What does 100 years of Scouting look like in Canfield?
Though we cannot know the number of Scouts that have run through the ranks of Troop 25, we are fortunate to know the impact just a few have made on our community and even our nation.
Think of this, there are 191 Eagle Scout awards earned in the troop since 1926. Eagle Scout Projects became a requirement October 1, 1965, that means there are 130 projects in the area that made our region a better place to live. Projects we know include the playground behind the Canfield Presbyterian Church, the installation of Canfield Methodist Church Flag Poles; trail or grounds improvements at Greasel Park, Fair Park, Outdoor Classroom at Hilltop, Berlin State Park Campground, On Target, Collier Preserve and Greenford Christian Church. Display and shelving units were built for the Canfield City Hall, Beatitude House, War Vet Museum, and Youngstown Schools. There are many more projects that we have not identified, help us find these treasures so that we can document them on a map of community improvements led by our Scouts!
To become an Eagle Scout, there is much more than a project though. The life skills and community involvement are learned through the rank advancement and merit badges. First aid learned in Scouting, may just save someone’s life. Budgeting and cooking help as a Scout travels through life as they manage their own and their families affairs. The leadership demonstrated throughout the time with the troop, is one of the most essential skills that open doors for any rank of Scout. Having Scouting on a youth’s resume should offer a key to how this person approaches their commitments in the workplace.
All of our Scouts rise to amazing heights as they move on into their careers. Some rose to very high places. Myron Ullman III, who passed in 2024, was CEO of JC Penney in the early 2000’s, Dr. Arthur Haggis, Jr. rose to Brigadier General in the US Army in World War II, continued teaching and writing books later in life and is now interred in Arlington National Cemetery. Other career paths include Postmasters, Advertising, Real Estate, Neuroscientists, Engineering, Land Survey, Machine Design, Teaching at collegiate and secondary levels, Ministry, and Business Owners. Again, we continue to research the Eagle Scouts and other Scouts who were part of the unit and we would love to know the stories!
Many of our Scouts were involved in World War II, some enlisting even as they were finishing up their Eagle Award. One of our Eagles, Philip Bullock, Jr., was returning from a ‘lone wolf’ bombing mission of the Linz Tank Works, in Linz, Austria, when on return the engines seized up. Two crewmen jumped and were captured, the remains of the other 8 were recovered from the wreckage and were sent to Lorraine Cemetery in France. Lt. Bullock now lies in Mt. Prospect Cemetery in Franklinville, NY. Stories such as this are being researched to honor our ranks, photos are being collected where possible throughout the internet and from family.
Where would Scouting be though without our fearless leader, the Scoutmaster? Originally, the troop began as Troop 1 from 1913 to 1920, and had one Eagle awarded to Robert Manchester,II. After that, the troop did not recharter until it was registered as Troop 25 in 1926 by Herbert. A. Cassidy. He previously led Troop 13 in Ashtabula, then upon coming to the Canfield United Methodist Church as the pastor he rekindled Scouting in Canfield and served as Scoutmaster until 1928. James (Jimmy) B. Jones, Canfield’s Postmaster, was the first Committee Chair. And Robert Cassidy was the first Eagle Scout awarded in July 1927.
The list of Scoutmasters from 1928 to 1949
- 1928-1030 – Robert Manchester, II the Eagle Scout from Troop 1
- 1931-1935 – Charles J. Neff
- 1935-1936 – Hill McDonald
- 1936 – James E. Sherman
- 1936-1938 – James E. Thomas
- 1938 – Pack 25 is established
- 1939-1940 – Herman West (Our 7th Eagle Scout, 1931 and Postmaster of Canfield)
- 1941 – Kenneth Tanek
- 1942 – Wilbert Hood (Our 28th Eagle Scout, 1941)
- 1943 – Jack Rogers
- 1944 – James B. Jones
- 1945-1946 – James B. Beckenback
- 1947 – Arthur Haggis, Jr. (Our 20th Eagle Scout, 1939)
- 1948 – Don M. Johnston
- 1949 – William H. Bradshaw
- 1950 – 1971 Herman West returned
- 1972 – 1993 John Wolboldt, Eagle Scout (Our 27th Eagle Scout, 1940)
- 1993 – 1999 Steve Kowolsky, Eagle Scout
- 1999-2019 Kevin Prus (Our 83rd Eagle Scout, 1972)
- 2019 -present Donald Duda Jr. (Our 94th Eagle Scout, 1981)
It takes a special person to step up and lead a troop. Credentials include unflappable composure, unfailing persistence, boundless solutioning and the willingness to take teenagers that aren’t your own camping! However, it is one of amazing rewards – witnessing youth growing into their best selves, realizing they can, indeed, do something and it wasn’t that hard.
Troop 25 is headed the right way in the future. We have a great new cohort of Scouts that crossed over, and we really have faith that Scouting nationwide will continue to inspire our families for the right reasons – leadership, community and national pride, learning self-sustaining skills and investments in our youth.
Scouting has included girls in the Venturing program since the 1970’s and the Explorers program in the 1990’s. In 2019, Scouts BSA opened the opportunity to include female youth at the Troop level. Troop 8025 was established in the fall of 2019. They have one Eagle Scout, Emily Heino, to date with several more nearing completion of their requirements. As the troop enters its 7th year, they look forward to celebrating many more milestones while preparing girls the way they’ve watched their brothers become prepared for life.
The troop will be hosting a celebratory picnic on July 18th at the church’s pavilion. Registration will be available on Troop25Canfield.org. Please spread the news, and invite those who were part of the Troop and those who are curious of what Scouting is all about.
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