The following year, the course was held at the Buffalo Trail Council’s sea base at Colorado City, Texas where they were able to provide both tent camping and dormitory style sleeping for both men and women.  The Master’s program was offered for the first time.

The Concho Valley Council hosted the third year of the College at Goodfellow Air Force Base on April 27-28, 1985.  James Young, Council Commissioner, completed the arrangements for the training.  Dale B. Brannom of Abilene served as Dean of the School.  The Doctoral program was offered for the first time.  Now a commissioner could get their Bachelor’s Degree, Master’s Degree and finally their Doctoral Degree by participating in the program for three years.

In 1986 the program was moved to the fall due to so many conflicts in the spring.  The program was moved back to the spring and was held in the Houston-Harte University Center at Angelo State University on April 9, 1988, and then back to Camp Tonkawa in 1989.  By 1992, the College had moved back to the Sea Base at Colorado City, Texas.  The date was once again changed to the third weekend in February where it has remained several years.  It was back to Camp Tonkawa February 23, 2001.

Neal Sanders was patrol leader of the "Roosters", J. T. Sorrells of the "Eagles", Norris Creath of the "Lions" and Charles Kirkpatrick of the "Owls."

Saturday afternoon the Scouts passed all Tenderfoot tests, studied and recited on two instruction sheets on leadership training, learned to signal, and made patrol totems with material gathered on the grounds   After dinner they heard a lecture on First Aid, tied Tenderfoot bandages and attended a  campfire.  Taps was heard by a tired camp at 10:15.

Sunday morning, following calisthenic drill intermingled with lusty songs, they ate breakfast, heard a lecture on leadership ability, worked on second class tests, heard Chief Parker speak on ways they could help the fire department, procured a patrol mascot, ate a "huge chicken dinner" and continued work on their second class tests.  An inter-patrol field meet was held at 4 p.m. with contests in first aid, fire building, potato cooking, wall scaling and patrol unity.

The Lion Patrol edged out the Owls by 2 points.  Hundreds of cars carried spectators to the field meet and many of them expressed surprise at the knowledge the Scouts had gained during the conference.

A second Patrol Leaders conference was held at Christoval on April 17 and 18th and was aquatic in the most part, closing with a water carnival.

The first such training course in the Council was held at Camp Sol Mayer the week of  June 20-26, 1976 and cost $30.00 per boy.  Leaders of the week-long experience were Ray Kedziora, Victor Meza, Ivan White, Lee Lishka and Jim Sullivan.

Brownsea Double-Two was held every other year  for several years.  The second Brownwsea Double-Two was held at Camp Fawcett the week of June 15, 1978.  Fifty-six Scouts from twenty Troops completed the camp.  Leaders for this event were Victor Meza, Ray Smith, Tom Mulhern, Bob Darter, Steve Joyce, Danny Rogers and Alex Kedziora.

The third course was held July 13-19, 1980 at Camp Fawcett.  They consolidated two proven programs for the training of troop leaders—Brownsea Double-Two and a new Junior Leader Training Conference guide published that year.

The one held at Camp Sol Mayer May 27—June 2, 1984, had Bill Ruth, Scoutmaster;; Will Allison, Assistant Scoutmaster; Tony Chambless, SPL; Russell Cooke, ASPL and John Herrera, Jr. as Quartermaster.  Forty-eight Scouts participated from twenty-six troops.  Only two Scouts from a troop could participate.  They had six patrols of eight Scouts each.

The fifth Brownsea Double-Two was held at Camp Sol Mayer from July 13 - 19, 1986.  Will Allison served as Scoutmaster and was assisted by Jim Kimbrel, Jerry Kirchgraber and Robert Allison.  Randy Schrieber served as Senior Patrol Leader.  Each troop could nominate up to five Scouts to participate in the training event.  By now, the cost of the course had risen to $85.00.

Yet another Brownwsea Double-Two was to be held July 13 -  19, 1989 at Camp Fawcett with James Young serving as course Scoutmaster.  No other details were available except for a letter that went out to all staff for the course on February 19, 1989.

A Junior Leader Traing Course was held at Camp Fawcett in 1996 with thirty-six Scouts.  Leaders of the course were Mike Erickson and Scott Jarmon.

The first Junior Leader Training Workshop, known by most as simply “JLTW” was held in the University Center of Angelo State University in San Angelo on November 8, 1980.  They charged a fee of $3.50 and provided each participant with lunch, a patch, certificate and a notebook to take home with them.  They then recruited a staff of fifteen youth and adults to put on the sessions.  They were expecting some 60 Scouts to show up and instead had 165 from 21 Scout troops or 38% of all the troops in the Council.   It was such a success that plans were made to make it an annual event.

The first staff consisted of Doug Warren, Kyle Zentner, Mark Ferrich, Richard Benton, Frank Hilton, David Brosig, Mike Brosig, Larry Cox, Geroge Houle, David Rohmfeld, Ray Kedziora, Tony Chambless, Walter Campbell and Paul Adams.  Most of them were high school and college age Scouts.

By 1984, the staff had grown to 30 members.  The last known Junior Leader Training Workshop was held on January 14, 1989 with some 150 Scouts and Scouters participating even though there was snow on the ground.  By then, the fee had increased to $7.00.

These training courses were originally held in Gilwell Park, England, and are still offered there today.  At that time they were known as the “Scout Officers’ Training Course.”  The beads were presented at that first course.  The Gilwell scarf did not appear until 1921 with the tartan patch.

When Wood Badge first came to the United States one could only take it at Schiff Scout Reservation or at Philmont Scout Ranch.  The first Wood Badge Course under BSA leadership was conducted at Schiff from July 31 to August 8, 1948, with Bill Hillcourt as Deputy Camp Chief.  The second course was held at Philmont Scout Ranch in October 1948.  For the first ten years of Wood Badge, the basis of instruction was to train men to serve as Council Scout Trainers.

Texas Southwest Council Wood Badge History
The first Wood Badge Course held by the Concho Valley Council was held at Camp Sol Mayer in 1975. The course was SC-57 and was a seven-day outdoor training event. The course was well attended by the Scouters of the Council.  In fact, the course was such a success that a second course was held two years later at Camp Fawcett  June 4-11, 1977. The course number was SC-104.  A third course was held at Camp Sol Mayer, SC-241, June 4-11, 1983. A follow-up Seminar was held September 9-11 of that same year to assist the participants of SC-241 work on their tickets.

Following the course at Sol Mayer in 1983, Buffalo Trail, Comanche Trail, Concho Valley and Chisholm Trail Councils joined together to have a Wood Badge Course for the four councils each year.  They are still being held at Hughes Aquatic Base near Colorado City, Texas, Camp Tonkawa, Buffalo Gap, Texas or at Camp Billy Gibbons, Richland Springs, Texas with each council helping to provide staff for the course.

Wood Badge – a new beginning & a new tradition

In October 2010, the kudu horn called 30 participants and 16 staff to the field at Gilwell for the first Wood Badge for the 21st Century course in the former Concho Valley Council.  It was know as Wood Badge 1.

This historic course was held at both Camp Sol Mayer and Camp Fawcett exposing everyone to the rich diversity within the former Concho Valley council.

In October 2012, Wood Badge 2 continued the tradition.  After all, it does not do any good being first if there is not a second and third to share in the riches. 

In October 2014, the tradition continued with Wood Badge 3.  How-how to the Texas Southwest Council for establishing the traditions of Wood Badge for the 21st Century!

In April 2016, the tradition continued with Wood Badge 4.  How-how to the Texas Southwest Council for establishing the traditions of Wood Badge for the 21st Century!

According to council records the following Scouters of this council have taken Wood Badge.

The following took Wood Badge  SR-1064 741-1, Fall 2010, and are currently working on their tickets:

DON BUCHHOLZ  SAN ANGELO
DAVID CARTER  SAN ANGELO
PRICE CHAMBERS  RIO FRIO
JOHN DAVIS  UTOPIA
MIKE DIXON  SAN ANGELO
JAMES HAYS  SAN ANGELO
JEFF ISENBERG  UVALDE
GERARDO MARTINEZ  UVALDE
MAC MCCARSON  SAN ANGELO
DENNIS MCGUIRE  SAN ANGELO
JOHN MOGFORD  JUNCTION
MARIO MORALES  UVALDE
GUADALUPE "LUPE" MORENO Jr  SAN ANGELO
GEOFFREY PARKER  SAN ANGELO
ROBERT PEREZ SAN ANGELO
GARY SCHREIBER  DEL RIO
DAINA  SCHWARTZ  SAN ANGELO
SCOOTER SCOTT  MERTZON
HAROLD SHARP  SAN ANGELO
BUTCH SIMPSON  SAN ANGELO
KEITH SOUTHERLAND  UVALDE
SAM SPOONER  SAN ANGELO
BARRY WIKE  SAN ANGELO
BRENDA WHITE  SAN ANGELO
CARL FRENTZ  SAN ANGELO

Last Updated:  November 11, 2019
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