"In 1912 a troop was organized at the Central Presbyterian Church in Abilene.  Another troop was formed soon after at the First Baptist Church.  While troops came and went with leadership, Abilene (Texas) had some Scouting continuously.  It was difficult to keep the troops going as each registered directly with the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America and were independent of each other.

A group of men in Abilene decided it was time to organize a council so that the troops would work together and have a more stable program, as well as leadership.  The Abilene Reporter on June 9, 1922 had the following announcement of a meeting at the Mission Theater, to be held June 16, for the purpose or organizing a council.

"The Boy Scouts of America is 12 years of age.  Just the age when it takes a boy into the organization as a Tenderfoot.  The Boy Scouts of America today is a Tenderfoot, too. Scouting seeks to help boys into right chartered citizenship, seeks to make boys loyal, strong, useful Americans.  Not just citizens of New York or New Orleans but citizens of the Unites States of American.  National Scouting is the summations of its Local Units."

A good group of local citizens attended this first meeting and the local council organization was perfected.  The Abilene Council was chartered that summer as a first class council with its territory the City of Abilene.  James C. Hinsley was listed as the Scout executive.  He resigned after a few month's work and was succeeded by Rev. John W. Price.  Dr. R. A. Maddox, Sr., was the first President of the new council and Rev. W. M. Pearce was selected as Scout Commissioner.

Their first office was located in the Parks Office Building, which was located on the corner of South First and Chestnut streets.

Although the new council did well, it never overcame the problem of raising enough money.  People were not use to giving to a central organization of Scouting, as they had given their money to the local troops in town.  It was finally decided that, in order to survive, they would have to expand their financial base by include other counties.  They called upon the Regional office for help.

During the latter part of 1925, Carl W. Barnes, who was an executive at Okmulgee, OK, came into Abilene to expand the territory of the council.   Several counties were contacted and a meeting was held at the Stamford High School during February of 1926.   Interested citizens from ten counties attended the meeting.  Of those in attendance, seven of the counties voted to participate in the new council.  Being as this was to be an "area council," the name of the council was changed to Chisholm Trail Council.   It was made up of  Taylor, Shackelford, Haskell, Jones, Callahan, Coleman, and a part of Runnels counties.