The History of Boy Scout Troop 64
Grand River District – Greater Western Reserve Council – Boy Scouts of America
Concord Township, Ohio
Established 1928
June 9,1928 is the “birthday” for Troop 64. On that day, the Greater Cleveland Council of the Boy Scouts of America presented the Knights of Columbus Council 947, Painesville, Ohio it’s first charter authorizing the organization to sponsor a Boy Scout troop.
Troop 4 was formed under the leadership of the Grand Knight T. J. O’Brien, also Acting Chairman, Scoutmaster Clifford B. Stephens and his committee: Harry Nolan, Sr., Frank Stanton, Sr., John D. Way, O.D., and Frank E. Link. Twenty-three (23) boys were registered. Noteworthy is that Mr. Stephens did not have a son. His two daughters regularly helped him with Troop meetings and outdoor activities.
In 1929,the Northeast Ohio Council of the BSA was founded in Geneva, Ohio, with Willard A. Friend as executive. Troop 4 was re-designated as Troop 64, sponsored again by the Knights of Columbus with Grand Knight John D. Way, O.D. The troop kept the same leaders and added Paul Conley as Assistant Scoutmaster.
Recognizing the change in membership the Troop 64 charter transitioned to St. Gabriel Parish in Concord Township in 2008. Troop 64 is the only Boy Scout Troop in Concord Township.
Troop 64 has had the following scoutmasters; Clifford Stephens (4 yrs.); Frank Zack (3 yrs.); H. P. Hurley (2 yrs.); William A. Coyne (14 yrs.); Alex Kovacs(5 yrs.); Stephen Horvath (3 yrs.); Francis Barrish, Jr. (2 yrs.); William McManus (12 yrs.); George M. Thomas (4 yrs.); Estel Hughes (1 yr.); William Paugh (1 yr.); John Beres (? yrs.); John Unterwagner (6 yrs.); Don Abrahmson (2 yrs.); Rich Toth (5 yrs.); Bill Varga (6 yrs.);Al Warner (3 yrs.); John Lateulere II (3 yrs.); Pat Reilly (2 yrs.); Brent Roebuck (6 yrs.); Chuck Ulle (5 yrs.); Steve Royer (2 yrs.) and since the fall of 2012, the current Scoutmaster, Paul Powers.
Over the years 71 young men from Troop 64 earned the Eagle Scout rank. In 2001 the National Eagle Scout Association and the National Boy Scout Council awarded the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award to the Honorable J. William “Bill” Stanton (1943) in 2001. The award was presented posthumously to his family in 2002.
Troop 64 is active in the Religious Awards program. Since it has started in the Cleveland Diocese, over one hundred scouts have received the Ad Altare Dei Award.
The Bill Coyne “Scout of the Year Award” has been awarded in memory of Scoutmaster Bill Coyne since 1960.
Adult leaders have been presented the St. George Award by the Cleveland Diocese Catholic Committee on Scouting: William Coyne (1959); William McManus (1965);Francis Barrish (1969); Ernest Ulle (1970); Lloyd Bartholomew (1973); Father Thomas Winkel and Tom Despenes (1977).
The National Council of the Boy Scout Council awarded the Silver Beaver Award to William Coyne; Frank Stanton, Francis Barrish; William McManus; Lloyd Bartholomew; Susanna L. Dingley; and Ernest Ulle.
The Troop celebrated its eighty-fifth anniversary this past June 9, 2013. Little information is available about the early years of Troop 64. Any information or memorabilia provided would be greatly appreciated and added to our collection.