian Church also named a scouting room in Moore's honor. Charles Stribling had a large picture framed and mounted in the room when it was dedicated.
"I think scouting is a wonderful program for young men," Madge Moore said. "It teaches them good survival skills, character-building skills, and it offers the opportunity for the whole family to get involved and have fun.
"I think every boy should get involved. It's an experience they will never forget."
Mexico resident Sterling Oliver can appreciate Moore's sentiment. His great-grandfather was the scoutmaster of Troop 38 in St. Joseph in 1935. His dad was a scout in the ’40s. He joined the scouts at age six – he's now 55 – and his two sons, Cameron and Blake, joined in the ’90s.
"Mom and Dad encouraged us to participate in any of the opportunities that came along – school activities, sports, 4-H, stuff like that," Oliver recalled. But the Montgomery County native said the time he spent in Scouts has had the most impact on his life.
Oliver belonged to Pack 49, which was sponsored by the local Kiwanis. A lot of his memories include the fun games they played, their outdoor adventures, the troop trips they took, and the scout leaders who guided them.
"They took us places we never would have had the opportunity to go," Oliver said. "The den mothers taught us social skill stuff that was learned as part of an activity, and the Kiwanis that sponsored us, really got involved. They didn't just throw money on the table, and tell us to spend it. They took scouting seriously.
"We learned about animals, forestry, survival in the wild, and also things that you run into in everyday life. They wanted us to become responsible adults. They taught us, if you follow the oath and laws, you can't have a much better teacher than that."
It's men like Bob Brandkamp, Mel Block, John Fisher, Dan Deiter and Jim O'Keefe, that Oliver applauds. "They were the good guys, my mentors," he said.
"My father passed away when I was a teenager, and they took it upon themselves to make sure I stayed involved and made Eagle Scout. They cared about what happened to me."
He also remembers Walter Moore. He refers to the long-time scout master as "one of the greatest examples of scouting," and "gold" as far as scouting is concerned.
"These are the men that influenced our lives," he said.
Over the years, Boy Scouts has withstood the test of time. No other U.S. youth organization has served as many boys – an estimated 112 million – or can boast of congressional charter and a string a U.S presidents including Barack Obama, serving as its honorary leader.
The program has broadened in many ways. Technology seems to be the biggest change the group has encountered.
"Scouting has adapted to the changes and opportunities. The computer was an unknown word in the ’60s, and scouting," Oliver said, chuckling. "But the organization has adapted, and managed to bring us to the everyday life we see today, without forgetting the core values that make it the organization it is."
"It's still all about leadership, character building, and the confidence that comes with accomplishing something, as well as the service to your country and community."
After 100 years, scouting is still an active organization in Mexico. Currently, Audrain County hosts 17 organizations. Following is a list of the troops, their meetings locations and scout leaders:
Pack 37, Latter Day Saints Church, Mexico, Terry Nordwald; Pack 57, Hawthorne Elementary PTA, Mexico, Amanda Fergie; Pack 553, St. Brendan Knights of Columbus, Mexico, Paul Heuman; Troop 37, LDS church, Mexico, Gus Saxon; Troop 38, Presbyterian Church, Mexico, John Lumis; Troop 39,
Mexico Military Academy, Joe Ableman; Troop 57, St. John's Lutheran Church, Mexico, Larry Handlin; Crew 37, LDS church, Gus Saxon; Crew 57, St. John's Lutheran Church, Mexico, Tom Burke; Group 181, Audrain Crisis Intervention, Mexico, Sherry Levin; Pack 51, Second Baptist Church, Vandalia, Roosevelt Jackson; Pack 54, Vandalia Lutheran Church, Chad Hays; Troop 54, Vandalia, Stanley Atkinson; Group 183, Almost Home Daycare, Mexico, Brenda Benjamin; Crew 35, Knights of Columbus, Mexico, Paul Seigfreid; and Varsity Team No. 37, LDS Church, Nicholas Parrish.
Paul Oligschlaeger of Mexico is the scout master of Troop 57 – a role he recently assumed. As a kid, he never experienced scouting himself, but now that his son, Brandon, has joined the Tiger Cub, he sees the difference it can make.
"I've noticed changes in him. He's grown more mature and responsible for himself and others – which says a lot for a boy that age," Oligschlaeger said of his son. Once a year, his troop attends summer camp at Lake Ozarks, where they can accumulate badges, and each year they play an active role in the Miss Missouri Pageant. Recently they did bell ringing for the Salvation Army, and in August they plan to attend the Jamboree.
"Scouting is a fun, lasting experience that will hopefully impact their lives and their futures," Oligschlaeger said.
Oligschlaeger challenges any young boy interested in new experiences to join in the fun of scouting.
