Have you ever looked intently at the pictures on our wall down in the scout room? If you have, you may have seen a picture of one Mr. Hammontree, our founding scoutmaster. Although many of you know our troop is in the Blue Elk district, and there’s an actual building at scout camp named after him, do you know much of anything else about him?
Mr. Hammontree not only founded Boy Scout Troop 282 in 1948, but he also held the position of Recording Medicine Man in the tribe of Mic-o-Say for a number of years back in the 1960s. While in that position, Mr. Hammontree, Medicine Man Blue Elk, built his reputation as a man boys could look up to, and strike up a conversation with at any time. As Dave Woodman will always say, Mr. Hammontree could be told your name once, and he would always remember it. A true friend, and a firm believer of the Boy Scouting program, Mr. Hammontree impacted the lives of many tribesmen, and non-tribesmen alike. After Mr. Hammontree’s passing in 1969, the Mic-o-Say records center was renamed in his honor, forever to be known as the Blue Elk Lodge. It is here that I have had the honor to take a position and work this summer on staff, to once again allow troop 282 to represent Mr. Hammontree’s legacy in the records center. It is also cool to know that Dave Woodman, Medicine Man Painted Elk, changed his tribal name to its current status because of his respect for J.D.
To represent troop 282 in Mr. Hammontree’s lodge is a big honor. It is a hard staff to get onto, and being asked to move into this position was a blessing. While in Blue Elk, I am constantly reminded of Mr. Hammontree by his picture on the wall, just as the one hanging in the scout room. It inspires me every day to do my job to the best of my ability so that maybe one day, I can say I had an impact somewhat close to that of our founding scoutmaster. I encourage each and every member of our troop to ask, and learn the history of our troop. Learning about Mr. Hammontree has been one of the most interesting aspects of working in Blue Elk, as I get to know more and more about the man we can only hear about at inductions. Also while working in his lodge, I have begun to truly see his impact at scout camp, and how much he truly meant to the Boy Scouting program in our area. Just as the Lone Star staff says, be proud of our past in troop 282. No other troop can say that they have a lodge at scout camp named after their founding scoutmaster. I would also like to encourage each and every member of troop 282 to come down on staff at least one summer. Maybe some day that will lead you to Blue Elk as well, such as my path has. It is impossible to put into words how much my love and respect for our scout troop and the program we run has grown by working on this staff. I am doing my best, and working my hardest to represent you, my fellow troop members, and myself as best as I can. I want people to know that 282 is a big deal, and we will continue to be a big deal for generations to come. People only have the highest of compliments for our troop, as they should. Can’t wait for you guys to come down to camp
SPL
Ashton England
Runner Black Diving Falcon