Athens First United Methodist Church - FUMC - Athens, Texas

Boy Scout Troop 343

A History of Troop 343, First United Methodist Church, Athens, Texas

Boy Scouting started in England in 1909 and in the United States in 1910. The late Joe Owen reported that the first troop in Athens was founded at First Christian Church in 1912. He was too young to be a Scout, but said they sort of made him their mascot. One achievement of that troop was the planting of the elm trees, donated by Mr. LaRue, on the courthouse lawn. The troop disbanded in 1917 during the First World War. On February 2, 1928, three new troops were established in Athens: Troop 1 at the Presbyterian Church, Troop 2 at the Methodist Church and Troop 3 at the First Baptist Church. The first Scoutmaster of Troop 2, which later became Troop 343, was our own Joe Owen. He was Scoutmaster more years than anyone else. He was honored by the Troop in 1985. There is a plaque to his memory imbedded in a stepping-stone between the Owen Building and the Education Building.

Former Scoutmaster Ray Rogers stated that Scouting almost died out in rural areas, including Athens, during the 60’s and 70’s. Former Scouts also say that the Troop was self-chartered for a while, and had no official home but met in various locations. Garrett Smith came to Athens in September 1972, when Scouting here was at the very bottom. Before he joined our troop he was a Scouting Professional, both as Ranger at Clements Scout Reservation, just south of Athens, and District Executive for Henderson County. When Garrett was District Executive he would present the renewed charter to sponsoring churches during a worship service. The first time he did so at First United Methodist Church, Faulk Landrum was pastor. During the ceremony Garrett told the congregation, “At the beginning of the service Mr. Landrum mentioned to remember the Methodist Home. I want you to know I’m a product of that home. I lived there thirteen years!” Garrett became Eagle Scout in 1939 when he was a resident of the Methodist Home in Waco. In the troop of 28 boys, 21 went Eagle at the same time.

While he was Ranger at Clements, Garrett started a troop in Cayuga. Bob Hawkins invited Garrett to come to Athens to become Scoutmaster of Troop 343, which had five members at the time. Garrett did so, starting in 1975, on the condition that both troops would go camping together. This they did on weekends, though they met on different nights during the week.

The first time the Athens troop went camping, Garrett was the only adult present. This was before the “two deep” leadership policy now in effect. He told them to put their tents up well, but a big storm came up during the night. The first thing he heard was, “Mr. Smith, we’re getting wet!” “Did you put your tent up tight?” “No sir, it blew down!” “Put it up!” Then Garrett put on his rain gear and helped them put their tents back up. About that time a couple of fathers drove up to pick up their boys because the weather was so bad. Garret said, “You take your boys and you’re taking the whole troop, and I won’t be back. You gave me these boys to teach them Boy Scouting, to be responsible for each other… they’re learning tonight. You can either get in your car and go home, and don’t worry about it, or you take the whole troop with you.” The fathers told Garrett that they trusted him and left. The boys had a ball that weekend!

In 1976 he took the troops to camp in the East Texas Council, where most got their Mile Swim badge. They never got to go to any high adventure camp. In 1977 he had to leave the troop when he went to work for the State. After he retired and returned to Athens, he was “the voice of the Eagle” in the Eagle Scout ceremonies for Landon Elledge and Barrett Shipp. Also present at Barrett’s ceremony was D.B. Pierce, who was the third Eagle Scout in Henderson County, in 1930. D.B. says his Scout training still means a lot to him. “Be Prepared” and “Do a good turn daily” are how he still lives. He turned 90 on August 26, 2002!

Garret Smith said of Troop 343, “I learned to appreciate the boys in that troop because they knew they were on the verge of disintegrating. They came along and were very helpful to me. Bob Hawkins held the troop together until Ray Rogers became Scoutmaster. A lot of Eagles came out of that group.”

Ray Rogers joined the troop in 1981. At that time there was only one Methodist boy in the troop. That’s the situation today also. Ray was Scoutmaster until 1985. He has been the Assistant District Executive since then and still works closely with Troop 343.

Scott Forney and his former wife Debbie found Pack 350 existing on paper only. In ‘79 or ‘80 they revived the Cub pack, Scott as Cubmaster and Debbie as den mother. The first year there was one den; by 1986 there were 6 dens. In 1985 Scott became Scoutmaster of troop 343. Scott has many stories of when Joe Owen was Scoutmaster. The troop would ride in wagons down to the Neches River to camp. They took kerosene lanterns. One time five or six boys came down with malaria. They all survived. Scott has many good memories especially of camping. “So many things, it’s hard to remember them all.” Also Scott said it’s neat to see the former Scouts (he called them “his boys”) around town. One special memory was the triple Eagle Scout ceremony for Dylan Forney, Chris Hardy and Tracy Rogers. Scott suffered a brain aneurysm in 1989 and could no longer be Scoutmaster. Through the grace of God, Scott survived and is with us today.

Dan Rogers stepped in and led the troop in continued growth. He went to Council headquarters and made a list of all Eagles from mid 30’s through 1994. He noted that there were no Eagles during the Vietnam War. Dan also had memories of Mr. Joe Owen, who he met on numerous occasions. Joe gave much equipment to the troop. Joe had taken a course at Texas Tech in scout leadership, with a certificate signed by Herbert Hoover. Dan credits Tommy Faulk for the longest continuous involvement with the troop. Tommy has been treasurer for many years, and instituted the scholarship fund. Dan, like all Scouts and Scouters, especially remembers the enjoyment of going camping every month. His best memory is of geese flying over his tent at night on their way to land at the lakes at Clements. He said, “Sometimes kids did the most exasperating things and I’d worry about them, but as I told both my boys, Scouting offers opportunities that you can’t get at school or at home. You and your friends get to interact without having something that’s life -threatening or that threatens your job. You learn teamwork and the chain of command. I say that’s the best thing.”

Terry Teems became Assistant Scoutmaster in 1989. FUMC had a white, former school bus that carried the merged troops. Former Scoutmaster Terry said p eople always knew who was here when the bus rolled in! He remembers the troop had lots of good kids. The troop went to Philmont Scout Reservation in New Mexico in 1993. Every boy who went on that trip made Eagle Scout while they were still in the troop. Terry still remembers the closeness of that group! Terry and former FUMC member Ted Hull went to Wood Badge advanced leadership training during the years Terry was Scoutmaster. Among his memories are sailing at Camp Constantin near Mineral Wells. He and Robert Patrick got their first sailboats after summer camp. Terry remembers cold, wet campsites being a tradition at the annual Tree Plant at Clements. He also remembers the many multiple-Eagle families, including the McGee’s. The Troop returned to Philmont in 1996. Terry said, “It’s really interesting to watch your Eagles, to see how they grow and progress, and then to watch them after get out and become adults. It’s really great to see how they grow and prosper. You’re always interested in what they’re doing.”

Terry turned the reins over to Willy Robson in 1996. A team went to Philmont that year. After a “warm-up” climb up Wheeler Peak, the highest mountain in New Mexico, we had a short trek at Philmont. Between the two we earned our 50-miler patches. Again, every Boy Scout who went to Philmont earned his Eagle Scout rank before turning 18. While Willy was Scoutmaster the troop celebrated its 70th birthday in 1999. The troop continued to grow, and many other adults went to Wood Badge training. The troop continued to have strong adult leadership with the backing of Committee Chair Barbara Gosnell, then Dr. Norm Jennings and now Dr. Sheri Robson. Also there continued to be many boys becoming Eagle Scout. In fact, from 1995 to mid-2002, there were a total of 130 boys in the troop of whom 28 went Eagle Scout, or about 22% of the troop. This compares with 4% as the national average. In mid-2002 there were 37 active Scouts with six being Eagle Scouts.

Dr. Ted Mettetal became Scoutmaster in 2000. The troop still is vibrant. In 2002 the troop went on two major camping expeditions. Two groups flew to the Boundary Waters Reservation for two weeks of paddling, slogging through mud and fighting off mosquitoes that actually put Texas mosquitoes to shame! One other group went to summer camp at Camp Tom Hale in Oklahoma, where among the Merit Badges earned were some for snow skiing! In 2003 two teams went to Philmont Scout Reservation in northern New Mexico for two weeks of backpacking. They each earned their 50-miler patch in the process. Another group went to summer camp at Camp Cherokee at the Clements Scout Reservation.

Another strong tradition with Troop 343 has been service to the community. Working with Cub Scout Pack 350, we collect and take much to the Food Pantry each year. For a number of years the troop cleaned a stretch of US 175 just west of Athens. When the road became too dangerous we had to stop. Now we do trash pickup on the two-mile area in front of the Athens Freshwater Fish Hatchery. Among the many flag ceremonies conducted for the community annually was the one at the opening of the Hatchery a few years ago. A new tradition, started in 2002, is a formal flag retirement ceremony in conjunction with the Knights of Columbus with the public invited, on or near Flag Day every year.

For his Eagle Scout Project, Jim Ben Faulk led the Troop in paving the Reaves Prayer Garden pathway with memorial stones. This project will enhance the Church for years to come.

By Mark Carlson, Chartered Organization Representative, January, 2004.

This partial history of Troop 343 was compiled from research in the Henderson County Historical Commission archives and interviews of former Scoutmasters. If anyone has additional information, please call Mark Carlson at 1-866-782-1283 and leave a message.

Worship Service Times - Map to Church

First United Methodist Church of Athens
P.O. Box 911
E. College at Lovers Lane
Athens, Texas 75751
903-675-5161