| WHO WE ARE AND OUR HISTORY |
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| Page 2 |
The Vietnam War affected the Troop in 1967 when a former Scout, Greg
Kasper, was killed in the war. A few other Scouts, including Mike Reese and
Larry Biasi, also served in Viet Nam. That military tradition continues through
today with Mike O’Connell joining other former Scouts Jim Grish and Tom
Mulvenna to name a few.
In the 70’s as those small tents wore out, the Troop shifted to large wall
canvas tents that allowed more Scouts to sleep in less space. The Scout
camp at Yorkville was renamed Hoover Scout Camp and the Troop started
camping further west at places like Silver Springs near Plano, Lake Le-Aqua-
Na and Mississippi Palisades. Along with places like Rock Cut and Chain-O-
Lakes, the Troop camped almost monthly. Summer meetings moved to Field
Park in Park Ridge where monster softball games were staged. Although the
Troop placed camping above advancement, some Scouts succeeded to
Eagle. Les and Tom Dombai were among the earliest to achieve the highest
rank in Scouting. Another pair of brothers, Carl and Fred Palfy, followed
them, and Victor Jacobellis received his in 1989.
Kasper, was killed in the war. A few other Scouts, including Mike Reese and
Larry Biasi, also served in Viet Nam. That military tradition continues through
today with Mike O’Connell joining other former Scouts Jim Grish and Tom
Mulvenna to name a few.
In the 70’s as those small tents wore out, the Troop shifted to large wall
canvas tents that allowed more Scouts to sleep in less space. The Scout
camp at Yorkville was renamed Hoover Scout Camp and the Troop started
camping further west at places like Silver Springs near Plano, Lake Le-Aqua-
Na and Mississippi Palisades. Along with places like Rock Cut and Chain-O-
Lakes, the Troop camped almost monthly. Summer meetings moved to Field
Park in Park Ridge where monster softball games were staged. Although the
Troop placed camping above advancement, some Scouts succeeded to
Eagle. Les and Tom Dombai were among the earliest to achieve the highest
rank in Scouting. Another pair of brothers, Carl and Fred Palfy, followed
them, and Victor Jacobellis received his in 1989.
In the early 1980’s a group of
older Scouts planned our first trip to
the Boundary Waters to start high
adventure in the Troop. White
water rafting followed that, cross-
country skiing at the Indiana Dunes
and those trips continue to the
present.
older Scouts planned our first trip to
the Boundary Waters to start high
adventure in the Troop. White
water rafting followed that, cross-
country skiing at the Indiana Dunes
and those trips continue to the
present.
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As Vince Zegers
advanced in age, Pete
Schmidt stepped in as
Asst. Scoutmaster and ran
outings, then meetings and
with Tom Cotter, kept the
Troop healthy into the 90’s.
After thirty years, the Chief
retired and in 1991, Mike
Reese became
Scoutmaster. The Troop
returned to camping in
small tents and purchased
it’s first Timberline, the tent
we are presently using.
advanced in age, Pete
Schmidt stepped in as
Asst. Scoutmaster and ran
outings, then meetings and
with Tom Cotter, kept the
Troop healthy into the 90’s.
After thirty years, the Chief
retired and in 1991, Mike
Reese became
Scoutmaster. The Troop
returned to camping in
small tents and purchased
it’s first Timberline, the tent
we are presently using.
In October of 1993, Vince
Zegers passed away at the
age of 84. He was like a
second father to the Scouts
of Troop 965. He is still
remembered by the older
Scouts in their thirties through
fifties at annual camping
reunions when closing
prayers are started with
“May the Great Scoutmaster
of all good Scouts be with us
till we meet again”. Although
in the prayer The Lord God is
the Great Scoutmaster, the
prayer allows some older
Scouters to think of the Chief.
Zegers passed away at the
age of 84. He was like a
second father to the Scouts
of Troop 965. He is still
remembered by the older
Scouts in their thirties through
fifties at annual camping
reunions when closing
prayers are started with
“May the Great Scoutmaster
of all good Scouts be with us
till we meet again”. Although
in the prayer The Lord God is
the Great Scoutmaster, the
prayer allows some older
Scouters to think of the Chief.
Mike Frey joined the Troop with his son, Ryan, and took High Adventure to a
new level. The older Scouts climbed Mt. Washington in New Hampshire (where
the 4th and final generation Scout van died) and biked over 130 miles from St.
Juliana to Mauthe Lake to name a few. The Troop built a trailer to carry gear on
trips. Jack Donoval became Scoutmaster in 2000 and helped increase the
Troop’s roster from a low of 3 boys to over 30 and focused the Scouts on
advancement. The Troop was honored with another Eagle from Anthony Niles
and three more from Mike O’Connell, Rob Perkins and Pat McGonagle. High
adventure trips continued for the older Scouts with trips to the Boundary Waters,
Sea Base, where Scouts and Leaders scuba dove in the Florida Keys, and
Philmont Scout Camp. The Troop purchased a trailer to carry gear on trips and
it gets a real workout.
John Pelrine became Scoutmaster in 2003 and is presently our current
Leader. Bill Gehrling, Dan O’Connell, Brian Pelrine, Dan Stolarski and David
Oulvey received their Eagle rank in unison, with Will Dombai (2nd generation)
and Tom Hanusiak achieving the Eagle rank in 2007.
new level. The older Scouts climbed Mt. Washington in New Hampshire (where
the 4th and final generation Scout van died) and biked over 130 miles from St.
Juliana to Mauthe Lake to name a few. The Troop built a trailer to carry gear on
trips. Jack Donoval became Scoutmaster in 2000 and helped increase the
Troop’s roster from a low of 3 boys to over 30 and focused the Scouts on
advancement. The Troop was honored with another Eagle from Anthony Niles
and three more from Mike O’Connell, Rob Perkins and Pat McGonagle. High
adventure trips continued for the older Scouts with trips to the Boundary Waters,
Sea Base, where Scouts and Leaders scuba dove in the Florida Keys, and
Philmont Scout Camp. The Troop purchased a trailer to carry gear on trips and
it gets a real workout.
John Pelrine became Scoutmaster in 2003 and is presently our current
Leader. Bill Gehrling, Dan O’Connell, Brian Pelrine, Dan Stolarski and David
Oulvey received their Eagle rank in unison, with Will Dombai (2nd generation)
and Tom Hanusiak achieving the Eagle rank in 2007.