A Brief History of Boy Scout Troop 8
Founded
November 22, 1938
On October 1, 1938, the governing body of St. Mark's Methodist Church, 3919 N. Front Street, Harrisburg, PA filed an application for a charter for a new boy scout troop with the Harrisburg Area Council. Approval was given November 22, 1938, and Troop 8 was born. In 1960 Troop 8 moved to its present location at the Rockville United Methodist Church at the corner of Sixth Street and Linglestown Road.
L.O. Lingle was the first Scoutmaster at the age of 22. His Assistant Scoutmaster with 21 years of service as a scouter was J. Edgar Sellers, Sr. Fifteen boys were in the first troop. Nine had never been in scouting and six had scouting experience in other troops. Four were First Class Scouts: Robert Riest , Richard Kell, Mark Knouse, and Emory Lowry. Jack Corl was a Second Class Scout. Tenderfoot Scouts were Clair Bowman, Roy Cassel, Bob Christ, Jack Finney, William Hoover, George Kabroth, George and Robert Sourbier, John Kell, and Paul Fox. Saturdays were spent in the outdoors on hikes and Mondays were troop meetings for this first Troop.
At the annual banquet at St. Mark's Church on February 26, 1953, Explorer Post 8 was issued its first charter while the Scout Troop was given its 15th. Paul Fox was the first Explorer Advisor, twenty-three boys were on this first charter. Many men have served the troop and post in various ways, but the two who have served the longest and perhaps are remembered the most are J. Edgar Sellers, Sr. and Paul D. Fox. Both have served as Assistant Scoutmasters, Committeemen, Explorer Advisors, and Scoutmaster.
In 1972, "Pop" Sellers stepped down as Institutional Representative and joined the ranks of the Committee. He received the Order of Merit from the Susquehanna District in 1956. He was presented his 50 year Scouting Certificate in 1969. On October 11, 1975, the Keystone Area Council presented Mr. Sellers with the Silver Beaver Award. He held the Scouters Award and the Scouters Key for Comissioners. Mr. Sellers passed away in 1983 and will long be remembered by the many scouts he came in contact with. He had over 64 years of service in scouting.
Paul Fox received the Order of Merit from the Susquehanna District for his contribution to Scouting in 1954. Paul was responsible for reviving the Susquehannock Lodge No. XI Order of the Arrow during a low period in its history in the early fifties. He served as Lodge Chief and Treasurer and is responsible for instituting the modern "Rules of the Lodge" which still form the basis of our present rules. He was one of the early recipients of the Vigil Honor from the Susquehannock Lodge.
There have been several other men who were devoted enough to scouting to serve as Scoutmaster over the years. Jerry Firestone , Herbert Fox and John Giba have served in this capacity. We can be quite proud of all the boys who have passed through the Troop on their way to adulthood. There have been many stages, at times very large, at other times very small, but always with much determination. We can be proud of the fact that 69 young men have attained the coveted rank of Eagle Scout.
One member of Explorer Post 8 recieved a National Heroism Award for saving the life of a fellow Post member. Larry Shutt was presented the award on February 8, 1959 at a formal Court of Honor of the Paxton-Susquehanna Districts in the Forum in Harrisburg,
Continued in 1998:
Lonny Moya served as Scoutmaster for Troop 8 from 1990 to 1996. During this time, the troop was on a decline until about 1995 when the troop started growing again. They were able to take a lot of exciting trips with just a handful of boys. They alternated trips to Camp Barton in upstate New York, with going to Hidden Valley for summer camp. George Proch started as Scoutmaster for Troop 8 in the fall of 1996, after Lonny Moya decided to take a well deserved break. At that time there was only 22 boys in the troop. Shortly thereafter, Troop 8 had some of its boys and leaders leave to form Troop 4 which then became Troop 77. The remaining boys worked on achieving rank and in the spring , there were about 20 boys again. Troop 8 had the honor of being the host of the Fall Camporee in 1999. The troop continued to grow with George Proch at the helm. 49 boys received their First Class rank of which 9 became Eagle Scouts. George Proch received the Scoutmasters Award of Merit in October of 2000. Jim Dierolf is our current Scoutmaster while George elected to serve as Committee Chairman. In June of 2001 Troop 8 had 6 boys and 3 adults go to Philmont Scout Reservation. Jim has promised to carry on the high ideals and traditions of Troop 8.
Venture Crew 8 was formed in June 2001 with 9 boys and 6 adults. The Crew was created by Matt Blaisse, one of our JASM's, in order to keep our older boys interested in scouting. The Crew now has 13 boys, 7 girls and 6 adults.
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Scoutmasters |
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Committee Chairman |
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L.O. Lingle |
1938-1940 |
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R.F. Deavor |
1938-1940 |
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Edwin E. Hess |
1940-1941 |
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Charles Ronemus |
1940-1943 |
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James Evans |
1941-1943 |
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Harry W. Taylor |
1943-1947 |
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C.B. McDivitt |
1943-1944 |
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Rev. Ronald Ober |
1947-1948 |
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Lewis Johnson |
1944-1946 |
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J. Edgar Sellers Sr. |
1948-1953 |
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Edwin E. Hess |
1946-1948 |
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Harry W. Taylor |
1953-1956 |
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Richard E. Johnston |
1948-1949 |
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J. Edgar Sellers Sr. |
1956-1959 |
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Charles Christ |
1949-1951 |
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Francis J. Knight |
1959-1960 |
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Paul D. Fox |
1951-1953 |
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William H. Corl |
1960-1963 |
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J. Edgar Sellers Sr. |
1953-1956 |
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Henry Brown |
1963-1965 |
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Jerome Firestone |
1956-1961 |
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John B. Corl |
1965-1966 |
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Herbert Fox |
1961-1965 |
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I.C. Shambaugh |
1966-1968 |
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Paul D. Fox |
1965-? |
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Joseph Verdier |
1968-1970 |
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John Giba |
? |
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Frank Hanawalt |
1970-1971 |
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Lawrence Moya |
1990-1996 |
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Donald Mattson |
1971-1974 |
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George Proch |
1996-2001 |
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Joseph Gardiner |
1974-1977 |
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Jim Dierolf |
2001-2006 |
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Christopher Drees |
1977- |
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2006-Present |
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Jim Kopenhaver |
19??-1999 |
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Larry Phillips |
1999-2001 |
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Gary Smith |
2001-2003 |
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George Proch |
2003-2006 |
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