3/9/2003 Scouting tradition: Troop No. 258 was first charter in Texas

By DEANNA PAWLOWSKI/Daily Sun Staff

Did you know the first chartered Boy Scouts of America troop in Texas is located in Corsicana, Texas? Troop No. 258 was founded in 1915 in Corsicana and still exists today.

They meet on Monday nights at the First United Methodist Church, in the old Scout Hut, which still contains scouting materials from 30 years ago.

Boy Scout Troop 258 will hold a banquet on March 15, at 7:00 PM at the First United Methodist Church. Reservations should be made by March 11. All former Eagle Scout members of Troop 258 are invited to attend.

The troop had dwindled down to five to eight boys in January of 2001, when Melvin Hall III was asked to take over as scoutmaster. Hall's son was a member of the troop, and the scoutmaster at the time was having medical problems. Hall, a former Marine and Eagle Scout himself, gladly accepted the challenge.

Mel Hall earned his Eagle Scout from Troop 646 in Coweta, Oklahoma in June 1986. He also was awarded the Honor Medal of Crossed Palms in Fall 2001, for saving a woman from a burning car in October 2001. Only eight were given nationwide that year.

Nita Norwood, mother of one of the scouts, said, "Mel works wonders with these boys -- and involves the dads, too."

The scouts camp out monthly, and are currently involved in Derek Brozowski's Eagle Project, which is the remodeling of the bathroom in the scout hut, located in the basement of First United Methodist Church. Brozowski had to plan, coordinate schedules of workers (scouts), procure supplies and implement the remodel himself.

The scouts are beginning to get more into service projects, and volunteer with the cub scouts in order to help them with their projects. They can also get credit for work through camps.

October 2002 saw Fall Camparee, a camp-out sponsored by this troop at Lake Bardwell with over 150 scouts attending. This was followed up by a Winter Camp in December 2002.

In Jan. 2003, the troop attended Camp Cherokee near Athens, where they took down existing teepees.

The History Trail in Nacogdoches is the site of the 10 mile hike in April. Scouts will hike from one historical site to the next, collecting information in order to compile reports on what they learn.

Funds raised from the banquet will be used for their summer campout in Oklahoma which will take place July 4.

Scouts are Patrick Adams, Derek Brozowski, Andrew Dillman, Will Farmer, Eric Fisher, Joe Norwood, Sandy Walker, Josh Dunning, Stacey Shaw, and Michael Smeltzer, who is a current Eagle Scout.

Leaders include David Walker, Mike Tulton, George Brozowski, Christine Hall, Bobby Raxter, Ronal Norwood, Veronica Brozowski, Robin Shaw, Nita Norwood, Mark Dillman, Billy Lockridge, and Melvin Hall, III, Scoutmaster.

Christine Hall said, "Mel considers the boys in the troop as extended family. He feels he has been called to do this kind of work -- it is his way of giving back to the community, and to the Scouts."

Again, former members of Troop 258 are encouraged to attend the banquet. "We really hope to have several Eagle Scouts here, " said Nita Norwood. Reservations may be made by contacting Norwood at 903-872-9481.

Reprinted with permission of the Corsicana Daily Sun
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