Troop 7 Facts and Stories
With so many years since our founding in 1913, Troop 7 continues to have a positive affect on the Community.Below is a collection of documents and stories giving us glimpses of Troop 7 Scouts, Leaders and events from years past., Links are underlined - click them for more information.
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Recent
Ernie Doclar Award 2023 Rob Taylor, Tom Lorkowski, Erik Monson + Ernie speaks110 years State of Texas recognizes Troop 7
Scoutmaster & Committee Chair Adult Leadership changes for 2023
John Failor Wood carvings
Ernie Doclar Award 2022 Bill Norton, Gregg Porter
Ernie Doclar Award 2020 Chuck Wheeler, Keith Copeland
Pathfinder District formed in 2020 from Lakeview(T7), Trailblazer & Roadrunner Districts
Announcement 2019
GRACE, our new Chartered Organization
Legacy Meeting
Moving to a new Chartered Organization
Family
High Adventure Bryan on Scouting on T7 Feary
family experience
Michael Surbaugh
Chief Scout Exec visits T7 Scouts
Ernie
Doclar Award 2019 Dave Creeger, Jim Lorkowski,
William Schmidlkofer
Years Past
1913-1969
August 1913, Grapevine Sun
Benjamin Richard Wall accompanies his mother to New York1918 BSA ID Card
1918 Boy Scout ID Card ID Card entrusting Boy Scout as US commissioned dispatch bearers,
with President Woodrow Wilson letter/signature
1928 Summer Camp Roster Worth Ranch , 21 Scouts
George Crews Eagle 1943 interesting to note Merit Badges offered during World War II
1944-1949, the Netherlands connection Victory Mail
A highlight of the troop history is Wingate Lucas's meeting with a Scout Leader in Holland during WWII which resulted in correspondence between Troop 7 Scoutmaster Hugh Lee Higgins and Alphons Pisters, a Dutch Scoutmaster. Troop 7 sent Christmas packages, food and even a layette to Mrs. Pisters during Nazi occupation. After World War II, the Dutch ladies sent a crate of tulip bulbs to Troop 7 and Holland's Prince Bernhardt expressed his thanks with a Scout Medal of Merit bearing the inscription:
"Weest Paraat", Dutch for "Be Prepared."
1959 B.R. Wall Obituary
1968, Newspaper Article Col C.E. Cluck, receives Silver Beaver in Korea
1970's
1970, US Congressman Wingate H Lucas letter Troop 7 camped every Friday night!1973 Grapevine Sun 'Scout Troop 7 Needs Your Help!'
1973 RH Stark Letter Troop 7, Pack 7, Explorer Post 7 history
1973 Grapevine Sun 'Scout Troop 7 IS Still Very Active' Newspaper drive, Scoutmaster History
Noted Benjamin Richard Wall active with the Troop from 1913 to 1954
1973 Charles E. Cluck letter
Very enlightening letter with references to WWII scrap drives, playing Capture the Flag (Troop 7 does this even today!), unauthorized swimming, trapping and eating wildlife on campouts, a pink blanket and four unofficial members - dogs. Also speaks of Summer Camp at Worth ranch. Fundraising is covered too, with the Lions Club raising money with penny gum machines. This letter is not to be missed!
1973 Wingate H Lucas Sr. Letter Scouts learned close order drills on only paved street in Grapevine
1979 Grapevine Sun 40-years ago article - In 1939, Troop 7 participated in annual Scout Circus and exhibited rustic timber bridge (one of best exhibits). Need $200 to build new Scout Hut in City Park
History of the Boy Scouts for the N.E. Tarrant Area - representing several Packs and Troops
Excerpt for Troop 7
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1980's
1980 -1981 T7 Newsletters 19 pages of Newsletters for a nostalgic look back1989 Historical Marker at Timberline Elementary Original Scout Hut land purchased from Benjamin Richard Wall family. Documents Mr. Troop 7 Walls life and accomplishments including securing the Troop 7 Charter.
1983 Troop 7 Rock Hounds featured in Boys Life Rock hounds article with photos, see pages 42-45
1989, 50 years with Troop 7 "During World War II, Wingate Lucas, Jr. (Later a Congressman) was stationed in Holland. He was lost, stopped a truck driver for directions. The "driver" was one Alphons Pisters, (a boy-scouter in Holland). Mr. Lucas established a correspondence between Mr. Pisters and H.L. Higgins, Grapevine Scoutmaster. Mr. Pisters wife was pregnant - so the Scouts and the Grapevine "36 Club" assembled two layettes, toys for Dutch children and sent them to Holland. After the war - Mr. Pisters said he secured "Governmental Permission" and shipped a crate of tulip bulbs to Grapevine Scouts. The bulbs were sold by Scouts all over the area - and Prince Bernhard, of Holland, sent the Scouts a "Scout Medal of Merit" - which bore the inscription " Weest Paraat" (Be Prepared)
The letter also lists Troop 7 Charter members and Scout Cabins in Grapevine since 1913. Scouts excavated an Indian Mound and sent a skull to the Smithsonian Institution.
1990's
1991 Bronze Pelican Scoutmaster Dave Creeger1992 H.L. Higgins Scoutmaster '43-5?, Memorabilia From the Grapevine Historical Society
1994 Crayfish Dinner
199? Fort Worth Diocese Religious Emblems recognition
1998 Court of Honor Court of Honor agenda
1998 Scoutmaster Retirement Dave Creeger serves 13 years as Scoutmaster
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2000's
2000 'Still the Same' 90 years of Troop 72005 Grapevine City Council
2005 Grapevine Boy Scout Heritage Day
25 years at St. Francis 2005 Celebrations
2005 Legend Newsletter
2006 Legend Newsletter
2007 Legend Newsletter
2010's
2011 Ernie Doclar Eagle Scout Message Ernie Doclar, current Committee Member, Chaplain, longtime Scout Leader2013 Nyeri, Kenya ASM Davies visits Lord Baden Powell Africa
Grapevine Boy Scout troop celebrates 100th anniversary Fort Worth Star Telegram article
US Congressman Kenny Marchant Extension of Remarks as read at Centennial Celebration
Governor Rick Perry
Texas Senate SR423
Texas House of Representatives HR923
Texas Legislature recognizes Troop 7 100 years, March 25, 2013
Boy Scout Troop 7 Day City of Grapevine Proclamation
Bronze Patrick Henry Patriotic Award The Military Order of the World Wars presentation
Medal of Merit Heroism Troop 7 Scout's good turn recognized
Lakeview District recognizes outstanding achievements
Scoutmaster Don Blan,District Award of Merit,
Advancement Chair Martha Llewellyn Lakeview Award
Venture Crew 7 started in 2013 and disbanded in 2014 to maintain focus on Troop 7
2014 Congressman Marchant Recognizes 72 Eagles
2014 Ernie Doclar - Legend of Scouting
2014 Texas Independence Grapevine Historical & Troop 7 celebrate
2016 Troop 7 News
SM Bill Norton Wood badge May 2016
2016 Bishop's Dinner Catholic Committee on Scouting recognizes leaders
Bishop's Dinner 2017 Catholic Committee on Scouting recognizes leaders
SM Tom Lorkowski in Lakeview District Newsletter 2017
2017 Troop 7 News
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