Troop 101 is seeking records of Troop members who earned their Eagle Scout awards before 1967.
Full names are given below only for Eagles over age 18.

* Cheyenne’s First Eagle Scout

“Boy Scout” Movement Actors in Cheyenne

Cheyenne State Leader, February 19, 1916, p. 2

The “Boy Scout” movement in Cheyenne, though very active, is not very well known in Cheyenne; in fact, some people do not know that such an organization exists. Lieut. E. Z. Steever is the father of the local “Boy Scout” movement as well as the cadet organization. He first organized a boy scout patrol in Cheyenne during March, 1915. Shortly after Lieutenant Steever left for the east and the movement was dropped, but it has been resumed again under the capable supervision of David Cook, and the work is now going on with enthusiasm.

The organization is composed of 36 members, and is divided into four patrols consisting of nine scouts each. The following are the patrols, the leaders and assistant leaders of each:

1. Gray Wolf Patrol. Patrol leader, Robert Fincher; assistant, Herman Coffman.
2. Coyote Patrol. Patrol leader, Free Marks; assistant, Robert Shores.
3. Antelope Patrol. Patrol leader, Ralph Hopkins; assistant, Ira Trotter.
4. Eagle Patrol. Patrol leader, Harold Hobbs; assistant, Peter Schag.

The “Scouts” take regular weekly hikes in which all the elements of camp life are introduced. Signaling and drilling are also taught, and the boys are instilled with a love of the open, the beautiful and the elements of nature and her pets.

Boy Scouts Get Ready for Hike

Cheyenne State Leader, June 10, 1916, p. 8

Will Show Skills in First Aid at Sloan’s Lake Today — Visitors are Invited

The Boy Scouts of Cheyenne are preparing for their annual summer hike and today they will go to Sloan’s lake for a practice session. An invitation has been issued by the organization to the residents of Cheyenne to visit the lake any time tomorrow and watch the boys show what they can do in first aid work and signaling.

Assistant Scout Master David Cook and eight boys went to the lake last night to spend the night and get the camp ready for the other boys who will go out today. The patrol leaders who went out last night were Walter Schag, Tom Boehler, F. Marks, Earl Schoel, Robert Fincher, Francis Bon, George Gilland and George Thomas.

Walter Schag has written the following on the coming hike:

“The Boy Scouts are going to have a visitors’ day at Sloan’s lake today and want to have lots of visitors. Lemonade and cookies will be served to the visitors. They will be entertained by the boys who will demonstrate first aid work. They will also signal from one part of the lake to the other. If you are interested in the boys’ work and have a few spare hours, go out and see them. They will be there all day.

“The boys were out collecting money from the men around town and have about ten dollars, although they will be around until the 19th, when they have their summer hike. They are going to stay ten days, or as long as the grub lasts.

“There is a contest on among the Boy Scouts. The patrol that collects the most money doesn’t have to do any cooking on the hike, which will mean a lot of work.”

Boy Scouts Off on Hike to Dam

Cheyenne State Leader, June 18, 1916, p. 8

Cheyenne Patrols Will Depart Tomorrow — Marks’ Patrol Does No Cooking

About thirty members of the patrols of the Cheyenne Boy Scouts will go for a hike to the city dam tomorrow morning. They will be gone for about ten days.

The Scouts have been busy during the past week getting the expenses of their hike. A sort of contest was inaugurated in which the patrol getting the most money was to be relieved of the task of cooking for the rest of the Scouts. Feree Marks’ patrol succeeded in getting the most money and will not have to do the required cooking. About $100 was subscribed by the various business men.

The Scouts will go to and from the dam in automobiles which will be furnished by various auto owners of the city.

The routine at the camp will include scout drills of all sorts and fishing. Sunday, June 25, will be visitors’ day at the scout camp and the people of Cheyenne are cordially invited to came out to the camp to visit the scouts.

Cheyenne Lads Join Boy Scouts

Cheyenne State Leader, October 31, 1916, p. 8

More Than One Hundred Present Last Night at Organizational Meeting in the Gymnasium

Over one hundred boys from the different grades of the public schools met at the gymnasium early last evening to organize a boy scout company for this year. About thirty-five of the boys came from the South Side school, twenty-eight from the Converse school, twenty from the Central School and the others from the two remaining schools.

The boys this year will be under the charge of George H. Gilland, scout master, who is vice-president of the Citizen’s national bank, and Dave Cook, assistant scout master, who is captain of the cadet company at the high school. Superintendant Ira B. Fee of the public schools, is the scout commissioner.

Dave Cook will be assisted by Robert Fincher, in command of the scouts from Converse school, Feree Marks, in command of the scouts from Central school and also treasurer of the scout company, and Walter Shagg, in command of the scouts from Corlett school. The other troop commanders are yet to be selected.

The plans that have been laid for this year affect each troops separately as well as the company as a whole. Everything will be done on a competitive basis. Each school will meet on an assigned night and Dave Cook will be present at each meeting. The first meeting will be held tonight when East End school meets. Tomorrow night the South Side meets, Thursday night the Central school meets and Friday night the West End school meets.

After this meeting all the troops in the company will meet at the high school gymnasium to make plans for a hike the following day, Saturday. After this hike the troops will work for the time being irrespective of each other except that the work as a whole will be directed and superintended by Scout Master Gilland and Assistant Scout Master Cook. Each will take its hikes, no two companies hiking on the same day, and will receive instruction in first aid, campfire cooking, signaling, trailing, and the many other scout accomplishments.

Boy Scouts Plan Wireless Work

Cheyenne State Leader, November 1, 1916, p. 6

Hope to Purchase Outfits and Learn Use of Aerial Telegraphy — Show Much Interest

Already the boy scouts who were organized Monday night at the high school gymnasium under the direction of Scout Master George H. Gilland, vice-president of the Citizen’s National bank, Assistant Scout Master Dave Cook and Scout Commissioner Supt. Ira B. Fee, are planning for a big ten days hike in the spring.

Last year they raised about $300 for such an event and this year with an early start they hope to raise more. At present they have about $30 in the bank according to Feree Marke, treasurer for the company.

They also plan to purchase two wireless outfit in the near future and the officers of the company will teach the boys wireless telegraphy. One of the wireless outfits will be placed on Roundtop and will be stationary; the other will be portable and will be taken from place to place as the different troops take hikes. Messages will be sent and received with the outfits on each hike taken and as often as possible when it is possible from some place in Cheyenne.

After the first big hike which it is hoped can take place next Saturday, each troops, made up of all members from each of the individual school, will be instructed by the troop leaders, mentioned in the paper yesterday morning, until all of the troops have carried out the plans laid down for them by the scout masters when a company hike will be taken at which competitive matches between troops will be held.

After each company hike the work in each troop will go on as before until time for another company hike.

These methods will be used throughout the year until the time of the big hike and competitive in the later part of the school year. Prizes will be given to the winners on this competitive at a banquet that will be held, probably at the gymnasium, after the return from the field.

Boy Scouts Aid Associated Charities; Gather Clothing

Cheyenne State Leader, November 29, 1916, p. 1

This is “Bundle Day” and Residents of Cheyenne Are Urged to Contribute for Benefit of the Poor

Today is “Bundle Day” in Cheyenne and all residents here who have anything to donate to the associated charities, which is facing the biggest problem in its history this year in helping the needy, are requested to send the things to the store room in the basement of the Industrial club used by the association or to telephone Mrs. J. M. Burner, phone 266, so that one of the boy scouts or the school children, who will help in the gathering of the contributions, may come and get the articles.

Already a great quantity for this time of the year has been sent to the store room. The things include canned goods, groceries and clothing, mostly for children. Other things are badly needed, however, and more of the same kind that have been given.

One of the most depleted departments of the store room is the men’s suit department. There are a number worthy of men in the city who need suits but who are unable to buy them at retail prices, such prices being higher than ever before and salaries being the same.

There has been some criticism of the fact that the committee in charge of the associated charities’ work have thought it best to sell clothing. There are a great many people, men, for instance, often with large families, making from $45 to $60 a month, who will not accept a suit of clothes or an overcoat as a charity gift but who will buy such garments from the charity store room at a low price, a dollar or so.

Hundreds of suits, overcoats and other garments are also given to the poor every year. Of course, when the garments are sold, those who are able to buy from the retail stores of the city are encouraged to do so and are never sold anything out of the associated store room stock.

The committee especially urges that all residents of the city spare them the little time that it will take to get out any old clothes or other things that will help the poor and send them to the store room.

Praises Scouts for Working on Bundle Day

Cheyenne State Leader, November 30, 1916, p. 8

The boy scouts under the leadership of Assistant Scout Master Dave Cook and a number of the school children deserve special credit for the way they assisted members of the Associated Charities of Cheyenne in the work of gathering bundles yesterday for the store room, Mrs. G. L. Strader, in charge of the work, said last night.

When ever a messenger was needed at any time yesterday one of the scouts was sure to be on hand and ready for service. When not out on errands they were helping in the store room or quietly waiting the next assignment.

If everybody in Cheyenne only did his part is well as the members of the scouts, this would be the greatest year in the history of the Associated Charities.

Local Boy Scout Body is Efficient

Cheyenne State Leader, March 13, 1917, p. 5

Youngsters Make Record for “Falling In” Which Cadets Have Not Equalled
While Cheyenne is the original home of the Steever system of military training as adopted in the high schools all over the country, there is another order growing up that is not coming in for so much attention but is nevertheless important. This order is the Boy Scout organization.

There are two troops of scouts in Cheyenne, one at the Central school [Troop 2], and one at the Converse [Troop 1]. There are seventy boys in these troops. The Central school troop drills three times a week, and the Converse every night. These boys have a record for “falling in” of 10 seconds, a record that the cadets have not been able to beat so far.

One of the troops is registered as a national troop, and the other will be shortly, according to a statement made last night by one of the masters. The Central school troop is registered, and is under the command of Ralph Hopkins. The troop at the Converse school is under the command of Robert Fincher. Fincher hopes to have his troop registered soon. There are thirty-five youngsters in the troop. The other troop has forty-five boys. Dave Cook, captain of the cadets is also scout master for Cheyenne.

Three Classes of Scouts
Scouts are divided up into three classes, the tenderfeet, second class and first class. The tenderfoot takes the scout oath, must know the scout laws, be able to tie standard knots, know the meaning of the scout badge, and the history of the American flag.

After sixty days as a tenderfoot, if he works, the scout becomes a second class man. A second class scout must be able to signal by wig-wag, have a working knowledge of the telegraph code, know a little about tracking, have $1.00 in tha band, understand first aid principles, and be able to cook a meal.

When he has been a second class scout for a year, he is eligible to take the examination for first class grade, which includes swimming, woodcraft, and a variety of other useful phases. There are no first class scouts in Cheyenne, because the troops do not stay together and work in the summer which is the only time certain of the tests can be made in this climate.

The scouts go on hikes, usually up Crow creek, above the fort. They have many and varied experiences.

A scout master from Denver, who spent a few days in Cheyenne last week reports that the local boys are above the average. Cheyenne is well situated to have a large number of scouts. There is no limit to the field for hiking. Waterless hikes are easy, and there are also many places to hike where water is available. The hills west of Cheyenne furnish ideal camping grounds.

Boy Scouts Induce Merchants to Close

Cheyenne State Leader, May 30, 1917, p. 8

About fifty of the Cheyenne boy scouts in uniform Tuesday marched down town in a body, and induced all but one of the Cheyenne merchants operating pawnshops to close their establishments from 9 until 12 while Memorial services are in progress. The one who refused to close, according to the scouts was Henry B. Emigh, who runs a grocery store at 500 West Eighteenth street.

All other Cheyenne business houses have announced that they will remain closed for the entire day, with the exception of drug stores and soda fountains. These will remain open, as they are unable to close at any time, through the nature of their business. All saloons will be closed for the day. Clothing stores, markets, grocery stores, jewelry stores, and all others will close for the day.

Boy Scouts Begin Week’s Hike Today

Cheyenne State Leader, June 17, 1917, p. 8

Troop One From Cheyenne goes to Granite Springs Reservoir for outing — Troop Two Next.
Troop No. 1, of the Cheyenne Boy Scouts, will leave Cheyenne at 9 o’clock this morning for a hike lasting one week to the Granite Springs reservoir. Permission for the lads to camp there was secured through Gov. F. L. Houx. There will be no visitor’s day, as there can be no permission given for others than the scouts to go to the dam.

The boys will be taken out in automobiles belonging to their parents. Their supplies will be taken in the same cars. F. R. Dildine, of the Dildine garage, was to have furnished a truck to haul the camp outfits, but will be unable to do so, because of the pressure of business.

The boys are indebted to the merchants of Cheyenne for the funds to take the hike on. Over $100 was subscribed by Cheyenne business men to whom they are deeply grateful for the money. Part of this went to the purchase of a cooking outfit for the scouts, which they will keep for future hikes.

Next Sunday, Troop 2 of the scouts will proceed to the same place for a hike. Number 1 will break camp next Sunday, to make room for the other contigent. The troop leaving today will be under the leadership of Dave Cook, captain of the high school cadets, and Troop No. 2 which leaves Sunday next will be under the leadership of William R. Lee.

1929 With the absorption of the Cheyenne Council by Longs Peak Council, Cheyenne Troop 1 was renumbered to 101.

Concession Stand for Scout Circus

Copyright The Wyoming Eagle, May 6, 1947, p. 9

Used with Permission

Pop corn, peanuts, candy, chewing gum, soda pop, ice cream and hot dogs will be sold at a concession stand which will be operated by the Boy Scouts at their circus in the Ft. Warren bowl Sunday, May 18.

All proceeds from the stand will be distributed among the various Boy Scout troops participating in the circus.

More than 2,000 are expected to attend the circus, proceeds of which will go to further Boy Scouts programs in Cheyenne. Tickets are now being sold by all Scouts and their leaders.

Scout Circus Plans Pushed

Copyright Wyoming State Tribune, May 6, 1947, p. 3

Used with Permission

The Boy Scout circus committee and the chairman of the various troop committees decided last night to operate a concession stand at the circus to be held at the Ft. Warren bowl May 18.

A concession committee was formed and plans were laid for the handling of various circus food items which will include pop corn, peanuts, candy, chewing gum, soda pop, ice cream and hot dogs. All proceeds from the sale of these items will be distributed to the various Boy Scout troops participating in the circus and in the community.

The circus is the first of its kind attempted in Cheyenne and is expected to be a big success. The planning is in the hands of a committee of trained scouters, headed by a chairman who has had previous experience in the planning and organization of such scout activities.

Anyone desiring tickets who have not been contacted may obtain them from any Boy Scout or scout leader. All money obtained from the sale will be turned over to the troops to further the development of their Boy Scout programs.

Boy Scout activities in Cheyenne and vicinity have made tremendous progress in the last several years in spite of the temporary hardships caused by the war which took so many young men who were actual or potential leaders.

21 Troops Will Participate in Scout Circus

Copyright The Wyoming Eagle, May 14, 1947, p. 2

Used with Permission

The first annual Cheyenne Boy Scout Circus is all set for May 18 at the Ft. Warren Bowl, it was announced last night by Frank Sills, general chairman of the circus.

All the scout troops and senior units have been working hard to put on a magnificent show for the people of Cheyenne. Twenty-one troops will be participating in the circus of which there will be 18 Boy Scouts troops, a Sea Scout unit, Explorer Post unit, and an Air Squadron unit.

One of the highlights of the circus will be a signaling race from Round Top to see if the Scouts can send a message faster than a motorcycle can make the trip.

All Cheyenneites are invited to attend the circus.

City’s Boy Scouts All Set for Gala Circus on Sunday

Copyright The Wyoming Eagle, May 16, 1947, p. 1

Used with Permission

More than 300 Boy Scouts in a score of troops within the vicinity of Cheyenne will top off several weeks of practice and rehearsals Sunday afternoon with a Scout Circus in the Ft. Warren bowl.

“This is the first time all the scout troops in Cheyenne and vicinity have gotten together on a program of this kind to raise money for their equipment and other troop needs,” declared Chairman Frank Sills. “But Boy Scout Circuses have proved so popular in other cities that we feel sure our one dozen varied events will please the spectators.”

The only troops in this scouting district which will not participate in Sunday’s circus are the ones in Albin and Pine Bluffs. One of Cheyenne’s 18 regular Boy Scout troops will be clowns to provide humor-relief for camping, cooking, fire-building, first aid and pioneering demonstrations. Demonstrations will also be put on by the three senior scouting organizations here–air squadron, explorer scouts and sea scouts. Cheyenne’s Eagle Junior band will provide music.

The Boy Scout Circus here will be complete with all the circus goodies and refreshments one usually finds at a circus, Concession Chairman Robert H. Marker promised, “except that the materials were donated to us and we won’t be charging whooped-up circus prices!” Scouters Robert Bass and Ray Robertson are the other members of the concession committee, which will be assisted by Al Babka, J. P. Heagney, Jacob Eckhardt, Clarence Michie, George Redhair, J. W. Platt, Lt-Col. C. J. Baaken (scoutmaster of the Ft. Warren troop) and Bob Steele.

“Members of the local Scout Mothers’ clubs and Den Mothers will serve in the main concession tent and about 40 Boy Scouts have volunteered to bring refreshments into the stands for the spectators,” Marker said. “We are especially grateful to all the firms who contributed the materials for our concession.”

Among those firms listed as contributors of concession supplies were: Asher-Wyoming, Coca-Cola Bottling company, Pepsi-Cola Bottling company, Dr. Pepper Bottling company, Cliquot Club Bottling company, Winter-Moreland Wholesale company, Boyd’s Cigar Stores, Garlett’s, Skagg’s, Pacific Fruit and Produce, Beatrice Creamery, C. J. Call Market, Wigwam Bakery, Schleicher Bakery, Carl Bailey and the Crystal Ice company.

The program will get under way at 1:30 Sunday afternoon with the troop of clowns burlesking the “historical one-shot buffalo hunt”.

Scouts Will Compete With Motorcyclist

Copyright The Wyoming Eagle, May 16, 1947, p. 19

Used with Permission

Motorcyclists will compete with Boy Scouts in more ways than one here Sunday afternoon when the Cheyenne Footprinters are staging a “mechanical rodeo” with 75 riders at Frontier park.

One of the 12 events in the first annual Scout Circus is a race between Scout signalmen on Round Top and a motorcyclist bringing the same message to spectators in the Ft. Warren bowl.

Scout Circus to Be Staged Here Sunday

Copyright Wyoming State Tribune, May 16, 1947, p. 2

Used with Permission

Everything in the way of food that goes toward making a successful circus will be a feature of the Cheyenne Boy Scout circus to be held Sunday at the Ft. Warren bowl.

Popcorn, candy, soda pop, hot dogs and ice cream will be available at a concession tent to be set up near the circus midway.

At a meeting between the troop committee chairman and the general circus committee headed by Frank Sills, a committee to head the concession activity was appointed to include Robert Marker, chairman; Robert Bass and Ray Robertson.

The committee will be assisted by Scouters Al Babka, J. P. Heagney, Jacob Eckhardt, Clarence Michie, George Redhair, J. W. Platt, Colonel Baaken, Bob Steel and Frank Sills.

The various items to be sold were contributed to the Boy Scouts by local merchants, including Asher-Wyoming, Coca-Cola Bottling company, Pepsi-Cola Bottling company, Dr. Pepper Bottling company, Cliquot Club Bottling company, Winter-Moreland Wholesale company, Boyd’s cigar store, Garlett’s, Skaggs drug store, Pacific Fruit and Produce, Beatrice creamery, C. J. Call market, Wigwam bakery, Schleicher bakery, Carl Bailey and the Crystal Ice company.

Thru the courtesy of Colonel Baaken and other officials at Ft. Warren, the concession will have a completely equipped tent for its operations. Den mothers and members of the Scout Mothers clubs will serve in the tent, and 40 scouts have volunteered to serve as salesmen and will carry purchases right to the patrons on the stands.

Scouts Set to Give Public Thrilling Show Here Sunday

Copyright The Wyoming Eagle, May 17, 1947, p. 1

Used with Permission

Culminating two months of preparation and rehearsal 350 Cheyenne Boy Scouts will march onto the field in Ft. Warren Bowl Sunday afternoon for the city-wide Scout circus, and with the promise of fair skies from the weatherman, a capacity crowd is expected to witness the numerous and varied events.

It will be a full-blown three-ring circus, complete with clowns, excitement, contests and refreshments, Chairman Frank Sills has promised.

“Several troops have become outstanding in their work,” Sills said, “but besides the demonstrations of model camping, hiking, cooking, firebuilding and first aid, we’ll have some exciting, colorful and humorous events designed to please all types of spectators.”

One of the most novel features of the circus will be a race between scout signalmen on Round Top and a motorcyclist who will leave there at the same time with an identical message in an effort to deliver it to Ft. Warren Bowl before it is received and transcribed by flagmen on the field.

“Members of Scout Mothers clubs and Den Mothers will supervise the operation of our big concession tent,” Sills continued, “but about 40 scouts will be on hand to deliver food and refreshments to spectators at their seats in the stands. The materials for the concession were donated by many public-spirited Cheyenne business firms, and while we are interested in making money to buy scouting equipment for the various troop funds, we will charge only the prices you ordinarily pay in downtown retail stores.”

Sills’ committee for putting over the circus includes: J. P. Eads, Bob Steele, Carl Schultz, Hollie Koch and Bob Marker.

The scoutmasters of the 21 participating troops are as follows: Dr. H. Haines, Troop 100; Gradey Boone, Troop 101; Howard McKee, Troop 102; Floyd Mann, Troop 103; Bob Steele, Troop 104; Don Lesser, Troop 106; Lt.-Col. C. J. Bakken, Troop 108; Lloyd Osborn, Troop 111; Don Donaldson, Troop 112; Delbert Merrill, Troop 113; Jerry Berger, Troop 114; Edwin White, Troop 115; Lawrence Hutton, Troop 116; Henry Fox, Troop 117; Leonard Tebbs, Troop 118; Jack Platt, Troop 122; Charles H. Williams, Troop 126; Alexander Callahagn, Sea Scout Ship No. 2; James Duncan, Explorer Post 122, and Bill Koontz, Air Squadron 117.

Boy Scout Circus Is Scheduled Tomorrow: Three-Ring Show To Start at 1:30

Copyright Wyoming State Tribune, May 18, 1947, p. 2

Used with Permission

The biggest show of the year, outside of Frontier Days, will be the first annual Boy Scout circus, which will be staged here tomorrow afternoon at 1:30 at the Ft. Warren bowl, when approximately 5,000 people will fill the stands.

The gala three-ring affair, which has been the steady incentive for over 350 Boy Scouts for two months, is all set to go. Everything will be complete from clowns to pop and peanuts.

All 12 acts will feature some phase of scouting such as camping, hiking, first aid, firebuilding, cooking and signaling.

Different troops have become experts in the fields of work that they have prepared for the program. Troops 104 and 115 will build fires without the use of matches. Troop 102 will put out a burning building. Troop 126 will demonstrate first aid. Troops 108, 112, 100, and 126 will stage a colorful event with their tent and camp set ups. The thrill of the pioneering act willcome when Troop 116 and 101 build a bridge and signal tower respectively.

Troops that will participate in the circus will include: 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 106, 108, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 122, 126, Ex. Post 122, Sea Scouts 2, Air Squadron 117.

Directors of events will include: Grand Entry with Edwin White’s Troop 115 as color guards; Buffalo hunt, Grady Boone Jr.; camping event, Don Donaldson; firewood preparation, Jack Platt; firebuilding, Clyde Smith; cooking, Claude Roberts; first aid demonstration, Charles H. Williams; hiking, Bob Steele; scouting, Dee Ellif; compass and judging, Bob Bass; pioneering, Lawrence Hutton; signaling, Edwin White; senior scouting, Frank Sills, James Duncan and Alex Callaghan.

The Scouts and audience will also participate in a brief ceremony in honor of “I Am An American Day,” which has been arranged by Colonel Haydon and Colonel Bakken of Ft. Warren.

Large Crowd Sees Boy Scout Circus

Copyright Wyoming State Tribune, May 19, 1947, p. 2

Used with Permission

Despite unfavorable weather, a large crowd attended the highly successful Boy Scout circus staged yesterday at the Ft. Warren Bowl.

The strong, cool wind hindered several tent pitching and smoke signalling demonstrations, but the dozen other acts were run off well.

Included in the demonstrations were a historical one-shot Buffalo hunt, presented by the circus clowns under the direction of Grady Boone; camping, firewood preparation and setting; cooking, first aid, hiking with full pack and equipment, compass and judging, pioneering, signaling and demonstration by the air squadron, sea scout ship and explorer post.

The clowns were a great success and kept the show moving with their antics. Music was provided by the junior high school band.

Dr. A. G. Crane, secretary of state, spoke briefly on “I Am An American Day,” which was celebrated in conjunction with the circus.

Col. C. J. Bakken of Ft. Warren was the master of ceremonies and Frank S. Sills was the general circus chairman.

Scout Circus Opens Friday

Copyright Wyoming State Tribune, May 4, 1948, p. 2

Used with Permission

Boy Scouts of Cheyenne will present “Operation Boyhood” theme for the second annual Boy Scout circus Friday and Saturday nights, May 14 and 15, at the Ft. Warren gymnasium, it was disclosed today by Fred Kaysbier, publicity director for the affair.

The scout circus promises to be a top exhibition of scouting and boyhood. Over 400 scouts will take part in the preference. Many troops in Cheyenne have been working long and hard to present their acts, which include first aid, camping, hiking, firebuilding, cooking, authentic Indian dancing, clowns and menageries.

The circus will be set up for lighting displays and the entire show will be made successful thru the use of spotlights and lighted areas, Charles D. Carey, chairman, reported.

All 19 troops in the Cheyenne district of the Long’s Peak council will take part in the program and all proceeds will go to the individual troops who sell tickets for their own treasuries. This is the only way the scouts earn money to keep their troops going during the year.

Boy Scout Circus To Open on Friday

Copyright Wyoming State Tribune, May 10, 1948, p. 2

Used with Permission

Over 400 Boy Scouts of Cheyenne will climax weeks of preparation and practice Friday and Saturday nights at 8 o’clock at the Ft. Warren gymnasium when they present “Operation Boyhood.” Eighteen troops will have a part in the program which will be one of the best and largest youth programs ever held in this city.

Charles D. Carey has been acting as general chairman of the circus and has modeled the program after the program held at St. Louis last year which 25,000 people widely acclaimed.

Colonel Elliott of Ft. Warren graciously obtained permission to hold the program in the post gym. This location was chosen as ideal for the adaptability of the program and because of the great seating capacity.

Julian Carpender, chairman of the finance committee, has circulated tickets to all Scouts in the city to sell. Each troop will profit by their sales, as this is the only way Cheyenne Scouts have to earn money to run their troops during the year. It is hoped the public will show enthusiastic response and help the Cheyenne Scouts.

Camping Scene to be a Feature of Scout Circus

Copyright The Wyoming Eagle, May 12, 1948, p. 18

Used with Permission

Troops 108, 104, and 101 will participate in the camping act at the second annual scout circus, “Operation boyhood” which will be held at the Ft. Warren gym Friday and Saturday nights at 8 o’clock.

Troops 108 and 104 will present a typical afternoon of camping with campcraft and cooking. Troop 108, Sergeant Sheppard, Scoutmaster will demonstrate triangularization and troop 104 under the direction of Scoutmaster Bob Steele will prepare a campfire and then sing songs and imagine days of yesterday with a dream of the Indians and their smoking of the pipe of peace. The smoking of the pipe of peace and the Indian camp site will be portrayed by troop 101 of which Fred Kaysbier is Scoutmaster.

This act as well as the others will be made impressive with special lighting effects.

Scout Circus Dress Rehearsal Tonight

Copyright The Wyoming Eagle, May 13, 1948, p. 8

Used with Permission

All Boy Scouts are urged to meet tonight at 7 o’clock at the Ft. Warren gymnasium for a dress rehearsal for the Boy Scout circus. The circus has been titled “Operation Boyhood.”

Circus Rehearsal Planned Tonight

Copyright Wyoming State Tribune, May 13, 1948, p. 2

Used with Permission

The second annual Boy Scout circus, “Operation Boyhood” will hold the dress rehearsal tonight at the Ft. Warren gymnasium. All Boy Scouts are to be at the gym at 7 o’clock sharp with all their costumes and properties.

All Scouts are to be at the gym no later than 7:30 o’clock Friday and Saturday nights.

Voting on Posters Is Asked by Boy Scouts

Copyright Wyoming State Tribune, May 13, 1948, p. 2

Used with Permission

Thirty-eight posters prepared by the Cheyenne high school poster class are on display at the Cheyenne Light, Fuel, and Power company for voting by the public, it was announced last night by Charles Carey, general chairman of the Boy Scout circus, “Operation Boyhood.”

Votes can be cast in the ballot box inside the door. Cash prizes will be awarded to the person whose poster gets the most votes. The awards will be announced at the Saturday night performance of the circus.

The posters have been on display at various stores and public places during the last week and were moved to the light company yesterday. The public is urged to vote in order to select the best ones so the prizes can be awarded.

The second annual Boy Scout circus will be held at the Ft. Warren gym Friday and Saturday nights at 8 o’clock.

400 Scouts will Present First Night of Annual Circus Tonight

Copyright The Wyoming Eagle, May 14, 1948, p. 1, 15

Used with Permission

Four hundred Boy Scouts will present their second annual Boy Scout Circus, “Operation Boyhood” tonight and tomorrow night at the Ft. Warren gym, at 8 p.m.

For over two months these hundreds of scouts and their scout leaders have been preparing a thrilling show for the public and after weeks of rehearsals the show is ready.

The circus which is staged each year to make money so the different troops in Cheyenne may stay in existence, will be one of the largest youth demonstrations ever produced, for a Cheyenne audience. It will include all the features of the “big top” with clowns, animals, pop corn, chewing gum, and candy.

Demonstrations of scouting skills will be shown to the audience during the two evenings. Troop 108, 104, and 101 will present Camping while Troop 117 will present knot tying. Troop 113 will stage a circus animal parade and Troop 101 will present an authentic Sun Dance of the Pueblo Indians. Various other acts are scheduled.

Concessions will be sold during the show and the committee in charge of the concessions is headed by George Redhair and Ray Robertson.

Troops that will participate under the guidance of their scoutmasters are as follows: Troop 11, Troop 101, Fred Kaysbier; Troop 102, Cecil Redhair; Troop 103, Floyd Mann; Troop 104, Cleo J. Steele; Troop 106, Ed Nation; Troop 108, Sgt. Sheppard; Troop 111, Lloyd Osborn; Troop 112, Don Donaldson; Troop 113, Dale Kailey; Troop 114, Harry Miller; Troop 115, Edwin White; Troop 116, Troop 117, Carl Roberts; Troop 118, Leonard Tebbs; Troop 122, Jack W. Platt; Sea Scout Ship No. 2, Alexander Callahagn, skipper.

400 Scouts to Appear in Scout Circus Tonight: Feature is Set at Warren Gym

Copyright Wyoming State Tribune, May 14, 1948, p. 2

Used with Permission

The second annual Cheyenne district Boy Scout circus, “Operation Boyhood,” will open tonight at the Ft. Warren gym at 8 o’clock. It will be presented again tomorrow night at 8.

The gigantic affair will be presented by over 400 Boy Scouts and promises to be one of the largest youth demonstrations ever presented to a Cheyenne audience.

Charles Carey, chairman of the circus, said last night that the show and all that goes to make a first class circus is ready and that the flavor of the real big top will be present thruout the evening.

The circus menagerie will be presented by Troop 113, of Van Tassel, followed by clowns from Troop 115, sponsored by the First Christian Church.

An Indian Sun Dance will be presented by Troop 101, sponsored by the Cheyenne Lions club, and will feature the authentic dance of the Pueblo tribe and tell a story of death-stricken Indians and how the great white spirit saved the tribe.

The Boy Scout laws will be portrayed by three troops: 111 of Orchard Valley, 113 of Van Tassel, and 116, sponsored by the Presbyterian church. It will portray the great men in American history and how they stirred our country on its way to freedom by living the Scout laws.

America will then be honored by every troop entering a color guard and honoring the flag.

Act 5 will show how a Cub Scout graduates into a Boy Scout troop and then other acts go on to show how Scouting advances up thru second and first class. These will be shown by Troops 103 of Alta Vista and 117, sponsored by United Air Lines. Troops 100 and 102, sponsored by the First Baptist church, Troop 114, by the Dairy Gold creamery, and 111, sponsored by the junior high school.

One of the main features of the show will be presented by Troops 122 of the Methodist church and 112, sponsored by the Knights of Columbus, when they practice first aid on the gigantic Paul Bunyan they have been working on for the last two months.

Camping and pioneering will be presented by Troop 108 of Ft. Warren, Troop 104 sponsored by the Cheyenne Optimist Club, and Troop 101, sponsored by the Cheyenne Lions club.

Senior Scouting for older boys, 15 thru 21, will be demonstrated by Sea Scout Ship No. 2, sponsored by the Kiwanis club with Alexander Callahagn, skipper of the ship, being piped aboard.

A map of the United States will be made on the floor when all 400 Boy Scouts get together at once on the floor and form the outline with lighted candles.

The following have been acting as members of the circus committees:
Charles Carey, chairman of the circus; Chaplain Coombs, arrangements; properties, Lawrence Hutton; production, Larry Murray Jr.; concessions, Ray Robertson and George Redhair; music, Mrs. Tony Roquevena; finance, Julian Carpender and Willits Brewster; program, John Becker; advertising, Donald Dugan; publicity, Fred Kaysbier; floor chairman, J. P. Eads; door chairman, James Farris; announcer, Jack Speight; ringmaster, Bob Steele; and clown director, Edwin White.

The circus committees would like to thank all persons who have shown their interest and helped to make the circus possible. Without this help, none could be held. Tickets will be on sale at the door.

1,200 on Hand for First Night of Scout Circus

Copyright The Wyoming Eagle, May 15, 1948, p. 23

Used with Permission

An estimated 1200 persons thronged to the opening performance of second annual Cheyenne Boy Scout circus at the Ft. Warren gym last night.

Scheduled for a second performance at the same location at 8 o’clock tonight, the show will again feature Troop 115’s Scoutmaster Edwin White’s clowns and Troop 101’s head, Fred Kaysbier, directing the Sun Dance.

Scout Circus Is Scheduled Again Tonight

Copyright Wyoming State Tribune, May 16, 1948, p. 2

Used with Permission

A good sized crowd witnessed the first performance of the annual Boy Scout circus presented last evening at the Ft. Warren gymnasium.

Boys from all troops in the city combined to put on a “bang-up” show of varied acts. Favorites of the small fry section of the audience were the circus menagerie of about a dozen cavorting animals and the clown brigade which, garbed in ludicrous costumes designed by the boys themselves, kept the onlookers guffawing during their numerous numbers.

Six impressive tableaux presented in pantomime illustrated the six Scout laws, and active scouting and camping were the subjects for several shorts. An Indian dance and a scene on a ship, put on by the Sea Scouts, were enthusiastically applauded by the audience.

The same show will be given at 8 o’clock tonight.

Scout Circus Nets Profit

Copyright Wyoming State Tribune, May 19, 1948, p. 2

Used with Permission

The Cheyenne Boy Scouts realized a profit of approximately $100 from concessions at their Circus presented last Friday and Saturday at the Ft. Warren gymnasium. The ice cream bars, candy, soft drinks, and peanuts which they sold at the stands cost the boys nothing, as the items were all contributed by Cheyenne merchants.

Charles D. Carey, chairman of the Circus committee, today expressed the appreciation of the committee and the Scouts for the generous contributions of these businesses.

The list of donors and their gifts follows: Beatrice Foods, Western Creamery Co. and Dairy Gold Foods Co., ice cream bars; Skaggs Drug Co., Garlett Drug Co., Winter-Moreland Co., and Boyd Cigar Co., candy bars; Coca Cola Bottling Co., Cliquot Club Bottling Co., Dr. Pepper Bottling Co., and Pepsi-Cola Bottling Co., soft drinks; Pacific Fruit and Produce Co., peanuts; Asher-Wyoming Co., candy and paper sacks; Dixie Nut and Candy Shoppe, pop corn; Prairie Advertising Co., sign.

Tickets Available for Scout Pageant

Copyright The Wyoming Eagle, May 11, 1949, p. 1

Used with Permission

Tickets are now on sale for the annual Cheyenne Boy Scout pageant, which will be presented at two performances, May 20 and 21 at the senior high school.

Sixteen troops will take part in the event, title of which will be “Let Freedom Ring”. Charles D. Carey has been named general chairman, with R. R. Robertson co-chairman.

Tickets will be 50 cents for adults, 25 cents for children.

Scout Pageant Will be Held This Weekend

Copyright The Wyoming Eagle, May 18, 1949, p. 9

Used with Permission

Over 400 Boy Scouts of Cheyenne will present a dramatic pageant at the Senior high school Friday and Saturday nights, it was announced last night.

For the past two months Boy Scout troops have been practicing and preparing this show for the people of Cheyenne and it promises to be one of the best youth programs ever presented in the city.

“Let Freedom Ring,” which the pageant is called this year, will tell the story of the birth and growth of America and the story of scouting and its relationship and the role it played in making America great.

Charles D. Carey and R. R. Robertson are co-chairman of this year’s edition. Fifteen troops are participating under the directions of their scoutmasters.

Ki-Ann Indian Dancers in Scout Circus

Copyright Wyoming State Tribune, May 19, 1949, p. 2

Used with Permission

The Ki-Ann Indian dancers, Boy Scout Troop 101, will appear in the annual Boy Scout circus “Let Freedom Ring” it was announced today.

The authentic Indian dancers will appear as Act 3 and will present authentic dances of the Sioux Indians and tell the story of the early west.

The Ki-Ann Indians are Boy Scouts of Troop 101, sponsored by the Cheyenne Lions club, Fred Kaysbier is Scoutmaster.

The performance in this year’s scout pageant will mark the first anniversary of the Indian dancers. Since last year these scouts have built up a wardrobe of costuming that is valued at $1,200 and which required over 2,000 hours of work to complete.

Indian Dancers to Feature Boy Scout Pageant Tonight

Copyright The Wyoming Eagle, May 20, 1949, p. 20

Used with Permission

The Ki-Ann Indian dancers, who are members of Boy Scout troop 101 of Cheyenne, will perform in the 1949 Boy Scout pageant “Let Freedom Ring” which is being presented tonight and tomorrow night at the senior high school at 8 o’clock.

The Ki-Ann Indians present nothing but authentic Indian dances and ceremonials. They will perform the Sioux war dance and the Ute sun dance. Danny Abeyta will present the famous Tahos hoop dance.

This performance marks the first anniversary for the Ki-Ann Indian dancers and since a year ago the Boy Scout troop has made all of their own costuming and it now is valued at $1,200. Since its inception one year ago, the Scouts of this troop have spent over 4,000 hours in making costumes and other equipment.

Boy Scout troop 101 and the Ki-Ann Indians are sponsored by the Cheyenne Lions club.

Many other features are planned for the annual scout pageant.

Boy Scout Circus With Cast of 400 To Open Tonight

Copyright Wyoming State Tribune, May 20, 1949, p. 1

Used with Permission

“Let Freedom Ring,” a short history of America’s growth and the role scouting played in its development will be presented tonight and Saturday night at 8 o’clock in the senior high school auditorium by more than 400 Boy Scouts.

A special feature of the program will be the Ki-Ann Indian dances to be given by Boy Scout Troop 101. These include the Sioux war dance, Ute sundance and the famous Tahos hoop dance.

Troops that will participate and their scoutmasters are troop 101, Fred Kaysbier; troop 102, Cecil Redhair; troop 103, Ronald Hopkins; troop 104, Bob Steele; troop 106, Rev. C. R. Ellis; troop 108, Cpl. J. C. Buist; troop 111, Lloyd Osborn; troop 112, Henry Hackett; troop 113, Ed Nation; troop 115, Ed White; troop 116, Tom Brooks; troop 117, Carl Roberts; troop 118, Leonard Tebbs; and troop 122, Jack Platt.

Scout Pageant to Be Given Tonight

Copyright The Wyoming Eagle, May 21, 1949, p. 1

Used with Permission

The Boy Scout pageant, “Let Freedom Ring”, which was very well received last evening, will be repeated this evening at 8 p.m., in the senior high school auditorium. More than 400 scouts take part in the production, which is a portrayal of the history of America’s growth and the role scouting has played in the development of the country.

A special feature of the program is the Ki-Ann Indian dances a specialty of the Boy Scout Troop 101. This number includes the Sioux war dance, the Ute sun dance, and the famous Tahos hoop dance.

Tickets for Scout Show Now on Sale

Copyright Wyoming State Tribune, May 9, 1950, p. 4

Used with Permission

Tickets for the Ki-Ann Indians’ second annual spring show, which will be presented at 8 o’clock Friday and Saturday evenings, May 26 and 27, in the McCormick junior high school auditorium, went on sale today.

Boy Scouts of Explorer Post 101, sponsored by the Lions club, are in charge of the sale of tickets.

Ki-Anns to Present 65th Performance

Copyright Wyoming State Tribune, May 15, 1950, p. 7

Used with Permission

When the Ki-Ann Indians present their show here Friday and Saturday nights, May 26 and 27, at the Junior high school it will mark their 65th and 66th performances.

The Ki-Anns are Boy Scouts of Explorer Post 101 of Cheyenne. During the past 2 1/2 years they have gained a reputation of being one of the best group performers of authentic Indian dances in the country.

With costuming valued at nearly $12,000 the Ki-Ann Indians are planning a bigger and better show than ever with many new dances that have never been presented to audiences in this part of the country.

This novel Boy Scout troop is sponsored by the Cheyenne Lions club and all proceeds of the show will go to help pay for a bus the troop is purchasing. Tickets can be obtained by Boy Scouts of Troops 101, 104, 112 and Explorer Post 101.

Chippewa Dance on Ki-Ann Schedule

Copyright Wyoming State Tribune, May 15, 1950, p. 7

Used with Permission

The Chippewa tribe Shield dance will be one of the dances the Ki-Ann Indians will present when they perform their second annual spring show at the McCormick junior high school Friday and Saturday evenings, May 26 and 27, it was announced today.

Boy Scout Explorer Post 101, which is sponsored by the Cheyenne Lions club, will present the Chippewa Shield dance in its authentic manner which depicts the Chippewa tribe planning a war party against the Blackfeet tribe that invades their claimed land. The dance will be presented in every detail authentically as possible.

Tickets are still on sale and proceeds will be used to pay for a bus the scouts have purchased.

Copyright The Wyoming Eagle, May 16, 1950, p. 8

Used with Permission

Ki-Ann Costumes Are Valued at Nearly $12,000

Copyright The Wyoming Eagle, May 18, 1950, p. 31

Used with Permission

The Ki-Ann Indians will show their accumulation of Indian costuming which is valued at nearly $12,000 when they present their show here Friday and Saturday evenings, May 26 and 27, at the McCormick Junior high school.

This group of Cheyenne Boy Scouts, who are gaining national reputation by performing their authentic presentation of American Indian dances and ceremonials, have made most of their own costumes which are authentic down to the last thread.

Tickets for this second annual Spring show are on sale by local Boy Scouts and it is the only show that is scheduled for Cheyenne this year. Children under six years old are admitted free while children over six and under 15 are admitted on student tickets which sell for 40 cents. Adult tickets are selling for 60 cents.

Tickets are on sale at Jack’s Appliance, Keefe Randolf Firestone store, chamber of commerce and Ranchers Gas and Supply Co.

Ki-Ann Costumes Worth $12,000 To Be Displayed

Copyright Wyoming State Tribune, May 18, 1950, p. 10

Used with Permission

When the Ki-Ann Indians present their 2nd annual spring show at the McCormick junior high school Friday and Saturday evenings, May 26 and 27th, they will show their array of costuming which is valued at nearly $12,000.

The costumes have been made by the Boy Scouts of this group which is becoming more and more popular for its presentation of the authentic art of Indian dancing.

The members of Explorer Post 101 have presented over 60 performances since their beginning three years ago and this spring show will be the highlight of the year’s program.

Tickets are now on sale at the following business firms for the convenience of the public: Keefe-Randolph Firestone store, Jack’s Appliances, chamber of commerce, and Ranchers Gas and Supply company. Tickets are also on sale by Boy Scouts of Cheyenne and members of the Cheyenne Lions club. Children under 6 are admitted free while students from 6 to 16 years of age are admitted on students’ tickets for 40 cents. Adult tickets are selling for 60 cents.

Ki-Ann Show Will Feature Eagle Dance

Copyright Wyoming State Tribune, May 19, 1950, p. 17

Used with Permission

The famed Eagle dance of the Sioux Indian tribe will be a feature of the 2nd annual Ki-Ann Indians spring show next Friday and Saturday nights, it was announced today.

Harlen Lawes, head chief of the Ki-Ann Indian dancers, Boy Scouts of Explorer Post 101, will dance the Eagle dance as it is tradition with the Ki-Anns to have the head chief do this colorful dance.

The stage for this unusual dance will be the 6-foot Ki-Ann Thunder drum which is the largest Indian drum in the world. It took months of practice to perfect this dance which will be one of the most colorful in the show.

Tickets are still on sale at the following business firms: Ranchers Gas & Supply Co., Chamber of Commerce, Jacks Appliance and Sporting Foods Store and Keefe-Randolph Firestone Store. Boy Scouts of Boy Scout Troops 100, 101, 112 and Explorer Post 101 are selling tickets. Proceeds for this year’s show will go to help pay for a bus this Boy Scout unit has purchased.

The show is scheduled at the McCormick junior high school.

Copyright The Wyoming Eagle, May 20, 1950, p. 7

Used with Permission

Copyright Wyoming State Tribune, May 22, 1950, p. 2

Used with Permission

Ki-Anns Will Portray Sioux Ghost Dance

Copyright The Wyoming Eagle, May 23, 1950, p. 27

Used with Permission

The famed Sioux Ghost dance which was one of the last great dances to be presented by the great race of Redmen, the American Indian, will be portrayed as an outstanding feature of the Ki-Ann Indian show here Friday and Saturday nights.

Richard Escobedo, past head chief of the Ki-Anns, who are members of Boy Scout Explorer Post 101 will play the lead in the dance as the reviver of the tribe.

There are still tickets available for this 2nd annual spring show, which will be held at the junior high school Friday and Saturday evenings at 8 o’clock. Tickets can be obtained from Boy Scouts, at the door the evening of the performances or at any of the following business firms: Ranchers Gas & Supply; Chamber of Commerce; Jack’s Appliance & Sporting Goods, and Keefe-Randolph Firestone Store.

Flaming Hoop Dance Will be Ki-Ann Feature

Copyright The Wyoming Eagle, May 24, 1950, p. 31

Used with Permission

Ted Kelty, one of the few in the entire nation who can perform the celebrated Flaming Hoop dance, will perform it during the Ki-Ann Indians Second Annual spring show here, Friday and Saturday nights at the Junior high school auditorium.

Kelty is a member of Boy Scout Explorer Post 101, who are the Ki-Anns. The Flaming Hoop dance is the regular hoop dance but much more difficult by having the hoop on fire.

Tickets are still available for this show which will be held the two nights starting at 8 p.m. Tickets may be purchased at the following business firms: Chamber of Commerce, Keefe-Randolph Firestone Store, Jacks Appliance company and Ranchers Gas & Supply company. They can also be purchased by Boy Scouts or at the door either evening. Children under six years of age are admittied free.

Copyright Wyoming State Tribune, May 24, 1950, p. 2

Used with Permission

Butterfly Dance Ki-Ann Feature

Copyright The Wyoming Eagle, May 25, 1950, p. 27

Used with Permission

The Ki-Ann Indians, Boy Scout Explorer Post 101, will present the celebrated Butterfly dance in their show here tomorrow and Saturday nights at the Junior High School auditorium at 8 p. m.

The Butterfly dance of the Kiowa tribe is one of the most dramatic of Indian dances. It is the story of life and tells how the various stages of life are important to the Indian. It depicts a cacoon turning to a butterfly and how it lives its summer. When summer nears its end, the butterfly is dying and finally breathes its last when fall arrives.

The Ki-Ann Indian spring show will feature $12,000 in beautiful costumes. Tickets are still available and will be on sale at the door either evening or at one of the following places until Friday night: Ranchers Gas & Supply Co., chamber of commerce, Keefe-Randolph Firestone Store, and Jack’s Appliance and Sporting Goods Co. Children under six years old are admitted free.

Ki-Ann Show Will Climax Million Man-Hours of Work

Copyright Wyoming State Tribune, May 25, 1950, p. 2

Used with Permission

The Ki-Ann Indians second annual spring show will be the climax of nearly one million man hours labor when it is presented here tomorrow and Saturday nights at the junior high auditorium at 8 p. m.

The Ki-Anns have gained a region-wide reputation for their authentic Indian dances and arts. They are paleface Boy Scouts of Explorer Post 101 which is sponsored by the Cheyenne Lions club. In the past 2 1/2 years they have built up costuming which is valued at nearly $12,000 and represents one million hours the scouts have put into the project by making their costumes and practicing dances.

Tickets for this spectacular event are still on sale and are available at the following business firms: Ranchers Gas & Supply company, chamber of commerce, Keefe-Randolph Firestone store, Jack’s Appliance & Sporting Goods. Tickets will also be on sale at the door. Proceeds for this show will help the troop pay for a bus they have purchased and help send a representative to the National Scout jamboree at Valley Forge, Pa. Children under 6 years of age are admitted to the show free.

Ki-Ann Dancers to Perform Here Tonight and Saturday

Copyright The Wyoming Eagle, May 26, 1950, p. 1

Used with Permission

The Ki-Ann Indians’ second annual spring show is set for tonight and tomorrow night at the Junior high school auditorium.

This spectacular show is presented by Boy Scout Explorer Post 101 and is the climax of nearly one million man hours of labor on the part of the Boy Scout troop.

Many famous and interesting dances will be shown in this show, such as the Flaming Hoop dance, the Eagle dance, Medicine Man’s dance, Ghost dance, Yie Be Chay of the Navajo, Ute Bear dance, Butterfly dance and others.

Nearly $12,000 in authentic Indian costuming will be the feature of the show with a cast of 30 scouts.

The Ki-Anns are not play Indians but have gained a national reputation for their presentation of authentic Indian dances.

Tickets for this show may be purchased at the door and sell for 40 cents for students and 60 cents for adults. Children under 6 are admitted free. This will be the only performance the Ki-Anns are planning for Cheyenne this year.

Copyright The Wyoming Eagle, May 26, 1950, p. 20

Used with Permission

Ki-Ann Indian Show Will Open Tonight

Copyright Wyoming State Tribune, May 26, 1950, p. 7

Used with Permission

The Ki-Ann Indians, displaying nearly $12,000 worth of authentic Indian costuming, will stage their second annual spring show tonight and tomorrew night at the Junior high school auditorium at 8 p. m.

Numerous famous and interesting Indian dances such as the Flaming Hoop dance, the Ute Bear dance, the Eagle dance, Chippewa Shield dance, and the Ghost dance, as well as many others, will be presented.

This spectacular show, featuring a cast of 30, is being presented by Boy Scout Explorer Post 101 and is the climax of nearly one million man hours of labor on the part of the Boy Scout troop.

The Ki-Anns are not “play” Indians, but present their show in the authentic manner for which they have gained a national reputation.

Tickets for the two performances will be on sale at the door and proceeds for this outstanding attraction will be used to help pay for a bus the scouts have purchased. Student tickets are 40 cents while adult tickets are only 60 cents. Children under six are admitted free.

This will be the only performance the Ki-Anns are planning for Cheyenne this year.

Ki-Anns Thrill Audience With Novel Dances

Copyright The Wyoming Eagle, May 27, 1950, p. 43

Used with Permission

Cheyenneites will have their last chance of the season to witness the famous Ki-Ann Indian show at the Junior high school auditorium tonight.

A capacity audience viewed the Cheyenne Boy Scout troop in its initial home appearance of the season last night and applauded the entertaining and colorful performance throughout.

The Cheyenne youngsters, members of the Boy Scout Explorer Post 101, received high praise from list night’s audience which watched the famed troop put on its interesting Indian dances. The colorful coltumes valued at more than $12,000 thrilled the children and parents alike.

A cast of 30 youngsters performed such famous dances as the Flaming Hoop dance, the Ute Bear dance, the Eagle dance, Chippewa Shield dance and the Ghost dance.

The entire show was well organized and each dance was explained with exciting and colorful background. Each dance was thoroughly planned and studied, and had the authentic interpretation of the original dances preformed by tribes many years ago.

The Ki-Anns are gaining a national reputation and last night’s performance was an indication of their growing popularity. The show fascinated the audience, especially the children during every act.

Tonights performance will begin at 8 o’clock. Tickets for the youngsters are 40 cents while adult tickets are only 60 cents. Children under six are admitted free.

Tickets are available at the door.

The Eagle SALUTES

Copyright The Wyoming Eagle, May 30, 1950, p. 1

Used with Permission

For his outstanding accomplishments in organizing and developing the Ki-Ann Indian dancers of Cheyenne, The Wyoming Eagle salutes Fred Kaysbier, scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 101.

The overwhelming success of the Ki-Ann performances this past weekend is a tribute to this scouter, who has worked for three years with the boys of 101 to bring them to the state of perfection they demonstrated Friday and Saturday evenings in their interpretive Indian dance programs. Both nights there was standing room only in McCormick junior high school auditorium before the first number of the show started. The more than capacity audiences were among the most enthusiastic Cheyenne has seen in a long time, and after both performances several hundred delighted spectators thronged backstage to congratulate the troop on the excellence of its interpretations and executions of the dances.

Fred Kaysbier had the idea of using Indian dances as a project for his Troop 101 several years ago and has had the program really underway for three years. He does the research on the dances, getting his information from books and from several Indian tribes he has visited; then he coached the boys on the meaning and interpretation of the different dances.

Not only do the boys study and practice their routines twice a week, but they make their own costumes, which are strictly authentic. Their workshop is the scoutmaster’s basement, which is always full of beads, feathers, tanned hides, and usually a few Ki-Anns fashioning some headress or other item of Indian adornment. For the performances of the past weekend the boys also made their own advertising posters.

Fred is proud of Troop 101, as he may well be. It is the largest troop in the Long’s Peak Council of the BSA and has the highest ratio of advancement of any troop in the Cheyenne district and probably in the Council. Thirty boys ranging in age from 14 to 18 years comprise Explorer Post 101, which is the Ki-Ann group, and presently there are more than 100 boys on the waiting list for admission. The regular Boy Scout Troop 101 consists of about 70 11 to 14-year-olds. All members of 101 organization are first class scouts except for 10, a distinction in which the troop takes considerable pride.

Fred Kaysbier was born in Cheyenne and attended the local public schools. After graduation from Cheyenne High school in 1944 he served for a year in the U. S. Navy and then attended the University of Wyoming for two years. At present he is employed at the Ranchers and Gas and Supply Co.

Active in scouting affairs since he joined Troop 101 as a tenderfoot, Fred took over management of the troop during the war when the at-that-time scoutmaster went into the army. During his career in the BSA organization he has taught more than 800 boys scouting, which accomplishment is something of a record for a young man of 23. He gives all the credit for the phenomenal success of the Ki-Anns to the boys, but the concensus is that the lion’s share belongs to his leadership and hard work with the troop.

Fred makes it clear that the Ki-Anns are not imitation nor competing with the famous Koshare dancers of the LaJunta, Colo., Boy Scouts, as he says there is certainly room enough for two Indian dance troops in the West.

Scouts to Erect, Dedicate Replica of ‘Liberty’ Here

Copyright Wyoming State Tribune, May 16, 1950, p. 2

Used with Permission

An eight-foot, four-inch replica of the Statue of Liberty will be erected on the state capitol grounds by Cheyenne Boy Scouts of America as part of the organization’s 40th anniversary crusade to “strengthen the arm of liberty.”

Dedication of the statue will be made at 2 o’clock Saturday afternoon, May 27, with more than 1,000 Cheyenne cubs, Boy Scouts and senior Scouts participating, J. P. Eads, district chairman of the Boy Scouts in Long’s Peak council, announced today.

Guest speaker for the event will be Dr. Gale W. McGee, professor of Political science at the University of Wyoming. His topic will be “Miss Liberty of 1950.”

Prior to the public ceremonies a parade will be conducted thru the downtown streets. In addition to the Scouts, others in the parade will be officials of the state, county and city.

Many of these statues have been placed in various cities thruout the United States. However, this is the first one to be erected in Wyoming, Eads stated.

This replica of the famed original Statue of Liberty, which will be placed on a fountain base about five feet in height, was stamped out of sheet copper in 47 different pieces and then brazed together.

The $300 for the statue, which actually cost $5,000 to build, was raised thru contributions made by individual Scouts as well as the various troops in Cheyenne.

Serving on the dedication committee are Carleton A. Lathrop, chairman, and R. D. Hanesworth. Jim Farris is chairman of the camping and activities committee of Cheyenne Scouts.

Scouts to Dedicate Replica of Statue of Liberty Here

Copyright The Wyoming Eagle, May 23, 1950, p. 37

Used with Permission

Cheyenne Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts and Explorer Scouts will dedicate an eight foot, four inch replica of the Statue of Liberty in a parade and ceremony Saturday.

The copper figure will be erected on the Capitol grounds in connection with the Scouts’ 40th anniversary crusade to “strengthen the arm of liberty.”

More than 1,000 Scouts, city, county, and state officials, and American Legion, army, senior and junior high bands will take part in the parade. The duplicate Liberty Bell to be used in the Independence Bond Drive will be exhibited.

The group will leave 24th and Carey at 2:15. The parade route will be south on Carey to 17th, East on 17th to Capitol, north on Capitol to the Capitol building.

The review will be made up of four sections.

All organizations are to be in their positions at 1:30. All Cub Scouts, the army band and the Liberty Bell will form at 20th and Capitol; the Junior high school band at 20th and Carey; all Boy Scouts and Senior Scouts at 21st and Capitol; the senior high school band at 21st and Carey; the Scouters at 22nd and Carey; the Air Squad, Explorer Scouts, city and county officials and American Legion drum corps at 24th and Carey; state officials and Warren base staff car at 24th and Capitol.

Dr. Gale W. McGee of the University of Wyoming will be the guest speaker at the dedication. His topic will be “Miss Liberty of 1949.”

Chairman of the dedication committee is Carlton A. Lathrop.

1,000 Boy Scouts Will Parade Here Saturday: Event Will Precede Dedication Rites

Copyright Wyoming State Tribune, May 23, 1950, p. 2

Used with Permission

Boy Scouts numbering more than 1,000 will conduct a parade thru the downtown streets Saturday afternoon prior to dedication ceremonies of the replica of the Statue of Liberty to be erected on the state capitol grounds.

Route of the parade, which will begin at 2 o’clock, is south on Carey from 24th street to 17th street, east on 17th to Capitol avenue, north on Capitol avenue to the capitol.

Appearing in the parade will be members of the three divisions of local Scout troops, state, county and city officials, senior high school band, McCormick junior high school band and the American Legion’s Drum and Bugle corps.

The eight-foot, four-inch replica of the famed Statue of Liberty was bought by Cheyenne Boy Scouts as part of the organization’s national 40th anniversary crusade to “strengthen the arm of liberty.”

Guest speaker at the ceremonies, which will begin at 2:30 Saturday afternoon, will be Dr. Gale W. McGee, professor of political science at the University of Wyoming. His topic will be “Miss Liberty of 1950.”

Famed Liberty Bell Will Ring in City Saturday

Copyright The Wyoming Eagle, May 25, 1950, p. 27

Used with Permission

Cheyenne will see and hear the Liberty bell Saturday.

Willits A. Brewster, Laramie County chairman of the U.S. Savings bond program, announced yesterday that an exact replica of the famed emblem of American Independence will arrive in the city tomorrow and that its thrilling, vibrant voice will be heard on Saturday afternoon.

“Its message, like that of the original bell of 1776, is one of Independence,” Brewster said. “It will urge the people of Laramie County and Wyoming to ‘Save for our Independence–Buy U.S. Savings Bonds’.”

The bell will make its first public appearance in the state at a parade through Cheyenne’s streets starting at 2:15 p.m., and will be rung by one of the city’s outstanding Boy Scouts at a ceremony at the capitol grounds immediately following the parade. Also at the ceremony Cheyenne Boy Scouts will dedicate a replica of the Statue of Liberty in observance of the 40th anniversary of their organization.

Fred W. Marble, state Savings bond chairman, will speak on the Independence Bond drive, and guest speaker of the afternoon will be Dr. Gale W. McGee of the University of Wyoming.

The Liberty bell which will visit Cheyenne this weekend is one of 52 which are touring the nation in connection with the 1950 bond drive. They are exact duplicates of the original bell which hangs in Independence hall in Philadelphia and their tone is the same as that of the original bell before it cracked in 1835. Cast in Annecy, France, according to the detailed specifications of Dr. Arthur Bigelow, bellmaster of Princeton university, they were donated to the drive by six of the great copper companies of America. They are traveling on specially constructed trucks contributed by the Ford Motor Co.

Driving the Wyoming bell on its tour of the state, during which it will visit 28 towns, is Walter Albertson of Cheyenne, whose services are being donated by the Gallagher Transfer and Storage Co., of which he is an employee. Albertson called for the bell in New York and has driven it cross country to Wyoming. At the conclusion of its trip it will be put on permanent display in Cheyenne, the county chairman said.

Statue and Liberty Bell Will be Featured in Ceremony Today

Copyright The Wyoming Eagle, May 27, 1950, p. 1

Used with Permission

Cheyenne Scouting organizations will dedicate an 8 foot 4 inch replica of the Statue of Liberty today with a parade through the downtown streets and ceremony at the State Capitol building.

The statue, valued at $300, was purchased from Scout funds and will be dedicated as a part of the Scout’s national 40th anniversary crusade to “strengthen the arm of liberty.” Local Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and Senior Scouts will take part in the program.

Another feature of the program will be the first public appearance of the Wyoming Liberty bell which will tour the state in connection with the 1950 U. S. Savings Bond Independence drive. An exact replica of the original bell which pealed out the news of American Independence in 1776, the bell will be rung at the ceremony by one of the Cheyenne Boy Scouts who has been selected to attend the Scout Jamboree at Valley Forge this summer. State Bond Chairman Fred W. Marble will speak on the drive, and also present at the program will be Willits Brewster, county bond chairman.

The parade will leave the starting point at 24th and Carey at 2:15 and will wind up in front of the Capitol for dedication ceremonies at 2:45. The statue will be erected on the Capitol grounds.

State, county and city officials; American Legion, Warren Air base, junior high school, and senior high school bands; and all Cheyenne Scouts will take part in the parade. The duplicate Liberty bell, to be used as a symbol of the Independence Bond drive, will be shown in Cheyenne for the first time.

Dr. Dale W. McGee of the University of Wyoming will give the dedication speech with his topic “Miss Liberty, 1950.”

Eagle Scout Don Cluxton will present the statue and acceptance will be made by Governor Crane and City Commissioner Edward Gowdy. Rev. Claire Hoyt, pastor of the First Methodist church, will give the invocation and benediction.

Other officials to be on the platform are State Auditor E. T. Copenhaver, State Treasurer C. J. Rogers, Col. Paul of Warren, County Assessor Ralph McFarland, County Clerk Lester Gopp, County Commissioner Hap Anderson, and City Commissioner Art Trout.

Scout officials who will be present are Don Kenny, Elmer Ogren, Ted Lloyd, O. H. Price, Don Davis and Carl Gerlich.

Scouts Dedicate Replica of Liberty Statue: Governor Warns Freedom Periled

Copyright Wyoming State Tribune, May 28, 1950, p. 2

Used with Permission

Cheyenne Boy Scouts, nearly 1,000 strong, paraded thru the streets of the city this afternoon and up to the state capitol to dedicate an eight-foot, four-inch replica of the Statue of Liberty.

Speakers at the dedication, attended by a large crowd, were Dr. Gale W. McGee of the University of Wyoming, Gov. A. G. Crane and City Commissioner Edward Gowdy.

Eagle Scout Don Cluxton presented the statue, valued at $300, and Governor Crane, according to an acceptance speech prepared for the occasion, said “This should be a proud day for Wyoming. First, there are patriotic citizens who voluntarily give of their time to guide and direct the Scouts of Cheyenne and vicinity. Secondly, there are youthful citizens faithfully following the Scout oath. Thirdly, they have chosen the objective for the year “Strengthen the Arm of Liberty.”

“In these chaotic times, both here and worldwide, liberty is menaced. Groups like these Scouts are defenders of liberty. In truth, America is doomed unless her citizens rally to strengthen the arm of liberty. It is my privilege to accept this beautiful replica of the great statue which so magnificently welcomes the world to this free land. For years to come this statue shall remind generations of citizens of the liberties which they enjoy and that liberty can only be preserved by patriotic effort.

“In behalf of the people of Wyoming, I accept your memento as a lasting memorial of your love and loyalty to America.”

An added feature of the dedication program was the first public appearance of the Wyoming Liberty Bell which will tour the state in connection with the 1950 U.S. saving’s bond drive. The bell was rung during the ceremony by one of the Cheyenne Scouts.

1998 Statue of Liberty and Liberty Bell photos for Cheyenne, Wyoming

Boy Scouts to Collect Paper Here May 28

Copyright The Wyoming Eagle, May 16, 1950, p. 1

Used with Permission

An intensive drive for old paper, conducted by Cheyenne Boy Scouts, will be held in Cheyenne Sunday, May 28, and local residents are urged now to start saving contributions.

Julian Carpender, chairman of the project, said funds from the sale of the waste paper will be used for the benefit of all Scout troops in that it will be used to start an educational fund. First purchase from the fund will be motion picture equipment so that films on scouting and other educational subjects may be shown.

The drive will be conducted Sunday afternoon between 2 and 5 o’clock and residents are urged to tie old newspapers, magazines and other paper goods in bundles and have them on curbings by 2 o’clock.

Various Cheyenne business firms are donating trucks and drivers to aid in the campaign and a rapid, systematic and comprehensive pickup is being planned by the Scouts.

A similar old paper drive, conducted here recently, was not successful because of inclement weather.

Scout Paper Drive Set Sunday

Copyright The Wyoming Eagle, May 23, 1950, p. 35

Used with Permission

Cheyenne residents are asked to start saving their old newspapers, magazines and other waste paper for the Boy Scouts’ scrap paper drive set for Sunday, May 28.

Scouts will canvas the city between the hours of 2 and 5 o’clock Sunday afternoon. Residents should have their bundles tied and on the curbing at 2.

Proceeds from the sale of the paper will be used to establish an education fund for Cheyenne Scouts. Motion picture equipment will be the first item purchased and will be used in showing films on scouting activities.

Cheyenne business firms are donating trucks and drivers to aid in the campaign.

Scout Paper Drive Sunday

Copyright The Wyoming Eagle, May 26, 1950, p. 1

Used with Permission

Residents of Cheyenne are once more reminded that Sunday afternoon will see a full-scale waste paper collection campaign in the city by members of the local Boy Scout troops.

Those with waste paper donations–including newspapers, magazines and all other paper products–are urged to have them tied in bundles and on curbings by 2 o’clock Sunday for collection.

Various Cheyenne firms are donating trucks and drivers and several hundred Boy Scouts are expected to participate.

Proceeds from the waste paper sale will be used to purchase motion picture equipment for educational and recreational use by all Boy Scouts.

Scout Drive Nets 99,840 Pounds of Waste Paper

Copyright The Wyoming Eagle, June 2, 1950, p. 1

Used with Permission

Cheyenne Boy Scout troops collected 99,840 pounds of waste paper in their city wide drive Sunday.

Proceeds from the sale will be used to start an educational fund for Cheyenne Scouts. Motion picture equipment will be the first item purchased from the fund and will be used in taking and showing films on scouting activities.

Drive Chairman Julian Carpender yesterday expressed his appreciation to the many Cheyenne business firms that loaned trucks and drivers to aid in the collection of the paper and to Cheyenne Newspapers, Inc., for publicizing the event.

The Platte River Rats

by Mr. Pat Madigan

“See you Tuesday afternoon,” said the two men, dressed in the leader’s uniforms of the Boy Scouts of America and wearing life vests, to the large crowd of people standing on the river bank. They launched their sleek 17 foot Grumman aluminum canoe in the swiftly moving waters of Wyoming’s North Platte River just below where Douglas Creek enters the Platte. They were the last of 13 canoes and 39 Scouts and Leaders of Sea Explorer Ship 101 and Scout Troop 101 of Cheyenne, Wyoming to enter the water that Saturday morning in early August of 1975. Downstream, four days and 92 miles away, lay their goal, the Sinclair Recreation Area. This was not the first trip down the river for the “Platte River Rats,” as the Scouts of 101 are sometimes called, but it would prove to be the one most remembered by all involved.

It started in the summer of 1967 when a 15 year-old Life Scout and his Scout Leader father put together a Trailcraft canvas canoe kit. Paddling around Lake Absaraca at Cheyenne’s Lions Park was pretty tame when compared to the wild tales, which grew wilder with years, that were told of the raft trip down the North Platte in June of 1949. The famous “Blizzard of ’49” had aided in producing the biggest run-off in history when four University of Wyoming students from Laramie launched a surplus five man Air Force Life raft upon the swollen waters of the Platte. From the bridge of Wyoming Highway 230 to Saratoga, a distance of 60 river miles, lay some of the finest fishing waters in the United States. But it was not the fishing the young Scout heard about. He heard tales of rapids, white water, wet sleeping bags, melted sugar and cans of food with the labels soaked off. With youthful enthusiasm and perhaps wisdom beyond his years, he asked his Dad, “why doesn’t the Troop take a canoe trip?”

So in the Summer of 1967, preparations were begun for the first Platte River canoe trip by the Scouts of Troop 101. The thirteen boys, three adults and six canoes, including the canvas Trailcraft and 4 aluminum Starcrafts borrowed from the Longs Peak Council left Cheyenne on a Friday morning in August with all their food and equipment in one truck and three passenger cars. Starting from the Kenneth Day Ranch, 10 miles above Saratoga, late that afternoon the Troop arrived at the I-80 bridge over the Platte shortly after noon on the following Sunday. Although they had not seen any of the fabled “white water,” the few riffles and the thrill of the accomplishment were enough to instill in them the desire to do it again. And do it again they have, more than once.

Over the past eight years, a canoeing program had become firmly established in Troop and Ship 101. Starting as soon as school is out in the Spring, the Scouts “hit” the waters of Lake Absaraca in the unit’s canoes. Under the watchful eye of Mrs. Nancy Miller, the canoeing and rowing merit badge counsellor for the Troop, the boys begin to learn the fundamentals of handling a canoe. The proper strokes, how to board, how to launch, how to change position, when to use what stroke, and how to rescue a swamped boat, are all taught. Canoeing on a smooth lake is vastly different from paddling down a rock filled river, which unfortunately comes under the category of “on the job training.” So off to the North Platte for some training.

The 1975 trip required much more preparation than any of the previous trips. Twenty-six Scouts and Leaders and nine boats had been the largest group to go down the Platte in the past. Now 44 people, 14 canoes and all the food and equipment needed to sustain them for four days had to be gathered up, packed, transported to the Douglas access, down the river 92 miles and home again, for the vehicles a total of 492 miles. It was like moving both the Army and the Navy.

In mid-July the Scouts had planned their menus for all the meals during the trip. With a sack lunch for Saturday noon, eating out in Saratoga Sunday evening and someplace else Tuesday evening on the way home, it left only eight meals to break down to loaves, pounds, jars, dozens, and quarts, for filling hungry tummies 312 individual times. For example, 20 loaves of bread, 15 pounds of bacon, 18 dozen eggs, 6 pounds of butter, 12 pounds of peanut butter, 2 gallons of grape jelly, 15 gallons of orange juice, 28 gallons of Kool-Aid, 10 gallons of hot chocolate, 100 hot dogs, 9 pounds of spaghetti, 25 pounds of ground beef, 15 dozen buns, and 5 pounds of pancake mix. The final tab for all groceries, including meals at Saratoga and on the way home, came to nearly $600.00.

Buying all the groceries was just the beginning, now it had to be divided into the separate meals and boxed and labeled for ease in storage, handling, and locating. Meal preparation goes much faster when all the ingredients are in one convenient location.

Coming up with 13 canoes is not as hard a job as it might seem. Nine of the boats are owned by the Troop and parents of the Scouts. Three of the canoes were borrowed from Boy Scout Troop 116 in Cheyenne and the fourth from Bill Kocis, Water Safety Director for the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission. Finding the means to transport the 13 canoes became another matter. In 1972, the Troop received a donation of a home made boat trailer. After some minor modifications with a cutting torch, 20 pieces of steel tubing and channel iron, and an arc welder, it became a canoe trailer capable of hauling eight canoes. Of the five canoes left, three were placed on racks firmly mounted on passenger cars and the last two tied on the rack of a travel trailer.

Each Scout and Leader carried his own spare clothes, sleeping bag, jacket, poncho, etc. in a duffle bag which had previously been lined with two large plastic garbage liners. When properly tied off, the plastic bags do a fine job in keeping your possibles dry from the water in the bottom of the boat or the sudden summer rain storm. Add to the pile of duffle bags, three life vests and paddles, plus spares, the numerous boxes of food, cooking utensils, Coleman stoves, charcoal, coolers, grills, a chuck box and the 39 assorted sized Scouts and Leaders and it becomes a formidable amount to transport 492 miles.

After months of planning and anticipation the convoy assembles early on a Saturday morning at the Lions Club Scout Lodge in Cheyenne’s Lions Park. In short order all the gear is loaded, tie downs on the boats are checked, goodbyes to anxious parents and wives are said and the 13 vehicle convoy begins the 134-mile drive to the North Platte River. In the group are three pickups, fully loaded, a pickup camper, a Jeep pulling a fold-up trailer and eight passenger cars. One station wagon, the three pickups, one of which is pulling the canoe trailer, and the Jeep with the travel trailer will stay with the canoes during the entire trip, paralleling their course down the river and meeting them at pre-arranged camping locations with all the food and equipment.

In 1972, O’Neil Berg, father of two of the Scouts volunteered to come along on the trip and haul some of the heavier gear in his pickup. His assistance proved to be the difference between a successful trip and a disastrous one. Starting from the Douglas Creek access that year, it took the Scouts of 101 seven and one-half hours to cover only 10 miles of river to the Sanger Ranch. Most of the time there was not enough water to paddle the canoes, so they had to be walked around the slippery rocks and pulled over many. The last canoe came off the water just after sunset. Mr. Berg then shuttled the entire group to the Bennett Peak Campground, arriving with the last load at 11:30pm. The older Scouts had prepared the chili supper for the younger boys, fed them and had them safely tucked in their sleeping bags when the Scoutmaster reached the camp on the last shuttle. “Be Prepared’ is the motto of the Boy Scouts and on that night in mid-August the Scouts of 101 had lived up to their motto. Since then support vehicles have accompanied the troop on all their river trips.

Upon arrival at the Douglas Creek access area, each boat crew unloaded the canoe that had been assigned to them. Crews had been formed during the training period on Lake Absaraca, and boat positions earned on the basis of experience, ability and strength. The most coveted position in the canoe is that of sternman. He is the helmsman and the captain of the boat. The bowman serves as the lookout. As the eyes of his sternman, he watches for sub-surface rocks and snags, keeps a close watch on the boat ahead and provides the essential propulsive power when needed. Alerted by the bowman, the sternman will guide the canoe into, through, and around treacherous sections of the river, calling out orders when he needs extra power to maintain control. The midshipman or passenger is an additional paddle and will often alternate positions with the bowman, and may be the radio man. An experienced crew can actually pivot a canoe in fast-moving water to avoid an obstacle.

The canoes are placed along the bank of the river in the line of order they will follow while on the river. Essential equipment is loaded and secured against loss in case of a swamp, life vests are checked out and fastened tight, paddles in hand the crews stand beside their canoes, eagerly awaiting the word to launch. The Skipper of Sea Explorer Ship 101, Pat Madigan, briefly reviews the life guard positions, canoe interval of 100 yards, emergency signals, and other necessary river information, all of which had been covered during training. With a blast of the whistle and the command, “Scouts, man your boats,” the lead canoe enters the water and the adventure begins.

Half an hour after leaving the Douglas access, Jack Rutan, Scoutmaster of Troop 101, removed the two watt Citizen’s Band walkie-talkie from its water proof cover and in short order had made contact with the lead canoe, which was now a mile farther downstream. Arrangements for a rest stop in 30 minutes were quickly confirmed and contact broken off.

The lead canoe has the most important position on the river. They must be able to “read the river” and pick the right path for the boats following. A mistake in judgement could serve to dampen the enthusiasm of all who come behind. Bowman in the lead canoe was Phil Brimmer and the stern position was held by Kevin Madigan, both Life Scouts.

The first rest stop was just below the A Bar A bridge. The water level had been perfect to this point, and the lead canoe had picked all the right channels. After 10 minutes of enthusiastic comparison of this riffle and that riffle, it was load and launch. This was the last rest stop for the next day and a half that the group discussions did not revolve around, “who swamped?”

Barely 10 minutes below the A Bar A bridge, the number six boat hit a submerged rock, was caught by the current and swamped. This was the first canoe to swamp since 1969, when John Accardo swamped his canoe and earned the nickname, “sponge.” Although John swamped his canoe only once, he managed to fall out of the canoe at least seven times, usually in calm water, during the 60-mile trip. The ironic part about the number six swamping was that the sternman was Tom Accardo, “Sponge’s” younger brother. The next boat to swamp was the “Budweiser” canoe in number nine position with Bart Accardo, “Sponge’s” youngest brother, as sternman. The oldest of the four Eagle Scout Accardo’s, Tony, went four trips without a swamp. The swamping of the two canoes, within a matter of minutes, was the beginning of a series of 12 swamps that would occur during the next day and a half.

The rest stop that followed the first swampings was more animated and enthusiastic than the first stop. The wet Scouts wore their soggy clothes as if they were badges of honor and found themselves to be the center of attraction. Their ranks were to be considerably swollen by the time the Troop reached the Bennett Peak Camp Area for the first overnight camp. Starting down river again, five more swamps took place before arriving at Bennett Peak and two of the fiberglass canoes had holes punched in them from the sharp granite rocks of the river bottom. One canoe would be repaired and back on the river by Sunday afternoon, but the second canoe was to finish the journey on the rack of the canoe trailer. This was to further strengthen the opinion that aluminum canoes are the only kind to take down the Platte.

The last swamp on Saturday afternoon occurred just after the canoes had passed two rubber rafts full of fishermen. The men in the rafts offered two of the Scouts a lift. The youngest Scout was told by one of the fishermen that now that he was in the raft, he could take off his life vest. The Scout replied very firmly that he could not remove the life vest at any time while he was on the water and told him why. “Mr. Mad told us if we were ever caught on the river without our life vest on and fastened, that he would skin us alive and nail our hide to the nearest tree.” The life vest stayed on and firmly fastened. Whether it was the threat to life and limb made by the Scoutmaster during training, or the memory of the young boy who lost his life on this very same stretch of water two months earlier because he had removed his life vest, is not known. The fact remains, a lesson in water safety had been taught, and most important, it had been learned.

The support vehicles had arrived at Bennett Peak with all the gear about two hours ahead of the flotilla of canoes. Assistant Scoutmasters Hank Hausler, John Hansen, Committee Chairman Keith Allen and their wives, Mrs. Pan Wood, wife of Assistant Scoutmaster Kirk Wood, who was in canoe number ten and Mr. Berg had started preparations for the night’s camp. As soon as the canoes and river equipment had been stowed for the night, the Scouts began cooking the evening meal of spaghetti and meat sauce, french bread with garlic butter, milk, and “Zingers” for dessert. The first pot of spaghetti was slightly overcooked and could have been used to patch the fiberglass canoe. Despite the bad start, the rest of the cooking went well and the small army was soon fed. The last time spaghetti had been cooked for an evening meal was at the Pick Bridge camp area in 1971. A young Colorado couple had landed by the camp just as supper was being served. Starting from Saratoga that morning, they had floated all day with only a couple of candy bars to sustain them. Despite a weak protest that they were not very hungry, they managed to do away with two platefulls of spaghetti each, some French bread and several glasses of lemonade before their ride arrived to pick them up.

Sunday morning dawned bright and clear and the smell of bacon soon filled the air as the breakfast of pancakes, bacon, orange juice, and hot chocolate was prepared. Just before starting out for the day’s trip to Saratoga, a Wyoming Game and Fish Commission Game Warden came by on his check of the camp area and Ship and Troop 101 were duly registered in his log of boaters and fishermen who use the North Platte River Recreation Area.

The first rest stop sunday morning was on a sand bar just below the bridge on the Brush Creek road. Contact was made by “CB” radio with the support vehicles and arrival time at the Wyoming Game and Fish area two miles above Wyoming Highway 130 bridge was confirmed with Mr. Allen and Mr. Berg. Then it was back in the canoes and on down the river for more thrills and five more spills.

Just below where the Encampment River enters the Platte from the west, the river splits into two, and sometimes three, channels. The lead canoe had been told to bear to the left so that the fleet would be in the right place to land for the scheduled lunch break. Two miles above the Game and Fish area, the channel narrowed to about 20 feet in width, and half way through the narrow passage, a tree had fallen from the east bank, and was blocking most of the river. This caused the canoes to bunch up and Mr. Kirk Wood in the number ten boat was forced too close to the overhanging tree and striking it, was overturned. Bowman Karl Wood was swept under the tree and down the river along with the canoe, while midshipman Kyle Amen grasped the overhanging tree and held on for dear life. Mr. Wood had also caught the tree and managed to pull himself ashore. Mr. Madigan, in the last canoe, beached across the river and unlimbered the torpedo buoy and lifeline. Telling Kyle to grab the line or buoy when it reach him, “Mr. Mad” made the throw accurately. With feet bouncing off the surface of the swiftly moving water and looking much like a flag in high wind, Kyle was not about to let go of that firm tree to grab any flimsy rope. Before “Mr. Mad’ could recoil the rope and make another throw, Mr. Wood had reached Kyle by crawling along the tree and pulled him to the shore, but not before the strong current had stripped off one of Kyle’s shoes. Meanwhile the loose canoe and Bowman had been cornered by those downriver and following a brief rest to calm shattered nerves and dry out a bit, it was back in the canoes and down the river to where lunch would be waiting.

With a meal of lunch meat, cheese and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, potato chips, cookies and Kool-aid out of the way, it was back on the river for the 12-mile trip to Saratoga and the overnight stay at the city park on Veterans’ Island. This usually calm stretch of water was to provide the last four swampings for the trip. About a mile above Saratoga, the river made a sharp turn to the left, dropped about 3 feet and took a sharp turn to the right, causing a whirlpool effect. Canoes who did not stay to the right, in shallower water, found themselves caught in a swift side current and were flipped over. One canoe with George Riner as sternman, Gary Riner, bowman, and Mike Hausler, midshipman, went over in the deep water coming out of the turn. When George and Gary surfaced, Mike was nowhere to be seen. Grabbing the bow and stern of the canoe, they swiftly rolled it right side up. Sitting there calmly in the canoe and holding firmly to the thwart in front of him, was Mike, just as if nothing had happened. The canoes were quickly emptied of water and the last mile to Saratoga covered by a group of giggling Scouts as they thought of Mike. As the long line of canoes passed through the golf course of the Saratoga Inn, golfers on the 2nd and 8th tee boxes patiently waited for the last canoe to move clear before teeing off.

Saratoga State Park, with its mineral hot springs, is just across the river from the city park. The minute that all the canoes are on shore and gear stowed for the night, there is a mass exodus by both Scouts and Leaders for the “Hobo Pool.” The waters of the spring quickly soak the soreness from stiff and aching muscles, particularly the “old ones” not used to the strain of two days of hard paddling.

The Sunday night meal would be eaten in the restaurants of Saratoga and then the Scouts are free “on the town” until 10 o’clock. On one trip, when the troop stayed over on a Saturday night, two Eagle Scouts, Dave Rutan and Dennis Madigan, dress in Scouts uniforms of knee socks, shorts and red shirt-jacs decided to attend a teenager dance being held. Using what they thought were the proper accents, the two boys told everyone they were Boy Scouts from Canada who were canoeing down the Platte. This made them the center of attraction and they had a great time. Dennis had just returned from the National Scout Jamboree at Farragut, Idaho and a tour through a section of Canada where he had camped overnight with a troop of Canadian Boy Scouts. The same night, a local merchant stayed open past his usual closing hour to allow a group of the Scouts to continue their pool games, much to the delight of all concerned. On another trip when the stop at Saratoga was made at noon, a group of the boys decided not to buy hamburgers, and instead purchased the “makings” at a grocery store, went accross to the drug store for milk shakes, and proceeded to fix lunch.

The river from Saratoga to the Sinclair Recreation Area is very lazy and provided little, if any, excitement. The straight smooth stretches provide the opportunity for a lot of horse play not allowed on the upper waters. The Scouts enjoy tying two canoes together to form a catamaran, and then chanting like the galley slaves of old, race each other down the river. Rest stops become more playtime, as life guards are posted and it becomes swim time, or the Scouts will walk upriver, wearing their life vest, and wade out into the water, to float back down, a most relaxing past time, especially if they can find a little riffle. Sometimes the Scoutmaster, in the last canoe, will round a bend in the river to see the air filled with water, as the Scouts use their paddles as shovels to see who can get the other canoe the wettest. If the wind is from the right direction the bowman will often fashion a sail from a pancho by standing on two corners and holding the other two corners at arms length. This can move the canoe down the river at a lively pace, but when the wind shifts, lookout!

One of the side benefits of the canoe trip down the Platte, is the wild life seen by the Scouts. Not uncommon to see are deer standing knee deep in the river tranquilly drinking. The sight of a six point buck, horns in velvet calmly watching the silent canoes glide by, is one that will long be remembered. On one trip just above Eagle’s Nest Rock, the canoes passed barely 10 feet from a large golden eagle. The startled bird took to the air and soared above the Scouts for nearly two hours, while lunch was eaten in the shadow of Eagle’s Nest Rock. The ducks and ducklings on the river also provide some fun as the Scouts, to no avail, try to encircle the floating Mallards with their canoes.

Only once since 1967 has adverse weather forced the canoes of 101 to leave the water. In 1969, four miles above the Interstate 80 bridge, a strong wind came up and literally blew the canoes off the water. The force of the wind produced white caps on the water and gave the river the appearance of flowing upstream. Following the wind came a brief but fierce thunderstorm. As the group of Scouts and Leaders huddled in the driving rain, one of them saw that one Scout was not wearing his pancho. When asked where it was, the boy said it was in the bottom of his duffle bag in the canoe. The rule on the river is simple, the pancho goes in last, on top of the duffle. When told by his Scoutmaster to go get the pancho and put it on, the leader received a reply that has become a classic for the canoers of 101. Standing soaked to the skin, shivering in the wind, water streaming down his face, with the innocence of youth he said, “But I’ll get wet!” Ten seconds later all that could be seen of him was from the waist down as he dug deep in his duffle bag for the pancho.

The arrival of the canoes at the Sinclair Recreation Area on Tuesday afternoon was the end of the trip for 1975, but also the beginning of the 1976 adventure. However, the ’75 trip was not yet over, still to come was the “Pollywog Initiation.” Scouts, and Leaders, who were making their first Platte trip are called “Pollywogs,” and would not become full fledged “Platte River Rats” until properly initiated. The minute the last canoe is on the bank, the orderly group of boys and men turn into a herd of maniacs as “rats” pounce on “pollywogs” and drag, carry or throw them into the water, not once, but five or six times and the initiation turns into o free-for-all. Standing on the bank above the melee was Eagle Scouts Dennis Madigan, life line and torpedo buoy in hand, now an Assistant Scoutmaster of Troop 101 and recently commissioned as a Lieutenant in the United States Army. The Trailcraft canoe that Dennis and his dad, “Mr. Mad,” had built eight years before was back in Cheyenne in “Drydock,” having suffered mortal wounds on the ’72 trip, but the spirit of the plunky little craft still lingered on in the laughing voices and yells of the Scouts and Leaders as they played in the waters of “their” Platte River.

The arrival of Troop Committee Chairman Keith Allen with a half dozen iced watermelons signaled the end of the trip. After countless pieces of melons, relieved parents loaded their sticky faced and tired sons into cars and station wagons, all the equipment was loaded for the last time and it was Cheyenne bound for 101. Mrs. Cay Rutan, wife of Scoutmaster Jack Rutan had once laughingly referred to Scouts of 101 as “The Cheyenne Yacht Club,” and among the Leaders the term had stuck. When “Mr. Mad” and sons Kevin and Dennis arrived home late that Tuesday night, Mrs. Eleanore Madigan asked how the “Cheyenne Yacht Club” had fared on the trip. The reply she received was, “they are all safe and sound, and it was the best one ever!” Any trip that all hands return from “safe and sound” has to be a successful trip.

A “Youth-Full” 46 Years Old

Copyright The Wyoming Eagle, February 10, 1981, p. 10

Used with Permission

In the summer of 1935, the Cheyenne Lions Club was granted a charter by the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America to sponsor Boy Scout Troop 101.

Today, 46 years later, the Cheyenne Lions Club has the distinction of being the Charter Partner of a Scout Troop longer than any other organization in the Cheyenne area.

While churches of all denominations sponsor the most Scout units, the Lions Clubs of the United States comprise the largest single sponsor of Scouting in the country. In addition to Troop 101, Sea Explorer Ship 101 is sponsored by the Cheyenne Frontier Lions Club and Cub Pack 101 by the Cheyenne Sunrise Lions Club.

During the late 1940s and early 1950s the Scouts of Troop 101 were a familiar sight as they dressed in Indian costume and paint, and, to the accompaniment of war whoop and drum, danced their way down the Frontier Days Parade route as the “Ki-Ann Indian Dancers.”

In 1953 the Cheyenne Lions Club acquired a building on the shore of Sloan’s Lake in Lions Park for use of the Scouts of Troop 101. During the summer of 1973 a major remodeling and enlargement of the building was begun by the Lions Club, the leaders and Scouts.

Dedicated to Walter K. Gowan, longtime club secretary, the Lions Club Scout Lodge now provides one of the finest Scouting facilities in the Longs Peak Council area.

The Scouts of Troop 101 participate in activities ranging from an outdoor program of long and short term camping, mountaineering, hiking, and canoe trips down the North Platte River, Camp-O-Rees, First Aid-O-Rees, National Scout Jamborees to community activities such as distribution of materials for organizations such as United Fund, American Heart Assoc., and the Olympic Committee; assisting the Kiwanis Club with other Scouts in the Cheyenne area for the Frontier Days Chuckwagon breakfasts; and helping the Lions Club in the annual Broomarama.

As Scouting completes its seventy-first year of serving the boys and young men of America, the Cheyenne Lions Club Troop 101 is in its “Youth-Full” 46th year of service to the boys and young men of the Cheyenne area as the largest Scout Troop in the city. 1980 found the Scouts of 101 taking part in Cheyenne District and Longs Peak Council events in addition to the troop program.

At the Scout Show held at Laramie County Community College in March, Scouts from Troop 101 received the first place trophy in the Pioneering event. A month later the Hawk Patrol of Troop 101 repeated its win and became the first troop to receive first place three consecutive years in the District First Aid-O-Ree competition.

Cheyenne Lions Club President is Ralph Owen; Scouting coordinator, Hugo Jensen; Troop committee chairman, Floyd Foresman; Committee members, Dennis Madigan, Jack Rutan; Assistant Scoutmasters, William Austin, Robert Bourg, Gregory Dyekman, Kevin Madigan and David Sullivan; Scoutmaster, Pat Madigan.

Boy Scouts have deep roots in Cheyenne

Copyright The Wyoming Tribune-Eagle, February 9, 1998, p. A8

Used with Permission

The oldest chartered Boy Scout troop in Cheyenne was chartered without a sponsor in 1927.

In 1933, Troop 101 applied for a charter with the Lions Club as its sponsor and met at the Episcopal Church.

The troop now meets at the Lions Club Scout Lodge in Lions Park.

Kevin Rice is the current scoutmaster of Troop 101 and there are 40 scouts registered with the troop.

There had been three charters for Troop 8 and 13 at Fort D.A. Russell for 1923, 1924, and 1925. The troops were sponsored by the National Sojourners, Chapter 5, but no other information is available.

F.E. Warren Air Force Base has three scout units with Explorer Post 108, Boy Scout Troop 108 and Cub Scout Pack 108. The troop and pack were founded in 1930.

While there were some breaks in the charter due to World War II, the charter was renewed in 1946 and Troop 108 has since been active.

Cub Scout Pack 108 was chartered in 1942 with 16 scouts.

The log Scout Lodge on Warren was completed in 1939 by the Youth Division of the Civilian Conservation Corps. It is used for scout meetings, including Girl Scouts, and as a hostel by traveling Boy Scout troops.

Retired Senior Master Sgt. Lonnie Pfau is the scoutmaster and there are 30 registered scouts. The cubmaster is Chris Porter with 15 scouts.

Troop 116 and Cub Scout Pack 107 were organized in 1943.

Since its charter in 1943, Troop 116 has met at First Presbyterian Church.

There are 66 Eagle Scouts and several are brothers with one father-and-son team. The scoutmaster is Ed Kunkel and there are 35 registered scouts.

Cub Scout Pack 107 was sponsored by the Gibson Clark PTA when it was organized in 1943. After Gibson Clark School closed, the pack was transferred to Miller School, meeting for a short time in the Naval Reserve building. In 1975, the pack transferred to Deming school. The cubmaster is Dennis Myatt and there are 30 registered Cub Scouts.

Boy Scouts gather old Christmas trees

Copyright The Wyoming Tribune-Eagle, January 10, 1999, p. A3

Used with Permission

Hordes of Christmas trees disappeared from the streets of Cheyenne Saturday, but it wasn’t because of anything too mysterious.

Four troops of Boy Scouts, their adult leaders and several other volunteers combed the city for curb-side remnants of the holidays.

In just three hours, the 60 volunteers collected 471 trees. With a smile on his face, Scout Kyle Mitchell said he loved the thrill of the hunt.

Other Scouts, like brothers Andy and Brett Adams, explained not only did they get out of housework, they also racked up community service hours.

The Boy Scouts of America pledged to donate 200 million hours of community service by the year 2000, Brett said. That works out to about one to two hours a month per scout, he added.

The Adams’ father, David, is their Scout Master, as well as the facility manager for Laramie County School District 1. He got permission from the district to use a flatbed truck to help in the effort.

As the truck rambled up and down streets near Holiday Park, he and the boys looked right and left for trees that might be hiding behind cars. Distinguishing between juniper bushes and the trees was tricky at times.

The senior Adams said that this was one project among many that his troop would tackle this year. Others include planting trees, picking up litter and collecting food.

The City of Cheyenne coordinated the tree-recycling program, and the Scouts provided the volunteers, Solid Waste Engineer Kevin Sherrodd said. The city likes to get volunteers involved, he said.

The program keeps the trees out of the landfill and gets people thinking about recycling and the compost facility, Sherrodd said.

The trees will be ground up into mulch, which will then be sold. “It’s good for evergreens,” Sherrodd said.

Aside from the serious satisfactions like recycling, many of the boys from Troop 102 said they had fun Saturday.

After a brief snowball fight at Alta Vista Elementary School, the boys and their folks dusted off their gloves and called it a day.

Special Mission: Wyoming Boy Scout visits Malden statue

Wendy Campbell, Staff Writer

Copyright, August 4, 1999

Used with Permission

Some teenage boys are spending the summer hanging out with their friends, playing baseball and dreading the day when it’s time to go back to school. However, Leland Duck, a 12-year-old Boy Scout from Cheyenne, Wyoming, has had a very productive summer vacation.

Duck is a member of Troop 101 in Wyoming. Duck recently traveled to Malden on a special mission. He visited the local Boy Scout replica of the Statue of Liberty which is located on Downing Street.

Duck has been travelling around the United States with his family taking photos of all the Boy Scout statues such as the one located in Malden. Duck’s father, Ron, is a former Malden resident so, along with visiting the statue, it was also a chance to visit old friends.

The Boy Scout statue located in Malden is among 200 Statue of Liberty replicas distributed about 50 years ago. The 200 Liberty replicas are located in 39 states in the United States. All of the statues were erected to commemorate the Boy Scouts’ 40th anniversary theme, “Strengthen the Arm of Liberty.”

A project called “Save Outdoor Sculptures,” is currently in the process of locating about 100 of the 200 reduced-scale Statue of Liberty replicas distributed nationally by the Boy Scouts between 1949 and 1951. The remaining statues are assumed to have been destroyed, decayed from bad weather or moved indoors.

There are 23 of the Statue of Liberty replicas located within the state of Missouri. Along with the sculpture that is located in Malden, there are replicas in Cape Girardeau, Columbia, Butler, Kansas City, Springfield, and Sedalia, just to name a few.

Duck, with the support of his family, has enjoyed his summer of traveling.

“This has been a lot of fun,” the youngster said. “We have visited so many neat places. We have visited different cities in which the Boy Scout statues are located. At each statue, I have had my picture taken. All of the pictures are going to be placed in a scrapbook for a Boy Scout project that I’m working on with my troop.”

At the time he visited Malden, Duck had already had his picture taken at 17 different Statue of Liberty replica statues. The other cities in Missouri where Duck travelled to included Boonville, Cape Girardeau, Concordia, Irondale, Jefferson City, Silva, Slater, Marshall, Lexington, Liberty, Jefferson City, and St. Joseph. He also visited Grand Island, Hastings, Scotts Bluff and North Platte, all cities in Nebraska.

Duck is looking forward to heading back to Wyoming and discussing his adventures with members of his Boy Scout troop.

“This is something that I will remember for a long time,” Duck commented. “I’m proud to be a Boy Scout and I have enjoyed tracking down these statues. We still have more stops to make before it’s time to go back to school. But, it has definitely been a wonderful summer.”

Lions Club continues tradition with chili cook-off

Paula Glover

Copyright, July 23, 2000

Used with Permission

CHEYENNE – Continuing a tradition that is at least 30 years old, the Cheyenne Lions Club held its annual Chili Cook-off Saturday, with 15 entrants vying for public approval.

The event combines good chili with showmanship, so Boy Scout Troop 101 decided to go all out in the showmanship category, with some of the boys dressed in vintage scouting uniforms and a pup tent set up.

The era of the uniforms went from the 1930s scouting outfit that Josh Hudson, 14, wore, to a 1960s uniform that Alan Eickbush, 14, wore, Leland Duck, 13, modeled a 1970s uniform. Matt Schafer, 15, started off in a modern-day uniform and ended up in a 1960s uniform for a troop that was oriented towards the Air Force.

While some of the 15 contestants took the showmanship seriously, others were just there to cook chili.

Bob Logan, of RayBob and Company Chili, said the event is well-attended because contestants in the red chili division also compete in Chili Appreciation Society International, accruing points for further competition.

Two panels of judges scored samples of chili based on aroma, consistency, red color, taste and after taste.

But the general public got a chance to get in on the action as well, voting for the People’s Choice Award, with the scoring based on which booth received the most money donated for the samples.

People also had a chance to purchase bowls of chili, chili dogs and nachos as a fund-raiser for the Lions Club. Chili that included beans wouldn’t have qualified for the contest, which must be made without any fillers, such as beans or pasta.

Bob Chalstrom, a long-time Lions Club volunteer, said this year’s event was typical of previous years, both in numbers of contestants, and folks who wandered through the event to sample the chili.

“The crowd picks up after the parade and drops off when the rodeo starts,” Chalstrom added.

Results of the competition were not available Saturday.

Flag Ceremony Held in Malden

Copyright, July 18, 2001

Used with Permission

Malden Boy Scout Troop 76 held a 4th of July flag ceremony at the Statue of Libery in Malden. The statue is located on Downing Blvd. across from the Bootheel Youth Museum. There are 195 of these replicas in 39 states in the U.S. and several of its possessions and territories. All were erected around 1950 by Boy Scout troops and others to celebrate Scouting’s 40th anniversary theme, “Strengthening the Arm of Liberty.” Troop 76 has been renovating the statues by planting flowers, painting and landscaping. The troop was assisted by volunteers Ray and Nikkie Santie of Malden. The Malden Street Department built and erected flag poles. Malden Board of Public Works recently installed lights at the base of the statue. From left, Travis Whitson, Kyle Black, David Black (Scoutmaster), Josh Speers and Jessie Curtis. Unable to attend were Scout Garrett Hartle and David Hartle, Assistant Scoutmaster. (Photo submitted)

Boy Scouts lay wreaths at Malden prayer service

Copyright, September 26, 2001

Used with Permission

Citizens of Malden bowed their heads in prayer during a special ceremony held last week at Malden’s Statue of Liberty.

Boy Scouts from Troop 76 placed a wreath decorated with flags and ribbons. The Scouts lead the pledge of allegiance to the flag at the end of the dedication.

Nancy Green of Malden and several citizens organized the wreath placement memorial and asked Malden Boy Scout Troop 76 to place it before the Statue of Liberty.

“It was a moving and memorable experience by everyone attending. It was an honor for Troop 76 to place the wreath at the foot of the monument,” said Scoutmaster David Black. Those attending included several children with their parents, Cub Scouts and Malden Police and Firemen.

Ray Santie of Malden said, “This was a spur of the moment thought by several people and perhaps that is what made it so meaningful and genuine. It was a simple but very nice ceremony.”

Restoring Lady Liberty’s Luster

Joan Barron

Copyright, April 7, 2008

CHEYENNE – A new 300-pound bronze “Little Sister of Liberty” statue will be dedicated as the centerpiece of the new Liberty and Law Square in Chyenne’s Lions Park this summer.

The placement will be the culmination of a six-year Eagle Scout project by Leland Duck of Cheyenne that helped launch a nationwide effort to locate 200 Statue of Liberty replicas. They had been dedicated by Boy Scout troops nationwide between 1949 and 1952, the Cold War era.

Duck’s original goal was to restore the original copper replica of the Statue of Liberty that was dedicated in Cheyenne on May 27, 1950. But restoration of the old statue, he said, would have cost more than to recast a new one in bronze that would withstand the elements better.

The original Wyoming statue was placed on the grounds of the Capitol Building, where it stood for years. During the Cheyenne dedication in 1950, nearly 1,000 Boy Scouts marched from the downtown to the State Capitol to hear a speech by Gov. Arthur Crane, according to an article in the October 2007 issues of Scouting magazine.

Time, weather and vandals took their toll on the statue, however. The spokes in the crown were broken off, among other things, said Duck, who now lives in California, in a telephone interview.

State officials wanted to get rid of the statue, but a Wyoming Supreme Court justice stepped in to save it. Neither Leland nor his father, Ron Duck, could remember the judge’s name.

The statue was moved to the Supreme Court grounds.

The ownership issue delayed the project, particularly state conservation requirements, Leland Duck said.

“We found a way to change the ownership back to the city,” he said.

Once determining it would be cheaper to cast a new statue than restore the old one, he raised $2,500 for the project, and the city paid the rest of the cost.

Because it was a Boy Scout project, he was able negotiate a deal with the foundry so the total cost was only $8,500.

“It looks really good,” he said of the new bronze statue.

It now stands inside the entrance to the Cheyenne municipal building until the move to Lions Park.

Duck, who will be 21 years old this month, started the project when he was 15 or 16 years old.

But the idea came several years earlier when his Boy Scout Troop 101 launched the national drive to locate the remaining original copper statues after researching the replica in Cheyenne.

“They were interested in historical things like that, and they did some research and found they were all over the country,” Leland Duck said. “It was like a treasure hunt.”

The scouts had a list of states and cities where the statues were placed, but no specific locations.

When he and his family went on a trip to his father’s hometown in Missouri, they looked for statues both ways.

Leland’s father, Ron Duck of Cheyenne, said the family found 17 of the statues on that trip.

Most of the statues were found along Interstate 80 and Interstate 70, and some were in towns that are nearly extinct, he said.

“We found them made out of wood. We found them made out of tin, but he original Boy Scout statues were made out of copper,” he added.

The only other statue in Wyoming, he said, is in Torrington.

He said his son, who now works part time in a hot rod shop in Orange County, Calif., put thousands of hours into his Eagle Scout project.

The pedestal for the statue will contain 300 stones from the Riner viaduct, contributed by John Mewes, Duck said.

The Ten Commandments monument, which now stands alone in Lions Park, will also be moved to the square.

The original copper 1950 statue, meanwhile, is in a garage owned by Pat Madigan, an adult Boy Scout leader.

Need a splint? Boy Scouts to the rescue

Michael Van Cassell

Copyright, November 15, 2009

Used with Permission

CHEYENNE – If the legal age for driving an ambulance was sliced in half, American Medical Response’s Cindy Osborne could have cherry picked a few hires from a first-aid training session Saturday.

About 50 Boy Scouts gathered at Freedom Elementary for a First Aid Rodeo competition Saturday morning to work toward earning badges.

It was the second straight year the event was held and ended with a mad lunchtime-rush toward the pizza line in the school’s multi-purpose room.

Boys ages 10 to 17 practiced splinting broken legs and checking vital signs of volunteer patients painted with makeup to make injuries seem more realistic.

Bob Bolton, who is involved with the Scouts and helped coordinate the event, said Saturday’s training was part of a competition but indicated that was not the main point.

“The value is they get exposed to first-aid scenarios,” he said.

And while it’s a good idea for everyone to know first aid, Boy Scouts could be confronted with an injury in a wilderness situation, far away from a hospital and ambulance service.

“It’s traditional with the Scouts and if something happens, they can respond,” Bolton said.

Troop 101 Boy Scouts Adam Wales, 16, a student at Cheyenne’s East High, and Sean Webb, 13, a student at Cheyenne’s Carey Junior High, both want to enter the medical profession some day.

Going into the training, Wales and Webb had a “decent idea” of how first aid works, they said.

Saturday’s training improved their knowledge and helped ready them for a real-life event.

They learned important time management skills, Wales said, and how to entirely check over a patient.

“Time kills,” Webb said.

For Wales, preparation is the key for first-aid situations.

“Our Scout master likes to say: ‘You’ll never rise to an occasion, you’ll fall back to your highest level of training,'” Wales said.

Osborne, administrative supervisor with AMR, said it has been interesting over the past two years to watch some of the scouts grow.

AMR, along with the Bare Bones Conference, organized the training.

Scouts went through three scenarios, including medical first aid, trauma and a combination of the two, she said. The training follows guidelines for emergency medical technician and paramedic testing.

Each troop brought its own first-aid kit — a varied assortment of items that included poles for makeshift wilderness stretchers.

As for finding a few recruits in the group, Osborne seemed serious — at least some day.

“These guys are our future,” she said.

KOTA news report with 101 in the background
Click here to learn more

2012, June 2: Crazy Horse Volksmarch Draws Thousands
Click here to learn more

Boy Scout Lodge gets Upgrade

Bill Rentschler

Copyright, February 1, 2014

Used with Permission

Cheyenne, WY (KGWN) – The bathroom is officially open. The Lion’s Club Scout Lodge in Lion’s park got some new upgrades, including a bathroom. The lodge hasn’t had a restroom facility since it was built. The building also had some heating duct work, new carpet was installed as well as new light fixtures. Everyone involved was very pleased with the upgrades, especially former scouts who attended the ribbon cutting ceremony.

The upgrades to the lodge wouldn’t have been possible if it weren’t for the generosity of several local businesses as well as Lion’s Club. There were many volunteers who put in many hours, too many to name, but everyone’s work was greatly appreciated as the Lion’s Club gave out certificates of appreciation to those who helped as well as “Golden Gnomes” to those who worked especially hard.

The lodge is home for Boy Scout Troop 101. They meet there every week and with the new upgrades, meetings are sure to be a bit more enjoyable, especially if you have to use the bathroom.

Dyekman to receive 2014 Community Spirit Award

Copyright, September 7, 2014

Used with Permission

Greg Dyekman smiles as he stands with members of Boy Scout Troop 101, from left, Alex Mork, Zachary Taylor, Zacharyah Lemmon and Thomas Cassidy, at their lodge in Lions Park. Dyekman is the Wyoming Tribune Eagle’s Community Spirit Award winner. Michael Smith/staff

CHEYENNE – A well-respected Cheyenne attorney whose lifelong passion for civic service was kindled by his early participation in the Boy Scouts has been selected as this year’s recipient of the Wyoming Tribune Eagle’s Community Spirit Award.

Gregory C. Dyekman will be presented with the award at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 18, at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum. The public is invited to attend.

This is the 17th year that the newspaper has recognized people for their outstanding service to the community, according to L. Michael McCraken, WTE president and publisher.

“Greg has been called on by many civic organizations for many years because they know he’s a leader who gets things done,” McCraken said. “And when someone gets a call from Greg asking for help, it’s impossible to refuse because you know that he has given such a tremendous amount of his time to make our community better.”

Not a burden

Dyekman noted that he doesn’t see community service as a burden.

“It’s the enriching part of my life,” he said. “It’s something I enjoy very much, and it’s a way for me to give back to a community that has been very good to me and my family.

“I’ve also met so many tremendous people doing this kind of work. That’s the best part about it.”

In thinking back over his many years of volunteerism, Dyekman said his membership in Boy Scout Troop 101 laid the foundation for his commitment to community service.

He joined the troop as a teenager along with several of the other kids in his neighborhood. One of the first projects he remembers is going door to door selling brooms as a fundraiser for the Cheyenne Lions Club.

He noted that many of his Boy Scout activities and merit badge requirements had community service components.

Dyekman achieved the rank of Eagle Scout and later was involved with the Explorers. He has helped raise money to support the Scouting program and since 1998 has served on the board of trustees of the Longs Peak Council of the Boy Scouts of America.

In 2006, he was the Distinguished Citizen honoree for the Cheyenne district.

In recent years, he has been active with the University of Wyoming, and particularly on its foundation, which raises money for the school and has achieved record levels of funding thanks to several large charitable gifts from major donors.

He has served on the foundation board since 2003, is a past chairman and since 2012 has been an emeritus member.

Founding member

He was a founding member of UW’s College of Law Dean’s Advisory Board in 2002 and still serves on the board. Since 1997, he has served on UW’s College of Arts and Sciences Board of Visitors and is a former chairman of the group.

Both of those organizations are involved in recruitment, fundraising and scholarships for their respective schools.

He has been an avid supporter and fundraiser for the Cheyenne Symphony Orchestra, has served on its board and is a past president.

Dyekman noted that having a successful orchestra is not only a benefit for local patrons of cultural activities, it also is a major draw for people and new businesses considering moving to Cheyenne.

“People don’t realize how lucky we are in Cheyenne to be so close to all these universities that are feeders for the orchestra,” he said.

And unlike many symphony orchestras, even ones in major metropolitan areas, Cheyenne’s is solvent.

Dyekman also said it was a major accomplishment when the orchestra board hired William Intriligator as its music director and conductor in 2008.

Dyekman served as a loaned executive for United Way of Laramie County starting in 2003, was campaign co-chairman in 2009 and remains on its board of directors.

He also has served on the Meals on Wheels foundation board, including two terms as president.

Other local service

He has been a member of the Cheyenne Kiwanis Club since 1981 and served as a board member and on its foundation. The group is one of the largest Kiwanis clubs in the world and is active with a variety of local civic service projects.

Dyekman also served on the Cheyenne Family YMCA board as president in 1992 and 1993. He also helped to raise funds for the Davis Hospice Center, a first-rate care facility giving comfort to elderly and terminally ill patients and their families during the final weeks of life.

Since 2005, Dyekman has served on the board of Cheyenne Newspapers Inc., publisher of the Wyoming Tribune Eagle and the Laramie Boomerang. Since 2012, he also has served on the board of directors for Cheyenne LEADS, one of the most successful economic development organizations in the region.

Dyekman was in the 2003 class of Leadership Wyoming, a program that enables leaders from around the state to learn more about Wyoming and make professional contacts. He said it was a great opportunity to meet others who are involved in their communities.

“This is a small enough state that you can do something really great if you work at it,” Dyekman observed.

Dyekman is an ordained elder and deacon of the First Presbyterian Church and was elected church treasurer in 1986.

Consultant too

He also serves as a volunteer consultant for governance and endowment issues for the Cheyenne Little Theatre board of directors, Cheyenne Animal Shelter Foundation, Meals on Wheels Foundation, Laramie County Library Foundation and United Way.

He also is a longtime member of the Young Men’s Literary Club of Cheyenne. That group meets weekly from September through May to discuss current events, politics, history and other topics and to hear literary papers researched and presented by its members.

Dyekman is an accomplished public speaker, and he noted that his participation on his high school and college debate teams benefitted him greatly in his career and charitable pursuits.

Dyekman is a 1973 graduate of Cheyenne’s East High. At the University of Wyoming, he received a bachelor of science degree with honors in accounting in 1977. He went on to earn a law degree in 1980, graduating in the top 10 percent of his class.

Starting his career as a law clerk in 1979 at what was then the Cheyenne firm of Dray, Madison & Thomson, P.C., he later became a partner and is now senior partner at Dray, Dyekman, Reed & Healey, P.C.

His practice includes banking and commercial law, business and commercial litigation, bankruptcy, civil litigation, corporation law, tax and estate planning, workers’ compensation and real estate, property and employment law.

Staying positive

Those who know Dyekman well are hard-pressed to remember him ever saying a bad word about anyone else or complaining about anything.

“I never saw people who were negative accomplish much,” he said. “People who were positive really got the results.”

He also said he is pleased that he has been able to be of service to many worthwhile organizations while helping them achieve sustainable funding and volunteer participation so they can continue to flourish and benefit the community for many years to come.

Monica Lincoln, one of the people who nominated Dyekman for the award, described him well when she said:

“Greg is very optimistic in all aspects of life and sees the good in everything. He is gracious at all times and very generous with his time and expertise. Everything Greg does, both professionally and personally, is done with the utmost honesty and integrity.”

At the Sept. 18 award presentation, Dyekman will receive a tabletop version of the life-sized bronze statue of Col. Edward Archibald Slack that the Wyoming Tribune Eagle donated to Cheyenne Frontier Days and unveiled in 1998.

The bronze was created by Cheyenne artist Rich Haines and now stands near the Old West Museum. Titled “Community Spirit,” it was commissioned by the newspaper in 1997 during the 100th anniversary of CFD.

“The statue commemorates Slack’s role in getting Frontier Days started and honors the tremendous community volunteerism and involvement that makes this outstanding event possible,” McCraken said.

Slack was the owner, publisher and editor of the Cheyenne Daily Sun-Leader, a predecessor of the WTE.

He played a major role in developing community support for an annual rodeo celebration after a traveling railroad agent for the Union Pacific suggested that communities along the rail line hold annual festivals to promote passenger traffic.

In a front page editorial, Slack suggested the name “Frontier Day” for the first event, which was held Sept. 23, 1897.

Slack used his newspaper to encourage other community leaders to join in and help create what is now the “world’s largest outdoor rodeo and Western celebration.”

He continued promoting the event during its challenging fledging years and as its popularity and fame grew.

Dyekman honored with Community Service Award

James Chilton

Copyright, September 19, 2014

Used with Permission

Greg Dyekman smiles during a speech at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum where he was awarded the Wyoming Tribune Eagle’s Community Spirit Award. Michael Smith/staff

CHEYENNE – It’s hard to believe that, at one point early in his life, the term “underachiever” could have been used to describe Greg Dyekman.

Wyoming Tribune Eagle President and Publisher L. Michael McCraken admitted as much Thursday when he presented the Cheyenne attorney with the newspaper’s 17th annual Community Spirit Award.

“I was utterly shocked about something Greg recently told me about his early years,” McCraken said, standing before a crowd gathered at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum. “Greg claims that his mother described him as a ‘halfway kid’ because he wouldn’t see things through and never made the effort to be really good at much of anything.”

But that couldn’t be further from the truth today, McCraken continued, adding that since he first joined Boy Scout Troop 101 as a teenager, Dyekman’s life has been characterized by a consistent and passionate commitment to community service.

“He really is the embodiment of the type of volunteer we had in mind when we created the Community Spirit Award,” McCraken said. “He’s someone who is actively engaged in a wide variety of efforts which have had beneficial impacts on the community – a doer and a leader. He is also a longtime friend and business associate, and someone I personally admire.”

Even as early as his first years in Boy Scouts, Dyekman began developing a desire to give back. McCraken said that by the time the two first met as teens, Dyekman was already well along his way to becoming an Eagle Scout.

He would continue his involvement in Scouting throughout his adulthood, helping to raise money to support the Boy Scouts of America and joining the Board of Trustees of the BSA’s Longs Peak Council.

In 2002, Dyekman was a founding member of the University of Wyoming’s College of Law Dean’s Advisory Board, on which he still sits today. He also sits on UW’s College of Arts and Sciences Board of Visitors and was the former chairman for the board.

Aside from Scouting and the university, Dyekman’s involvement in community organizations stretches far and wide. He has been a huge supporter of the Cheyenne Symphony Orchestra; a campaign co-chairman for the United Way of Laramie County; a board member of the Meals on Wheels foundation, the Cheyenne Family YMCA and Cheyenne LEADS; and a fundraiser for the Davis Hospice Center, among others.

A 1977 graduate of UW, Dyekman earned his law degree in 1980 and is now a senior partner at Dray, Dyekman, Reed & Healey, P.C. There, he works in banking and commercial law, business and commercial litigation, bankruptcy, civil litigation, tax and estate planning, and property and employment law.

“As one might expect of someone as accomplished as Greg, he has received numerous awards from a long list of professional organizations,” McCraken said. “And those of us who know Greg well are hard-pressed to remember him ever saying a bad word about anyone else or to complain about anything.”

Pat Madigan, a longtime scoutmaster for Boy Scout Troop 101, described his own experience helping to shape Dyekman into the man he has become.

“It took a lot of time,” Madigan joked before launching into Dyekman’s many accomplishments while with Troop 101. A member of the East High School newspaper staff, Dyekman is the only member of Troop 101 to ever win the Gold Quill award, Scouting’s highest medal of merit presented for outstanding journalism.

Madigan said Dyekman was also an accomplished public speaker, winning a $9,000 scholarship from Reader’s Digest after competing in several speech events through the Boy Scouts. “Today, that would equate to about $51,000,” Madigan said. “Not bad for a kid from Cheyenne.”

Upon receiving the award, Dyekman said he couldn’t have done what he did without the many opportunities he has been afforded by his parents, his employers and the many community members he has worked with.

“My parents were always very steady with me about responsibility,” Dyekman said. “And once I got into Scouting and started participating in any number of service-related activities, they really appreciated that, and they really supported it and gave me a firm foundation in terms of my honesty and morality.”

Dyekman said his exposure to community service at a young age taught him not only the value of such service, but just how integrated the concept is with the city of Cheyenne itself.

“This community is about personal and business generosity to good causes,” he said. “This community is about a variety of activities that a lot of much larger communities are envious of. And it’s because people here care about the other people in the community and they care about making their own organizations excellent.”

While he was humbled to be included among the 16 other past winners of the Community Spirit Award, Dyekman said he believes there are thousands of other people in Cheyenne who are similarly deserving of the distinction. But he said that not to diminish the award’s prestige, but to highlight just how dedicated the Capital City is to community service, he said.

Given his success story, Dyekman challenged everyone in the audience to go out and do the same to inspire the spirit of community service in those for whom it hasn’t yet been kindled.

“I want you to do what Pat Madigan and Scouting did for me,” Dyekman said. “I want you to take a person and show them how to serve – how to be a volunteer or a donor or a board member. That’s what’s going to continue the spirit of leadership and philanthropy and service in our community that’s been such a great place.”