Prairie Sky
Council
Formerly SOUTH PLAINS COUNCIL
Scouting America
Prairie
Sky Council Website
The Prairie Sky Council, Scouting America serves the
Texas Panhandle, Oklahoma Panhandle, and South
Plains. Headquartered in Amarillo with a service
center in Lubbock as of June 1, 2026.
Some History of the Merged Councils
Golden Spread Council |
1986 - 2026
[...more details
coming soon]
The Golden Spread Council (#562) was formed in
1987 from the consolidation of the Llano
Estacado Council (based in Amarillo, TX) and
the Adobe Walls Council (based in Pampa, TX).
It consisted of a 27 county geographical area
in the Texas and Oklahoma panhandles and was
divided into three districts: Adobe Walls
District, Lone Wolf District, and Golden Eagle
District.
South Plains Council |
1925-2026
In 1925, the
South Plains Council (#694) was formed.
In the fall of 1924, Mr. L.S. Harkey
approached Mr. K.N. Clapp with the idea of
organizing an Area Council of the Boy Scouts
of America. Mr. Clapp agreed to help, and they
gathered a group of men together including Sam
Henry, Sr. of Lubbock, Marshall Mason of Post,
Joe N. Spikes and Dr. J. C. Loveless of Lamesa
and made an application for local Council
Charter. The National Council chartered the
South Plains Council, Boy Scouts of America in
January 1925.
The first president of the Council was Mr. Sim
O'Neal, assisted by Vice-President Mr. Clapp,
and the first Scout Executive was Mr. H.B.
Palmer. Mr. Clapp organized a Scout Troop, and
this was used as an exhibition troop. The
Troop was taken from town to town throughout
the area of the Council, where they put on
demonstrations of scouting skills and camped
in the City Square. Troops were organized
throughout the area by this procedure.
The first camp of the Council was held in July
1925, at Ruidoso Springs, New Mexico, nearly
300 miles from Lubbock. 142 boys and 34 men
camped for 10 days. The Council quickly grew
to at least 12 Troops actively camping, with a
membership of 306 boys.
Early Scouting
History...
Llano Estacado Council
| 1921 - 1986
In 1921, the
Amarillo Council (#562) was founded and
changed its name to Panhandle Area Council in
1924. In 1928, it changed its name to Amarillo
Area Council. In 1939, the council changed its
name to Llano Estacado Council (#562). In
1986, it merged with Adobe Walls to form the
Golden Spread Council (#562).
Central Plains Council
| 1926 - 1929
In 1926, the
Central Plains Council (#482) was formed,
merging into the South Plains Council (#694)
in 1929.
Adobe Walls Council |
1928 - 1986
In 1928, the
Adobe Walls Council (#569) was founded and
changed its name to Adobe Walls Area Council
in 1934. In 1986 it merged with Llano Estacado
Council to form the Golden Spread Council
(#562).
Additional History
Written by W. R. Postma
(Additional material from Minor Huffman's book)
In 1922, a
second class council was organized in Lubbock for
the city of Lubbock. In the fall of 1924, Mr. L. S.
Harkey approached Kenneth N. Clapp with the idea of
organizing an Area Council of the Boy Scouts of
America. Mr. Clapp agreed to help and they gathered
a group of men together including Sam Henry, Sr. of
Lubbock, Marshall Mason of Post, Joe N. Spikes and
Dr. J. C. Loveless of Lamesa and made an application
for local Council Charter.
The
National Council chartered the South Plains Council,
Boy Scouts of America in January 1925. The new first
class council included Dickens, Lubbock, Cochran,
Gaines, Lynn, Crosby, Garza, Terry, Hockley and
Yoakum. The first president of the Council was
Mr. Sim O’Neal, Vice-President, Mr. K. N. Clapp and
the first Scout Executive was Mr. H. B. Palmer. Mr.
Clapp organized a Scout Troop and this Scout Troop
was used as an exhibition Troop. The Troop was taken
from town to town throughout the area of the Council
where they put on demonstrations of Scouting Skills
and Camped in the City Square. This troop was
followed up a few days later and Troops were
organized throughout the Area Council by this
procedure.
The first
camp of the Council was held in July 1925, 80 miles
west of Roswell, New Mexico. The camping spot was at
Ruidoso Springs, New Mexico, nearly 300 miles
from Lubbock. 142 boys and 34 men camped for 10
days. The trip was made by truck.
In the
fall, following the first camping trip to Ruidoso
Springs, L. S. Harkey, H. B.Palmer, K. N. Clapp, and
Marshall Mason toured the entire Council Area
looking for a suitable campsite for the
Council. None was found to please them and a short
time later Marshall Mason called Mr.Clapp and asked
him to come to Post because there was a site on the
Double U Ranch that they had overlooked; Mr. Harkey,
Mr. Clapp and Mr. Mason went out to look at the site
and liked what they saw. In conference with Mr. Sam
B. Bardwell, Manager of the Post Estate, they made
application to the Post Estate for a portion of the
ranch as a Camp. Mr. Clapp said they only expected
about 160 acres so they asked for 300 acres and
after Mr. Bardwell had swapped a piece of tillable
land for another canyon. Mr. Bardwell told Mr. Clapp
to go on back to Lubbock and write his own ticket on
400.77 acres of land. Mr. Clapp reports that no gift
was ever given more graciously to the Council than
the land by the Post Estate for the new C. W. Post
Memorial Scout Camp. The paper work was completed on
the gift of the Camp Property about three months
before the summer camp of 1926. Mr. L. S.
Harkey made Mr. Clapp the proposition the he would
go raise the money to develop the Camp if Mr. Clapp
would go build the camp. That’s the way it turned
out.
The budget
for the first year’s operation was originally set at
$9,000.00 but was finally cut to $6,500.00. The
first Council Commissioner was Mr. L. S. Harkey. The
first record that can be found of the meeting of the
Council’s Executive Board was a luncheon held
on October 30, 1925 in Lamesa. At this time there
were 12 Troops within the Council with a membership
of 306 boys.
The first
Annual Meeting of the Council was held at O’Donnell,
Texas on January 19, 1926, at which time officers
were elected for the New Year and a budget of
$11,200.00, was adopted. In 1927 Borden and
Dawson was addded. In 1933 Bailey County was
transferred from Eastern New Mexico.
According
to Minor Huffman, in his book History of Region
Nine, Boy Scouts of America, 1920-1967, another
second class council was also organized in
1922. This second class council was
located in Plainview. The council was
comprised of the following counties: Briscoe,
Castro, Floyd, Hale, Lamb, Motley and Swisher. The
second class council in Plainview became the Central
Plains Council in 1928. E. L. Roberts, who had
served as a field executive in the Panhandle Council
at Amarillo, became the executive. The council
embraced 71/2 counties and it is assumed that it
include the counties of Briscoek Castro, Floyd,
Hale, Lamb, Motley and Swicher. E. L. Roberts
made heroic efforts to keep the council alive,
contirbuting generously of his own funds, but
conditions were against him and the Central Plains
Council suspended operations in 1931. The
entrie territory was place on direct service, and in
1936 the territory was transferred to South Plains
Council.
The budget
of the second year was cut form $11,200.00 to
$6,500.00. The outstanding Board Meeting of 1926 was
held on April 5th at Texas Tech College as
guests of Dr. Paul Horn. The first record I find of
completed Training Courses was in May 1926 when 3
training courses in Tahoka, O’Donnell and Lamesa
were competed.
The
highlight of the year 1926 was the celebration
Jubilee at the C.W. Post Memorial Boy Scout Camp
where a free dinner was given to all who were
present for the Dedicatory Ceremony.
Approximately 2000 people were present. The Council,
at this time, had a total of 29 Troops and 720
Scouts. The first session of Camp held at C.W. Post
Memorial Scout Camp was held in August 1926. In
September of the same year the Boy Scouts had their
first Exhibits at the South Plains-Panhandle Fair.
Seven troops set up Service Units that interested
thousands of people into inquiring about Scouting.
An interesting side light in September 1926 was the
present price of cotton and excessive rains
had delayed the collection of all Council Finances
at that time. The first Field meets of the Council
was held on December 29th and 7 troops from Lubbock
attended. Courts of Honor were set up and held in
Crosbyton and at Ralls during this month.
1927
In
February, Dickens County was added to the South
Plains Council. Mr. H. B. Palmer, the first Scout
Executive of the Council left in February 1927 and
MR. W. B. Knox who came in October followed him.
During the interval a school man from Dallas came
out and helped the Council during the summer months
as their acting Scout Executive by the name of W. B.
Yates. Mr. L. S. Harkey was president, during this
year and Mr. L. G. H. Williams was the Council
Commissioner. Dr. Paul V. Horn, Chairman of the
Council Leadership Training Committee, organized the
Training Courses for the Council in November. In
December the Council President, National Council
Committeemen, Scout Executive and several others
represented the South Plains Council at it’s first
Regional Conference in Dallas.
1927
The
membership at the end of 1925 was 422 boys, 98
adults, and 17 units making a total Council
membership of 520. The total membership of 1926 was
655 boys, 129 adults, and 31 units, for a grand
total membership of 784. During the years 1925,
1926, and 1927 tremendous difficulties were
experienced in adequately financing theCouncil.
1928
An
interesting figure recorded in January of this year
showed that the population of the entire Council
Territory was 61,000 people. Mr. R. J. Murrey was
elected president of the Council in 1928. Mr. W. P.
Knox, the second executive of the Council, left the
Council in December. Plainview and the area in the
old Central Plains Council joined the South Plains
Council.
1929
Starting
in January, Mr. K. N. Clapp, Council Commissioner,
and Mr. L. G. H. Williams were the acting Scout
Executives’ on a volunteer basis for the Council.
The Council was some $8,000.00 in debt. Executive
Knox was removed by Deputy Regional Executive Mr.
Voss on February 7th. Under Mr. Clapp’s and Mr.
William’s leadership in March, we find listed in the
program of the Council; Lubbock Scoutmaster
Roundtable, Brownfield Court of Honor, organization
of a troop in Post, organization of a troop in
Slaton, Court of Honor in Lubbock and Tahoka, and a
Finance Campaign in Spur.
By April
30, Mr. Clapp and Mr. Williams, along with Mr. F. A.
Norman, treasurer of the Council, had reduced the
Council’s debt down to $2,200.00 and had increased
the Scouting Membership from 385 to 511, troops from
19 to 28. This year was closed out showing that
under Mr. Clapp and Mr. Williams the expenses of
this year were $9,063.22, with the total of
$9,942.10 having been taken in on their Finance
Campaign. 1929 membership showed that there were 31
units with 554 scouts, 287 adults, making a
total of 841 membership.
1930
Budget for
this year was set at $11,000.00. A new Executive by
the name of D. T. Jennings who came from Missouri
was employed in May. This year was ended with the
total of 610 scouts, 314 adults, for a grand total
membership of 924 in 31 units.
1931
Mr. T. A.
White was elected president of the Council at the
Council’s Annual Meeting on January 29, 1931. On May
10th, the first session of the Scoutmaster’s
Training Course was held at Texas Tech College and
the Southern District held an overnight Camp and
Field Meet in Tahoka. The budget for this year was
$6,000.00. Highlight in the month of July was a
Scout Family Picnic and Campfire Court of Honor at
Lubbock. Another highlight occurred in November when
we find the first record of a school survey for
prospective members of Boy Scout Troops.
The
membership at the end of December was 539 scouts,
200 adults, and 28 units with a grand total
membership of 739.
1932
Mr. W. G.
McMillan of Lubbock was elected President of the
Council in January and Mr. K. N. Clapp, Council
Commissioner. The highlight of this year was the
First Aid Training Session. The budget was set at
$2,600.00. We find during 1932 that meetings were
held of all Eagle Scouts in the Council. In July,
the first mention of intradistrict Scout Swimming
Meets. We find the first mention in October of Old
Clothes Campaigns and Toy Campaigns being held by
the Boy Scouts. In December, instead of a $2,600.00
budget, we find that the total cash receipt that
year was $3,796.00 and total expenses $3,915.00.
The
Executive Board had met four times that year and the
Finance Committee eleven times, Organization and
Extension Committee once, Training Committee twice,
Camping Committee once, Publicity three times, Civic
Service three times. Thirty-four Courts of Honor
were held in the Council during the year 1932. The
Council ended the year 1932 with 485 scouts, 185
adults, making a total membership of 670 in 22
units.
One of the
highlights of this year was the thirty-minute radio
program that was held each Friday on Scouting. The
annual swimming meet of the Council was held in
August and they have been held every year since
then. The first annual Camporee of the Council was
held on the 15th and 16th of August.
The first
mention of joint meetings of Committees of the Scout
Council with Camp Fire Girls and Girl Scout
Committees was recorded on October 17, 1933. The
highlight of
November
of this year shows the first Cubber’s Training
Course held in Lubbock on November 4th, 11th, and
18th.
The year
1933 ended with a total membership of 546 boys, and
198 adults. The total membership was 744 in 24
units.
1934
The budget
for this year was set at $5,000.00. Dr. F. B. Malone
was elected President of the Council in January. Mr.
K. N. Clapp was Council Commissioner and Mr. D. T.
Jennings was Scout Executive.
The first
Cub Pack registered in the South Plains Council was
registered in February with a total of 18 Cub
Scouts. This was organized by the Lion’s Club of
Lubbock. The second Cub Scout Pack in the Council
was registered in Lamesa and the third Cub Pack was
registered in Post.
Total
money raised was $3, 786.00, the total expenses were
$3, 677.00. The membership at this time – 592 boys,
and 161 adults for a grand total of 753 members with
29 units.
1935
The
budget for 1935 was set at $3, 875.00. Dr. Malone
was re-elected President of the Council, Mr. Clapp
was re-elected Council Commissioner.
One of the
interesting things about the reports of this Council
show that nearly every month, Courts of Honor were
held in nearly every community in the Council.
Tremendous records have been kept showing the good
turns of Troops, doing all kinds of civic duties
throughout this Council during all these years.
The
Council was without an Executive part of 1935 since
D. T. Jennings left at the end of 1934. In 1935, the
Council raised $2,251.00 and only expended
$2,135.00.
1936
The budget
for this year was $4,565.00. Dr. Malone was
re-elected President of the Council, Mr. Clapp
re-elected Commissioner. At the end of 1936, the
membership of the Council was 488 boys, 131 adults,
for a grand total of 619 membership with 25 units.
One of the highlights mentioned in 1936 was the
Annual Easter Egg Hunt for all Scouts and Cubs of
the Council. Another highlight of this year was the
Scouters University, completed with 85 people
receiving Training Courses Certificates. The first
Press Club organization took place in April.
Mr. Earl
McClure became Scout Executive of the Council in
February. This year $7,590.00 was raised and
$7,144.00 was expended.
We find
that the Scouts ushered at the Texas Tech College
Football games during this year. The first Circus of
the Council was held in Lubbock on November 27th and
28th. The year 1936 ended with 1129 boys, 298
adults, for a grand total of 1427 membership with 56
units. We find that year that we had 27 Scout
Troops, 8 Cub Packs. One of the troops was a Negro
Troop.
1937
Dr. Malone
was re-elected President, K. N. Clapp as Council
Commissioner, Earl McClure as Scout Executive. We
find the first mention of a Council newspaper
being published in February 1930. Also in
February, we find the first mention of the first
Annual Kite Tournament in Lamesa. The first Jamboree
Committee met on March 19, 1937.
The budget
for this year was set at $9,156.00. The old Dining
Hall at Camp Post burned down and the new dining
hall was completed at Camp Post in April. The first
mention of Boys’ Life being used in this Council, we
find four Troops subscribing to the Boys’ Life
Magazine with a total of 35 boys taking
subscriptions.
During the
Summer Camp of 1937 we find 365 boys in Camp from 40
different Troops. The senior scout camp was held in
July. The first annual district meetings were held
in December, in seven Districts.
This year
they raised $11,216.00 on their $9156.00 budget and
expended $1, 080.00. The membership at the end
of this year was 1483 boys and 406 adults for a
grand total of 1889 with 80 units. Broken down – 1
Sea Scout Ship, 1 Colored Troop, 66 White roops, 13
Sea Scouts, 2 Lone Scouts, 1085 Scouts, 12 Cub
Packs, 322 Cub Scouts.
1938
Dr. F. B.
Malone was elected President of the Council, Mr. K.
N. Clapp re-elected Commissioner, Earl McClure was
re-elected Scout Executive. The budget for 1938 was
set at $9,166.00.
Highlights
of the year 1938 were the Boy Scout Circus and the
Yellowstone Camping Trip for the Senior Scouts. The
first Negro Camp in the Council was held on August
15th through the 18th. The first Negro Leaders
Training Course was held in September.
This year,
on a budget of $9,166.00, a total of $12,179.00 was
raised against expenses of $12,186.00. The
membership of the Council at the end of 1938 was
1,696 boys and 462 adults for a grand total
membership of 2,158 with 105 units.
1939
Dr. Malone
was re-elected President of the Council, K. N. Clapp
was re-elected Commissioner, Earl McClure was
re-elected Scout Executive. The budget was set at
$13,291.00.
Earl
McClure resigned as Scout Executive in February to
become a member of the Regional Staff and Mr. Jack
O. Stone became Scout Executive of the Council in
March. He came here from Beaumont, Texas.
The
Alpha-Phi-Omega Fraternity was installed at Texas
Tech in April 1939. The Council used Camp Post for
three weeks, had one week for Negro Camp and used
Camp Wehinapay in New Mexico for one week in July. A
caravan of Scouts from this Council went to San
Francisco in July.
There were
41 members on the Council’s Executive Board this
year. December reports show that on a budget of
13,298.00, a total of $15,010.00 was raised and
$14,725.00 was expended. The membership of this year
shows 1,802 Scouts and Cubs, 475 adult leaders for a
grand total of 2,277 in 84 units.
1940
Dr. F. B.
Malone was elected President of the Council, K. N.
Clapp was re-elected Commissioner, and Jack O. Stone
re-elected Scout Executive. The budget was set at
$15,900.00.
The first
District and Council First Aid Contests took place
in March. The Circus was held on May 3, 1940. The
first Cub-Dad Camp weekend was held June 22-23. The
first mention of the Order of the Arrow annual
meeting and banquet was in the December Report of
1940. The December report showed 19 Troops taking
the Boys’ Life Magazine, 615 boys subscribing.
They
raised $14,366.00 out of their $15,500.00 budget and
spent $14, 249.00. The year 1940 ended with a total
membership of 2,223 boys, 550 adults, with a grand
total of 2,773.
1941
Dr. F. B.
Malone was re-elected President of the Council in
January, K. N. Clapp was re-elected Council
Commissioner, and Jack O. Stone Scout Executive. The
budget was set at $14, 423.00 for this year.
The first
Philturn Exploration trip by men of this Council was
taken in April 1941. One of the highlights of this
Council, in looking over the records of the first
fifteen years in the tremendous number of
Training Courses given to prepare the volunteer
leaders for their jobs as unit leaders in the
Council. This year the Council again camped at Weed,
New Mexico and our first group of boys went to
Philturn on July 30,1941.
Camp
Haynes was acquired in August and we find the first
mention of Troop Camping at Camp Mammy Haynes at
Silverton, Texas during August. This camp was given
by the late John Haynes in memory of his mother. It
included 80 acres of land and was located 10 miles
east and a little north of Silverton, Texas. 1941
was, of course, highlighted by the Waste Paper
Campaigns, the Aluminum Campaigns and preparations
for our National Defense.
This year
a total of $16,975.00 was raised and $17,128.00 was
spent on their budget of $14,424.00. 1941 membership
was 2,496 boys, 590 adults for a grand total of
3,086 members in 118 units.
1942
Dr. F. B.
Malone was re-elected President of the Council in
January 1942, Mr. K. N. Clapp as Commissioner, and
Mr. Jack Stone as Scout Executive. The budget was
set at $18, 611.00.
The fist
Council-wide “Black-out Mobilization” was held on
April 14 through 22, 1942. A salvage campaign for
scrap metal was held in October.
This year
a total of $18,991.00 was raised and $16,816.00
expended. At the end of this year there were 2,529
boys and 618 adults, making a grand total membership
of 3,147 on 124 units.
At this
time, there were 35 members of the Council’s
Executive Board and the average number of members
present at Board meetings this year was 14. The
Executive Board met 9 times during 1942. Mr. G. M.
Unger became Scout Executive of the Council in July
with Mr. Jack Stone going to the Army.
1943
Dr. Malone
was re-elected President of the Council, Mr. K. N.
Clapp as Commissioner and Mr. Unger as Scout
Executive. The budget for this year was set at
$20,400.00.
The summer
Camp during 1943 was attended by 35 Troops with a
total of 530 Scouts. July 1943 highlighted poster
distributions and Food for Freedom Campaigns.
The first Scout-arama of the Council was held in
November.
In
December we find that $29,746.00 was raised on the
their $20,400.00 budget and a total of
$21,375.00 was expended. The membership at the end
of 1943 was 2,884 boys, 619 adults, making a
total membership of 3,503 in 127 units. Boys’ Life
at the end of this year was being taken by 39 Troops
and the total subscription was 597.
1944
Dr. Malone
was re-elected President of this Council, Mr. Clapp
as Commissioner, Mr.Unger as Scout Executive. The
budget was set at $22, 416.00
This year
was highlighted by the Scouts participating in the
sale of U.S. War Bonds. The year ended with a total
of $28, 879.00 raised and a total of $19,262.00
expended. The membership at the end of 1944 was
3,150 boys, 604 adults making a total of 3,754
in 125 units. This consisted of 92 Scout Troops, 35
Cub Packs and 1 Air Scout Squadron.
1945
Dr. Malone
was re-elected President in January, Mr. Clapp as
Commissioner, and Mr.Unger as Scout Executive. A
total of $37,273.00 was raised, part of this
included money raised for the swimming pool at
Camp Post. Expenses this year were $22,859.00. The
membership for the Council at the end of December
was 3,190 boys, 626 adults for a grand total of
3,816 in 134 units.
1946
Dr. Malone
was re-elected President of the Council, Mr. K. N.
Clapp as Commissioner, and Mr. G. M. Unger as Scout
Executive. There were eleven Districts and a total
of 19 Commissioners in the Council in April of this
year. The Council operated on $27, 750.00. The
membership at the end of 1946 was 3,145 boys, 862
adults for a grand total of 4,007 members in 141
units.
1947
Mr. Unger
left the Council to become Scout Executive in Fort
Worth, Texas in May. The budget for this year
was set at $30,000.00. W. R. Postma, Director of
Field Service in the Northern New Mexico Council
became Scout Executive in the South Plains Council
on August 1, 1947.
The Haynes
Bond Award was given by John Haynes to be presented
to the most outstanding Troop in the Council this
year.
A total of
$28,080.00 was raised this year against a budget of
$30,337.00. This year ended with 2,689 boys, 750
adults for a total of 3,443 in 110 units. 29 Troops
were taking Boys’ Life Magazine with 535
subscriptions. 32 units were in Camp with a total of
480 boys in Camp, which set a camping record of 23%.
1948
This year,
Dr. Malone was re-elected President, K. N. Clapp as
Commissioner, W. R. Postma as Scout Executive. Mr.
Ray Howard was elected as Haynes District Executive
in May. Mr. Raymond Lupfer came on September 1, 1948
as Assistant Scout Executive.
At the end
of 1948 the membership was 3,283 boys and 968 adults
for a total membership of 4,251 in 128 units.
1949
A new
Council Office was built at 2109 Avenue X in Lubbock
and moved into in December. It burned down on
February 7, 1949 and was rebuilt and moved back into
in April.
A new
swimming pool, a modern concrete structure, was
completed and put into operation in the summer of
1949 at Camp Post. Mr. Frank A. Runkels was selected
as the permanent Camp Ranger at Camp Post on July
15. The Camp development of Camp Post was well under
way with the completion of the new swimming pool.
At the end
of this year, we had 4,318 boys, 1,1990 adults for a
grand total membership of 5,508 and 150 units.
1950
Dr. F. B.
Malone was re-elected as President of the Council,
K. N. Clapp as Commissioner and W. R. Postma as
Scout Executive.
The
highlight of the years’ operation was the securing
of a gift by Mr. John Lott of $10,000.00 from the
Post Estate for the construction of a new Camp
Rangers’ home. This year was also highlighted by the
first Valley Forge Jamboree, held at Valley Forge,
Pennsylvania and was attended by over 2 Troops of
Scouts from this Council.
The period
of time 1949, 1950,1951, 1952, 1953 and up until the
end of 1954 when Dr. F. B. Malone retired as
President and Mr. K. N. Clapp retired as Council
Commissioner after many, many years of service, was
a period of tremendous expansion within the Council;
redistricting took place, the Council budget more
than doubled, the Camp development program at Camp
Post was completed, the advent of Community Chests,
both city-wide and county-wide were taking place
over our Council area. The council membership,
Training, Camping, Financing and everything were on
a tremendous upsurge.
At the end
of 1954, the Council membership stood at 5,921 boys,
2,010 adult leaders for a grand total of 7,931
memberships in a total of 222 new units. Mr. Joe T.
Salem was elected President of the Council and Mr.
J. C. Powell, Jr. of Brownfield as Council
Commissioner, W. R. Postma as Scout Executive,
Raymond Lupfer as Assistant Scout Executive. In
1954, the Council inaugarated a plan of renting
automobiles for the use of their Professional Staff
in serving this Council.
1955
This year
the membership of the Council was 6,307 boys, 2,177
adults for a grand total of 8,484 members in 229
units. The Council budget for the year 1955 was
$83,803.50.
This year
the Council was divided into six Districts; the
Haynes District, serving Castro, Swisher, Brisco,
Hale, Floyd, Motley, Turkey-in Hall County, Olton
and Springlake-in Lamb County. George White
District; serving Bailey, Lamb, Cochran, and Hockley
Counties. Comanche Trail; Crosby, Dickens, Garza,
and Kent Counties. Quannah Parker;Yoakum. Terry,
Lynn, Gaines, and Dawson Counties.
1956
On January
1, 1956 Lubbock was divided into two Districts, with
a boundary line covering everything north of 34th
Street and south of College, north of 19th Street
and west of College being the Arrowhead District.
All south of that line thoughout the county becoming
the Longhorn District.
The
Council Budget for the fiscal year was $87,000.00.
Mr. Joe T. Salem’s term as Council President ended
May 31, 1956 and Dr. J. Davis Armistead was
elected President. Mr. W. H. Tinney as
Commissioner. Mr. Tinney resigned in November and
Mr. Charles Alexander was elected Council
Commissioner.
Mr. W. R.
Postma, Scout Executive since August 1, 1947
presented his resignation to the Council’s Executive
Board on November 19, 1956 to become the new Scout
Executive of the Inland Empire Council, with
headquarters at Spokane, Washington. The Council’s
selections committee met on Monday, November 19 to
select a new Scout Executive.
Present
plans of the Council are to have a Capitol Campaign
during the year 1957 to build a new Council
Headquarters Office Building, to remodel the
existing office building, to buy a new mountain Camp
located close to Las Vegas, New Mexico, to provide
funds for the establishment of a new Aquatic Camp on
the White River Conservation District Lake in
southeastern Crosby County, and to provide for
further improvements at Camp Post and Camp Haynes.
The budget for 1957 has been set at $102,139.00.
The material
for this brief history of the Council has been taken
primarily from the memory of Mr. K. N. Clapp,
Council Commissioner, who served for the first 25 or
30 years of this Council’s history, from
conversations with Dr. F. B. Malone, Council
President for over 20 years, from all of the monthly
reports from June, 1925 to August, 1947 and from my
own experiences as your Scout Executive from August
1, 1947 to December 1, 1956.
(Note
from webmaster: K. N. Clapp was also
known as "Chief Black Wolf." Go HERE for
a photo of him in his Indian outfit. He was a
good fishing buddy of John R. Wood, Brownwood, and
gave his Indian outfit to Wood to wear to the 1950
Boy Scout National Jamboree at Valley Forge.
The former Comanche Trail Council (now known as the
Texas Trails Council) still has his Indian outfit.)
As a
footnote, I would like to add that my opinion, the
South Plains Council is populated by the most
wonderful people in the world. It has been one of
the finest experiences imaginable to work with this
group of men in the development of the Scouting
Program throughout this twenty county area Council.
Certainly, in my opinion, there is no brighter
spot in the entire United States for the future of
any Council, than we have right here on the South
Plains of Texas.
I would
like to add that my staff, composed of Mr. Raymond
Lupfer, Assistant Scout Executive and Director of
Camping and Training; Mr. Philip T. Pegues, Field
Director; Mr. T. D. Daniel, Jr., District Executive,
Arrowhead District in Lubbock; Mr. Bill R. Strain,
District Executive of the George White and Comanche
Trail; Mr. Ray L. Howard, Haynes District Executive
in Plainview; Mr. Don Reece, Quannah Parker
District Executive in Brownfield; Mr. C. W. Tarter,
Jr., District Executive of the Longhorn District;
Mr. Frank A Runkles, Camp Ranger at Camp Post; Mrs.
Tommie Starnes, Registrar; Mrs.Gary Frashier,
Advancement and Receptionist; Mrs. Norman Rhoton,
Financial Secretary of the Council; Mrs. Betty
Phillips and Mrs. Billie Riggs, as stenographers, is
one of the finest staffs a Council Executive could
ever have. Certainly it has been my pleasure to work
in this Council and as I go from here, I take a part
of all of you with me, and you shall walk by my side
as I go to my new Council.
Respectfully,
W. R.
Postma
Scout
Executive
Go HERE
to view Prairie Council Facebook page
SOME
OTHER PRAIRIE COUNCIL PAGES
| Council
Presidents
| Council Commissioners | Council
Scout Executives | Map of Council | District Award of Merit |
| Troop 2 of Lubbock, Texas | Camp
Post | Camp Tres Ritos | Camp
Haynes |
| Silver Beavers | Nakona Lodge History | Eagle Scouts |
| Unknown Camps of South
Plains Council by Robert Black |
FOUNDERS
OF THE FORMER SOUTH PLAINS COUNCIL
KENNEDY
N. CLAPP
DR. J. C.
LOVELESS
L. S.
HARKEY
MARSHALL
MASON
SAM A.
HENRY
JOE N.
SPIKES
DR. PAUL
V. HORN
H. B.
PALMER
|