Frank T. Hilton

First of all, I am a retired professional Scouter who served various positions in Texas during the forty-two years I worked for the Boy Scouts of America.  My wife and I selected to retire January 1997 in Brownwood, Texas, where we have lived for the past seventeen years. Jobs in the profession have included Field Executive, District Executive, Program Director, Director of Exploring, Assistant Scout Executive, Field Director and Scout Executive.

I have always been fascinated by the local history of the area I lived in and have focused that interest on the military forts of West Texas, local community history, as well as the history of Scouting in West Texas.  Along the way I have helped develop three historical trails, a local historical walk and either have written or help write four books on Scout history. 

They are:

Fort McKavett Historical Trail - Available from Concho Valley Council office (medal & patch)
Fort Concho Historical Trail - Available from Concho Valley Council office (patch)
Fort Stockton Historical Trail - No longer used by local council but they are working to reopen it.
A Walk Through Old Historical Brownwood - Available from Brown County Museum of History
A Walk Through Historical Brownwood - A 58 minute video available from the Brown County Museum of History.  Produced for the museum by the Texas State Technical College in Brownwood.
Panjandrum A History of Scouting in Concho Valley Council, 1911 - 2001 - Now available from the Concho Valley Council Office in San Angelo or myself.  Over 182 pages of text and over 100 photos covers the story of the council for 90 years.  All 2,500 Eagle Scouts are in the book along with Silver Beavers, Vigils, camps, activities, etc.  Major update from the Panjandrum of 1911 - 1941. 
Ninety Years of Service, A History of Comanche Trail Council, 1910 - 1999 - Available from author.
Panjandrum A History of Scouting in the Concho Valley Council 1911 - 1941 - Found only in libraries in the council area.  Has been out of print for several years. Replaced by the 1911-2001 revision above.
Wahinkto Lodge, Order of the Arrow, 1941 - 1991 - Out of print.  Has been merged into new edition of "Panjandrum." .
Otena Lodge, Order of the Arrow, 1945 - 1995 - Out of print. Was merged into "Ninety Years of Service" above.
E-Book on History of Otena Lodge, 2005 - Found on this website.

There are copies of the above at the Library of Congress, National Boy Scout Museum, Angelo State University, local libraries in Concho Valley Council, Comanche Trail Council, and in the hands of those who helped me with the information found in the books.  The books were written to preserve the history of Scouting in this area, not to sell and make money. 

Shortly after retiring, I learned how to do web pages, thanks to some friends who were willing to try and teach an old dog new tricks.  In 1997, I created a web site for the Brownwood District of the United Methodist Church, Central Texas Conference.  I messed it up so badly, that I decided I needed to create a web site of my own to "practice" on.  What started out as a simple one page practice site, has expanded over the years into the story of Scouting in this West Texas area with over 450 pages of material.  I serve as webmaster for six other non-profit websites.

Schooling:

• Gradated from Longview High School, Longview, Texas, 1951
• Graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a BA degree in Sociology and a minor in History, 1955.

• Eagle Scout 1950, Troop 201, Longview, Texas
• God and Country Award 1950, First Methodist Church, Longview, Texas
• The Cross and Flame Award 1990, St. Luke United Methodist Church, San Angelo, Texas
• Scouter Training Award, Yucca Area Council, October 1958
• Professional Training Award
• Wood Badge at Philmont, Zastro #184, August 11-19,1962
• Former Explorer Advisor, Post 3, Austin, Texas
• Former Scoutmaster, Troop 23, El Paso, Texas
• Former Scoutmaster, Troop 333, San Angelo, Texas
• Troop Committeeman, Treasurer, Troop 14, Brownwood, Texas to present
• Comanche Trail Council Executive Board, Brownwood, Texas, 2000-2002
• Silver Beaver Award, 2002, Comanche Trail Council
• James E. West Fellowship, 1994
• BSA National Certificate of Merit, 1996
• Student at three BSA National Camp Schools, on staff at 15 other BSA National Camp Schools

• OA Distinguished Service Award 1983
• Member, Tejas Lodge #72 1948 - 1951
• Staff Adviser, Tonkawa Lodge #99 1962 - 1967
• Staff Adviser, Tejas Lodge #72 1970 - 1973
• Staff Adviser, Wahinkto Lodge #199 1974 - 1990
• Staff Adviser, Otena Lodge #295 1991 - 1996
• Member, Otena Lodge #295 1997-2003
• Member, Penateka Lodge #561 2004-2007
• Vigil Member of the Order of the Arrow, Tonkawa Lodge, 1964
• Former Section Staff Adviser of Sections 9-B, 9-D, SC-3-B and SC-Section IV

• Life Member, Alpha Phi Omega National Service Fraternity
• Member (1953-1955) and Adviser (1963-1967), Alpha Rho Chapter, University of Texas
• Helped organize and Adviser to Nu Gamma, Southwest Texas State University,  1960 - 1962
• Helped organize and Adviser to Rho Lambda, St. Mary's University, 1966 - 1967
• Helped organize and Adviser to Omega Gamma, Angelo State University, 1976 - 1984
• Served as Section 40 Chairman of Alpha Phi Omega, 1979 - 1980

• Member, Treasurer, Brown County Historical Commission
• Member, Brown County Historical Society, Outstanding Service Award, 2006
• Member, Treasurer, Heritage Association of Brown County
• Member, Johnson Sunday School Class & United Methodist Men, First United Methodist Church
• Communications Committee Chairperson, Central Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church
• Communications Co-Chairperson, Brownwood District, Central Texas Conference of UMC
• Honorary Member, Editor of Rotary Banner, Brownwood Rotary Club, former President
• Charter Member, Martin and Francis Lehnis Railroad Museum, also volunteer property manager
• Member, Troop Committee, Troop 14, treasurer