*Notice the pennant in the display case: “BOYS LIFE 1945 –46” – when the troop was first chartered.
Troop 80 was first chartered in March 1944 with sixteen boys, Scoutmaster A.M. Wiesner, Assistant Scoutmasters Dee Downs and S.W. Szabo, D.W. McCord as Troop Committee Chairman. The troop is one of only 250 in the entire nation that has been continuously chartered by the same sponsoring organization for 80 years. An enormous amount of Scouting history has passed through this Troop and this church.
Over 200 Eagle Scout ranks have been earned by Troop 80 since its founding, a success rate of over 55% compared to the 6% trend nationwide. In addition, many scouts over the years have earned the Religious Emblems Award, formerly known as the God and Country Award. Troop 80 has been an avid supporter of community service projects, enthusiastic participant in outdoor adventures and camping opportunities, and eager explorer of North Texas’ civic and historic resources. Our Troop is firmly dedicated to training Scouting skills and weaving those learning opportunities into our activities in both formal and informal ways.
In 1946 Dee Downs was Scoutmaster (creator & founder of Dallas Plumbing Company), and William R. Saunders & D.W. McCord, were assistant Scoutmasters. The first Eagle Scouts were produced that year: Miles Julian and Jack Morris (1946).
In 1947 C.E. McIntire served as Scoutmaster with William R. Saunders and Sam T. Alton as Assistant Scoutmasters. Four Eagles were awarded that year. (1947)
In 1948, 1949, 1950, and 1951, Sam T. Alton served as Scoutmaster with Brookin N. Wadley, Jr., and W.R. Saunders as Assistant Scoutmasters. Two Eagles were awarded during this time.
By August 1949, when Troop 80 had 50 boys registered, the need for a separate organization for boys over fourteen years of age was apparent, so Explorer Post 80 was formed with Brookin N. Wadley, Jr. as Advisor, Al Benjamin, Committee Chairman and D.W. McCord and William Saunders serving on the committee. The post was formed with eighteen boys, all but one from Troop 80.
From the inception of the Troop unitl 1950, D.W. McCord served as Troop Committee Chairman. John Janak, Jr. assumed this job in 1950 and D.W. McCord became Institutional Representative for a period of five years. Up until 1050 an assistant pastor had held the position of Institutional Representative.
In 1952 and 1953, O.S. Judd served as Scoutmaster. Three Eagles were awarded.
In 1954 W.R. Saunders served as Scoutmaster, having been Assistant Scoutmaster since 1946 and being the backbone of all troop camping these years. One Eagle was awarded.
Scoutmaster in 1956 was F.W. Mayes, in 1957 W.R. Saunders served as Institutional Representative.
Nat Baker led the troop in 1956 and 1957, W.R. Saunders served as Institutional Representative. Five Eagles were awarded during this period.
In 1958, J. Douglas McDonald served as Scoutmaster.
In 1959 and 1960, Dan T. Hughs was Scoutmaster. Brookin N. Wadley, Jr. served as Institutional Representative; Al Benjamin succeeded him and served as Institutional representative until 1964.
In 1962 John G. Russell was Scoutmaster and his Assistant Scoutmaster was Bill Saunders, who had Eagled in the troop. His father, W.R. Saunders was also still serving on the Troop Committee. In 1963, Frank Campbell joined John's team as Assistant Scoutmaster.
In its first 20 years, Troop 80 produced an average of one Eagle Scout per year, to say nothing of boys it led well up the ladder of Scouting, if not to the pinnacle. Its adult leaders had their share of recognition as well. Al Benjamin, D.W. McCord, W.R. Saunders, who really made Troop 80 a great camping Troop for eighteen years. Mrs. Saunders, his widow, recalls some of the exploits of Troop 80:
Over 200 Eagle Scout ranks have been earned by Troop 80 since its founding, a success rate of over 55% compared to the 6% trend nationwide. In addition, many scouts over the years have earned the Religious Emblems Award, formerly known as the God and Country Award. Troop 80 has been an avid supporter of community service projects, enthusiastic participant in outdoor adventures and camping opportunities, and eager explorer of North Texas’ civic and historic resources. Our Troop is firmly dedicated to training Scouting skills and weaving those learning opportunities into our activities in both formal and informal ways.
In 1946 Dee Downs was Scoutmaster (creator & founder of Dallas Plumbing Company), and William R. Saunders & D.W. McCord, were assistant Scoutmasters. The first Eagle Scouts were produced that year: Miles Julian and Jack Morris (1946).
In 1947 C.E. McIntire served as Scoutmaster with William R. Saunders and Sam T. Alton as Assistant Scoutmasters. Four Eagles were awarded that year. (1947)
In 1948, 1949, 1950, and 1951, Sam T. Alton served as Scoutmaster with Brookin N. Wadley, Jr., and W.R. Saunders as Assistant Scoutmasters. Two Eagles were awarded during this time.
By August 1949, when Troop 80 had 50 boys registered, the need for a separate organization for boys over fourteen years of age was apparent, so Explorer Post 80 was formed with Brookin N. Wadley, Jr. as Advisor, Al Benjamin, Committee Chairman and D.W. McCord and William Saunders serving on the committee. The post was formed with eighteen boys, all but one from Troop 80.
From the inception of the Troop unitl 1950, D.W. McCord served as Troop Committee Chairman. John Janak, Jr. assumed this job in 1950 and D.W. McCord became Institutional Representative for a period of five years. Up until 1050 an assistant pastor had held the position of Institutional Representative.
In 1952 and 1953, O.S. Judd served as Scoutmaster. Three Eagles were awarded.
In 1954 W.R. Saunders served as Scoutmaster, having been Assistant Scoutmaster since 1946 and being the backbone of all troop camping these years. One Eagle was awarded.
Scoutmaster in 1956 was F.W. Mayes, in 1957 W.R. Saunders served as Institutional Representative.
Nat Baker led the troop in 1956 and 1957, W.R. Saunders served as Institutional Representative. Five Eagles were awarded during this period.
In 1958, J. Douglas McDonald served as Scoutmaster.
In 1959 and 1960, Dan T. Hughs was Scoutmaster. Brookin N. Wadley, Jr. served as Institutional Representative; Al Benjamin succeeded him and served as Institutional representative until 1964.
In 1962 John G. Russell was Scoutmaster and his Assistant Scoutmaster was Bill Saunders, who had Eagled in the troop. His father, W.R. Saunders was also still serving on the Troop Committee. In 1963, Frank Campbell joined John's team as Assistant Scoutmaster.
In its first 20 years, Troop 80 produced an average of one Eagle Scout per year, to say nothing of boys it led well up the ladder of Scouting, if not to the pinnacle. Its adult leaders had their share of recognition as well. Al Benjamin, D.W. McCord, W.R. Saunders, who really made Troop 80 a great camping Troop for eighteen years. Mrs. Saunders, his widow, recalls some of the exploits of Troop 80:
“Shortly after the formation of Troop 80, when a group of doctors generously offered some property out Preston Road to be used as a campsite, a contest was held to decide on a name for this rugged but thoroughly appreciated acreage. The winner was Miles Julian and the name chosen was Camp BSOATE (Boy Scouts of America Troop Eighty).
One night when the patrols gathered around the campfire, one hungry boy stuck his can of beans in the fire. The can exploded! Another time, one boy made apple pie but when they got ready to eat, it was discovered he had used soap powder instead of flour. On a trip to the Brazos River, one boy found a rattlesnake in his bedroll. On a White Rock Camporee, one patrol wanted to be close to the road. When Scoutmaster Saunders went to check on the boys, he found their tent had been stolen without waking them.”
By February 1964, Troop 80 had grown large enough to warrant sponsoring a second troop at Highland Park Presbyterian Church. Troop 82 officially started operations in March 1965 with 35 boys from Troop 80, Frank Campbell as Scoutmaster, and Phillip E. Coldwell as Troop Committee Chairman. J. Colbert Peurifoy served as Institutional Representative for both Troops. Nat Baker served as Scoutmaster for Troop 80. Today, Troop 80 still strives to keep its membership at a manageable level of 20-40 scouts. This size ensures a high quality scouting program that leverages the patrol method and enables leadership opportunities, unique experiences, and personal attention for each of our Scouts.
Rebel Blackwell III served as Scoutmaster from 1972 – 1976, succeeded by Dr. Gary Rainwater in 1976. Danny Blackburn served as a Scoutmaster in the ‘70s, as did Fred McCommas. During the mid 70's, a group of older Scouts sneaked out of camp to play poker with a group of Girl Scouts down the road, only to lose all of their money and have to skip lunch on the way back from the camp out.
Robert "Bob" Sypult served as Scoutmaster from 1984 – 1994. The Troop sent two crews to The Charles L. Sommers National High Adventure Base (now known as Northern Tier) for a cross-border canoe trip in the summer of 1984. That year Troop 80 also hosted its first 10K and Fun Run which they repeated at Texas Stadium the next year during Circle Ten's annual Scout Show. Celebrating the council's 75th anniversary. The 1985 Scout Show attendance surpassed expectations with the 10K, a hot air balloon, Native American dancers, a "river", and circus tents housing games, exhibits, and feats of skill.
Tony Lehrner, MD served as Scoutmaster from 1998 – 2001. After his early retirement, Don Hults became Scoutmaster from 2001 – 2002.
John Withers, III served as Scoutmaster from 2002 – 2012. The Troop Committee Chairman/Chairwoman serving during John’s tenure as Scoutmaster from 2001 – 2012 were: Don Ostdick, followed by Mary Rembert, Lewis Krepps and Raymond Kane.
Special notice to Mrs. John Withers, Jr. – Mrs. Mojgan Withers has served in various key positions in Troop 80 well into her second decade. She is and has been a tremendous asset to the troop’s success. Most importantly, she personally has mentored hundreds of young men from boyhood to young adults as if they were her own. Her three sons are all Eagle Scouts. We owe her a debt that cannot be repaid.
Mike Sliva served as Scoutmaster from 2012-2015, and Lance Johnsen served as his Troop Committee Chair.
Andrew Dorn served as Scoutmaster from 2015-2017, and his Troop Committee Chair was Leanne Langholz. Barron Hamman was our Scoutmaster from 2017-2019, and Doug Trotman was the Scoutmaster from 2019-2020. Bob Buchholz served from 2021 to 2023 with Troop Committee Chair Anne Stodghill.
Additional recognition is given to Mr. Trip Jones, a member of the Troop 80 family continuously since 1964 and an Eagle Scout earned while a youth member in Troop 80. He was the troop’s Adult Chaplain for numerous years and served as a Deacon for HPPC.
Since 2023, the Scoutmaster has been Ben Abbott and the Troop Committee Chair, McKenna Michel.
Our Future
Troop 80 always strives to put the Scout Law into action, and to live life by the Scout Oath, Motto, and Slogan while seeking new opportunities to help with advancement “on the Eagle Trail.” It is dedicated to providing today’s youth with a fun-filled organization designed to promote personal discipline, a sense of responsibility and accountability to others, and the development of leadership skills.
Our future aims for growth and continued recruitment as boys graduate from the program. The future holds excitement in trips to Philmont for high country hiking, Florida for sailing, the boundary waters for canoeing voyageur adventures, for visits to military installations, government facilities, airports, and community locations of major interest. The future is learning scout skills, working in a patrol to achieve group and individual goals. The future is boys who are excited about their own program and developing a continuing tradition in Troop 80 that they can be proud of throughout their lives.
Our future aims for growth and continued recruitment as boys graduate from the program. The future holds excitement in trips to Philmont for high country hiking, Florida for sailing, the boundary waters for canoeing voyageur adventures, for visits to military installations, government facilities, airports, and community locations of major interest. The future is learning scout skills, working in a patrol to achieve group and individual goals. The future is boys who are excited about their own program and developing a continuing tradition in Troop 80 that they can be proud of throughout their lives.