Goodman Retires

After 36 years of service for the Boy Scouts of America, E Urner Goodman retired as a professional Scouter. He had served as Director of Program for twenty years. Goodman’s professional career had started in 1915 when as a 23 year old he was hired by the Philadelphia Council to be a Field Commissioner (now known as Field Executive). He served as Camp Director at Treasure Island Scout Reservation where he started the Order.

Goodman had hinted for several years that he was considering retirement. The Brotherhood Barn had been built in Vermont where Goodman intended to retire. Goodman continued his support and devotion to leadership and service to the Order for another three decades following his retirement.

2, Founders, Goodman, OA, Scouting

Goodman Honorary National Chief

On September 13, 1951 the National OA Committee voted to bestow the title of “Honorary National Chief” on Dr. E. Urner Goodman. Thirty years earlier Goodman had served Wimachtendienk, W.W. as its first Grand Lodge Chieftain, later called National Chief. This honor was made in tribute to the Founder upon his retirement from the BSA.

A calfskin was presented to Goodman by National OA Committee Chairman H. Lloyd Nelson inscribed,

He Gave to Boyhood a Brotherhood of Cheer and Service”.

2, Founders, Goodman, OA, Scouting

NOAC 1952

The 1952 NOAC was called the “37th Anniversary Meeting”. For the first time the term Conference is used often to describe the event. The first documented usage of the phrase “National Order of the Arrow Conference” is in a letter following the event written to the National OA Committee by LeRoy Kensrad of Hyas Chuck Kah Sun Klatawa Lodge, Portland, Oregon.

The Conference was held at Miami University, Oxford, Ohio. Michi-Kini-Kwa Lodge was the host lodge. The 2,200 attendees (2,095 delegates) doubled the size of any prior meeting, as did the 210 lodges representing 37 states. National Committee Chairman H. Lloyd Nelson reported that there were now 427 lodges (about four-fifths of the councils) and nearly 50,000 active Arrowmen.

The 1952 conference had the first daily newspaper, called the Totem Talks and the introduction of the National Brotherhood Chorus. The Conference featured a display center that featured exhibits from local lodges that displayed headdresses and regalia. White Panther Lodge, Clarksdale, Mississippi won a special award for their entry. Other exhibitors were J.E. Caldwell jewelers and BSA National Supply.

At the closing show the OA presented the Distinguished Service Awards.

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Eisenhower Elected President

Brilliant military five-star General and 34^th President of the United States, Dwight D. Eisenhower (“Ike”) is probably best known for his internationally focused politics in response to events involving the Soviet Union and China.

Eisenhower served on the Executive Board of the Boy Scouts of America and was a very strong supporter of Scouting ever since his son participated in the program. 

President Eisenhower was made an "honorary member" of the Order of the Arrow on April 23, 1954 by the members of Zit-Kala-Sha Lodge, Louisville, Kentucky.  The only president to be "inducted" was Franklin D. Roosevelt.

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Korean War Armistice

The Korean War (1950 – armistice, 1953) was a military conflict . . .

between the Republic of Korea (South Korea) supported by the United Nations, and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea) and the People’s Republic of China with support from the Soviet Union.

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First to Reach Mt. Everest Summit

After years of dreaming about it and seven weeks of climbing, New Zealander Edmund Hillary and his Sherpa guide Nepalese Tenzing Norgay became the first men to reach the summit of Mt. Everest in the Himalayas, along the border of Nepal and Tibet/China, the highest mountain in the world, at 11:30 a.m. on May 29, 1953.

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The Goodman National OA Committee Red Sash

In 1950 the National OA Committee created a reversed color OA Vigil Honor sash so that National OA Committeemen could easily be identified. There were as few as 15 of these special felt Vigil Honor sashes issued. One of these special sashes belonged to E. Urner Goodman. The sash was only used for a few years and after 1954 the sash retired from usage.

At the 1956 NOAC Urner Goodman was wearing his National OA Committee sash when he was told that the sash was no longer in usage. Goodman a stickler for proper uniform immediately took it off and turned to the young man next to him and asked him if he wanted the sash. That young man was Dr. Carl Marchetti, who has now served on the National OA Committee since 1962 including as Chairman from 1984 to 1993.

When Dr. Marchetti received the second OA Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004, Dr. Marchetti had Goodman’s sash incorporated into the award ceremony by wearing it. Every Lifetime Achievement Award recipient since has worn the Goodman National OA Committee Sash. On occasion it has been placed on public display in the NOAC museum.

At the 2011 National Planning Meeting Dr. Marchetti announced that he would be donating this incredible artifact to the Order of the Arrow.

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NOAC 1950 - 35th Anniversary Meeting

While today the 1950 meeting is called a National Order of the Arrow Conference or NOAC, back then they called it the 35th Anniversary Meeting or Convention. This meeting was like a modern NOAC. It was held for the second time at the University of Indiana, Bloomington. Approximately 1,100 delegates attended. There were group discussions and classes on topics ranging from regalia, ceremonies and lodge functions. This time many of the classes were taught by youth including Area Conference Chiefs.  The OA Distinguished Service Award was presented.

Chairman H. Lloyd Nelson reported that there were now 388 lodges with 40,000 Arrowmen. The number of Arrowmen had not grown since the 1948 NOAC. This was because once the OA was a national BSA program all active OA members had to have BSA registration.  Director of Camping Wes Klusmann noted that the OA was now active in three quarters of the nations councils. Goodman once again gave the keynote address.

In what would be a conference last, the national election for the next National Conference Chief was held and James Montgomery of Pellissippi Lodge, Knoxville, Tennessee was selected to lead the next gathering in 1952. In what would be a National Conference first E. Urner Goodman in his closing address gave a challenge to the assembled Arrowmen. This tradition of the Founder giving the closing challenge would continue for 14 consecutive National Conferences through the last conference he attended in 1979 prior to his death in 1980.

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Brotherhood Barn Fireplace Completed

In 1950 a massive fireplace was completed in E. Urner Goodman’s “Brotherhood Barn” located in the Green Mountains of Vermont. The fireplace project had begun in 1948 as a tangible recognition of the admiration all Arrowmen had for the Order’s founder.

National Chairman G. Kellock Hale, Jr. and Robert H. Heistand, 1946 National Chief (as an adult) and member of the National OA Committee, shepherded the gift project. Much to Goodman’s surprise, in late 1948 and early 1949, heavy packages with postmarks from all over the country started showing up at Goodman’s Vermont retreat. The packages contained stones that were marked with the sending lodge’s name and in some cases the lodge’s number that would eventually be assembled into a fireplace. Lodges were also asked to write and mail their histories to Hale and make a contribution (if they decided to do so) of $3.00 to help with the construction of the fireplace.

The “Brotherhood Barn”, where the fireplace was built, was also of significance to the Order. In its time, it served as a “hostel for Brothers” that took the journey to Vermont. As quoted from a letter to Goodman, after visiting the barn,

 . . . speaking of the fireplace, it is a masterpiece of craftsmanship, and something we all should be proud of.

The fireplace project and completion of the fireplace was meant to serve as a cheerful reminder to our founder that ten’s of thousand’s of boys and men shared his idea of true brotherhood among men. This is where there would always continue to burn the fire of brotherhood that was kindled thirty-five years before.

2, Founders, Goodman, OA, Scouting

First OA National Secretary

As soon as the OA was integrated into the BSA Wes Klusmann, BSA Director of Camping, needed to select the first National Secretary. This was not a high level assignment although it would be at BSA national headquarters. This job would have a huge clerical component. The National Secretary would be responsible for, among other duties, local lodge charter renewals, theNational Bulletin, maintaining Vigil Honor lists and coordinating supplies for local lodges.

Klusmann selected a very young professional, 22 year old Norman C. Wood. Klusmann approached Wood at the 1948 NOAC where he was the junior chairman for a group discussion on registration. Wood served as OA National Secretary from 1948 – 1951. He left to become a field executive and camp director with his home council in Springfield, Massachusetts.

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First National OA Committee Chair

G. Kellock “Kel” Hale was installed as the first Chairman of the National Order of the Arrow Committee at the 1948 National Conference at Bloomington, Indiana. The National Council, BSA, had not technically approved his position yet, but that was just a formality. The selection of Hale according to outgoing National Chief Robert Heistand was because Kel was next in line to be National Chief. The new National Chairman position was considered the post-BSA integration equivalent to the old National Chief. The similarity was the National Chief was Chairman of the National Executive Committee and the National Chairman was Chair of the new National OA Committee. Hale immediately upon installation stated that he was dedicated to increased youth involvement in the national leadership of the OA.

Unfortunately Hale’s, time as Chairman would be cut short. After barely serving a year, under strict doctor’s orders, Hale reluctantly had to give up all activities and have bed rest until his “fatigue” passed. Hale’s was the shortest tenure of any National Chairman. H. Lloyd Nelson was appointed as his replacement. Hale would continue serving on the National OA Committee until 1973.

2, OA, Scouting

G. Kellock Hale, Jr.

G. Kellock “Kel” Hale was born January 17, 1904 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He joined Scouts at the age of 12 (minimum age in those days) in 1916. During World War I, Kel sold more war bonds than any other Scout in Philadelphia. As a result of this achievement, Kel was selected as the Scout that would serve as Lord Baden-Powell’s Orderly when he came to visit Philadelphia.

Kel was inducted in the OA at its birthplace, Treasure Island, in 1918. He was one of the Council’s most decorated Scouts. By the time Kel was twenty-years old and attending the University of Pennsylvania he was an Eagle Scout with three Silver Palms (that would be at least 66 merit badges in 1924, a remarkable achievement in that era).

Following college, Hale moved to Mount Airy, North Carolina and went to work for the North Carolina Granite Company rising to the position of Secretary. In Scouting, Hale became a troop Scoutmaster, a position he would hold for 15 years until becoming District Commissioner. During his time as Scoutmaster, Hale founded Wahissa Lodge in Old Hickory Council at Camp Lasater on June 9,1938. Later that year Hale assisted with producing the 1938 National Meeting at Camp Irondale. Hale kept his Vigil receiving the name Kittelendam translated as “The Earnest” on August 10, 1940. Hale served in a leadership role at the 1940 National Meeting at Camp Twin Echo and received the Silver Beaver Award from his council in 1942.

Hale started numerous lodges throughout Region 6 (North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida). In 1945 he was invited to the National Executive Committee meeting. His attendance was to assist in planning the 1946 National Meeting originally scheduled at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, close to where Hale lived. However for various reasons the 1946 National Meeting had to be moved to Chanute Field, Illinois.

At the 1946 National Meeting Hale received the Distinguished Service Award. He also ran for and was elected as the Southeast representative to the National Executive Committee. In 1948, when the National Executive Committee was disbanded and the National OA Committee formed Hale was named as the first National OA Committee Chairman. Hale only served as Chairman for a year, when illness forced him to resign in 1949. Hale lamented that strict doctor’s orders required him to dispense with all activities and he was required to observe strict bed rest as the remedy at the time for fatigue.

Hale continued to serve on the National OA Committee until 1971. His last leadership position was serving as chairman of the Distinguished Service Award Committee. During the critical years of the Order when the OA fully integrated as part of the BSA, it was Hale along with H. Lloyd Nelson and Thomas Cairns that provided the essential servant leadership. Kel was a member of the BSA for 55 years and on the National OA Committee or its equivalent for over 25 years. G. Kellock Hale passed away on October 3, 1973.

2, OA, Profile, Scouting