Harry Miller District Hall of Fame Award

Arbuckle Area Council

Boy Scouts of America

HARRY MILLER DISTRICT ANNUAL BANQUET

HALL OF FAME AWARD

HARRY MILLER DISTRICT HALL OF FAME AWARD HISTORY

In 1920 the Rev. Harry Miller, a Presbyterian minister who served Ada, Coalgate, and other nearby communities, started Boy Scouting in this area. He became the first Scout Executive in what was to be called the Pontotoc Council. Rev. Miller held this position until 1945, when the Chickasaw Council merged with the Pontotoc Council and became the Arbuckle Area Council. Rev. Miller also helped establish the Hammond Heights Housing area and helped lots of kids in "The Bottoms" on 4th Street. He was not known for his spectacular record keeping in the early days of the council and it has been said that he changed troop numbers at will. The "Witches Hole", a wonderful swimming hole near Connerville, was the Pontotoc Council's camp during the 1920's, 30's, and 40's. Harry Miller established a permanent camp there and renamed the camp every year in honor of the individual who gave money or land or filled the needs of the boys for that particular year. The name that finally "stuck" and remains to this day was "Camp Simpson", in honor of R.W. Simpson, an Ada retail merchant. With the formation of Arbuckle Area Council, the old Pontotoc Council became known as the Harry Miller District, a well-deserved honor for a great scouter. We have had other great scouters along the way---for example: Harvey Faust, Hugh Norris, Oscar Cantwell, and Roy Meek. In 1987, a special recognition was established in the Harry Miller District called the "Hall of Fame" Award. The intent was to honor those persons who have made an "historic impact" on scouting at a district level and to duly induct them into the "Hall of Fame". Seven people were inducted the first year, but only one each year since then. Later, the Hall of Fame Award was also adopted by the Chickasaw & Washita Districts, which are the two other districts in the Arbuckle Area Council.

Among the criteria for selection of such an honoree are the following:

The recipient must have made an "historic impact" on scouting in the district.
S/he must have served not less than ten years.
The recipient may be recognized for service in any scouting position with the Harry Miller District with a strong emphasis on unit participation

Each year one honoree will be selected and inducted into the Harry Miller Hall of Fame at the annual district banquet.

The honoree's picture, with a brief history of service, will hang in the Mabee Dining Hall at Camp Simpson alongside previous honorees.

This recognition is not competitive with other district or council awards; it is meant to honor only those who have met the "historical impact" criterion.

HARRY MILLER DISTRICT

HALL OF FAME

1987 Paul Ford* Gloria HorneT-Bone King* Carl Marsh* Yacob Mauch* Oscar Parker* Dennis Williams*	1988 R. Stanley Horne*	1989 Casper Duffer*	1990 Bill Tinsley*
1991 Angus McFarlane	1992 Martin Clark*	1993 Renfrow Herndon*	1994 Owens G. "Buck" Gilmore*
1995 John Plumlee	1996 Kennett Ball	1997 James McNabb	1998 Woodrow W. Peery*
1999 Neal Howard*	2000 James Cooper	2001 Howard Elliott*	2002 R. Tim Lehman*
2003 Dwight L. Odell	2004 Dr. Kurt Jackson	2005 Evelyn Sue Johnson	*deceased

Click here to return to Harry Miller District Awards WebPage.

Contact
Arbuckle Area
Council Office
by email

Arbuckle Area Council, BSA
Ardmore Council Office
P.O. Box 5309 - 411 SH 142 West
Ardmore, OK 73403
Ardmore FAX: 580-223-4991
Ardmore Council Office: 580-223-0831

Arbuckle Area Council, B.S.A. is a participating member agency of United Way.

Copyright 2008, Arbuckle Area Council, BSA. All rights reserved. ‘Boy Scouts’ and other BOY SCOUTS of AMERICA Trademarks are registered trademarks of the Boy Scouts of America and are used herein pursuant to license. The material and/or graphics on this site is intended for informational purposes only, and to support the activities of local affiliates of the Arbuckle Area Council, Boy Scouts of America. Any other use of any information, including the names, phone numbers and e-mail addresses listed herein is expressly prohibited.

Visitors since May 15, 2000

Please feel free to contact the

Webmaster
for questions about this website.