Our History, 1916 - 2006

90 Years of Scouting History in the Corpus Christi Area

The idea of Scouting in Corpus Christi was first initiated by the mother of Dr. McIver Furman, who read about a new character building organization for boys in a 1910 issue of ‘The Saturday Evening Post’. This new Scouting organization had been started by Lord Baden-Powell in England and following a thoughtful act of a young British Scout, the idea of Scouting was brought to the United States by William D. Boyce in February 1910. 

The first two troops in Corpus Christi were started at about the same time in 1911. Troop 1 was formed with Captain Thomas Allen as leader, and Troop 2 was formed with Oliver S. Caldwell as leader. Troop 1 was a Sea Scout unit and had two thirty foot, two mast cutters that were given them by the U.S. Navy. Troop 2 was charted by the Presbyterian Church.

In May 1916, Troop 3 was chartered by the First Methodist Church. Later, Troop 4 was chartered by South Bluff Methodist Church, and Troop 5 was formed at First Baptist Church.

Troop 1 and with Troop 3 took part in the 1918 Liberty Loan Campaign during World War I selling bonds. A 1918 newspaper clipping from the Corpus Christi newspaper explains that Troop 1, with I. C. Kerridge as Scoutmaster, sold 192 bonds for $16,100, beating Troop 3, which sold 90 bonds for $10,100.

The first Scoutmaster of Troop 3 was C. Guy Morgan. He served in that capacity from 1916 until 1923. In 1918, Troop 3 attended the C.C. Council camp held in Brackenridge Park in San Antonio. The trip up there was in an open bus owned by Corpus Christ Transportation Co. It rained before the trip, and the bus got stuck several times because the highway to San Antonio was not paved at that time.

In 1919 Troop 3 took part in a Scout Council Anti-Mosquito Campaign, Cans, old tires and everything that collected water was rounded up and brought down to Water Street, where each Troop made its own pile. Troop 1 won first prize and Troop 3 was second.

On August 3, 1919 a destructive hurricane completely destroyed much of the city of Corpus Christi. Scouts from Troop 3, along with National Guard units, conducted a door to door survey in order to determine an accurate casualty list. The First Methodist Church was destroyed and people were involved in digging out and rebuilding. The Scouts contributed many hours of service toward clean-up, mosquito control and collecting and distributing food and blankets to the survivors. 

The hurricane also destroyed Troop 1’s boats. That unit ceased to exist, and it was merged into Troop 3. One of the Scouts who joined Troop 3 was Dr. McIver Furman, who on June 16, 1920 was awarded the first Eagle Scout Award in Scouting in South Texas. He later became a well-known doctor and Mayor of Corpus Christi. One of the Troop’s most influential early Scoutmasters was Mr. I. C. Kerridge, who joined Troop 3 after Troop 1 ceased to exist. He served as Scoutmaster of Troop 3 from 1923 to 1925 and from 1929 to 1938. Mr. Kerridge also served as Acting Scout Executive in the Corpus Christi area.

In January, 1924 the Troop received a “thank you” note from nine inmates at the Nueces County Jail thanking them and the members of the Epworth League expressing their “sincere thanks and appreciation for the splendid Christmas dinner” that was provided to them. They went on to state: “We plead guilty to our various charges and know we cannot expect luxuries while confined in a jail. When remembered by those on the outside we decide to want freedom and by your prayers be helped to lead a better life.”

In the 1920s, life was hard and money to support Scouting was scarce, but Troop 3 survived. In February, 1927, the Troop charter listed Frank C. Allen, Jr. as Scoutmaster, with three Troop committee members and ten registered Scouts. In 1927, Troop 3 started making annual trips to the Hill Country around Kerrville.

In 1928 Troop 3 organized a Fife, Bugle, and Drum Corps. The Troop marched in several local parades. In fact they won second place in the parade at the Fiesta Bowl. In February 1928, Troop 3 participated in the “Boy Scout Circus” in the Seaton Hall, in which members of Troops 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 demonstrated various aspects of their Scout training involving First Aid and Pioneering, and conducted a Court of Honor to award advancements in rank and merit badges.

During the six years between 1927 and 1933, the Troop camped at Presbyterian Church Camp. The camp furnished floored tents and three square meals at cost of $1 per day. 

The Troop also camped at Mount Wesley in 1934 and at Camp Mystic from then through 1936. The Troop always went to Camp Mystic in August after the girls had left and were furnished cabins with showers and three meals a day. While at Camp Mystic the Scouts built a bridge over a small stream with rocks and a keystone to hold it up. Across the river from the camp, there was a high bluff that contained a small cavern which the boys visited quite often. Arrowheads and spearheads were abundant in the plowed fields nearby.

Members of the Troop attended the National Boy Scout Jamboree in 1937. In 1946 the Scoutmaster, Wm. J. Holly, felt a real service could be done by organizing the Troop mothers and starting the Parents Club. He knew how important it was to have mothers working with their sons and helping them along the Scouting trail. A wonderful tradition of this Troop is our unique red and white neckerchief. The colors were chosen by the first boys of Troop 3. These neckerchiefs continue to be made by mothers and are presented to each new Scout when he joins the Troop in a meaningful candlelight service explaining the meaning of the Scout Oath and Scout Law.

On March 26, 1956, a new Scout Hut of First Methodist Church was dedicated. This was the result of many long hours of planning and back breaking labor. Again, it would have not been possible without the many friends, parents and Scouts responsible for this.

In 1970 Troop 3 was selected as the official Boy Scout Troop to represent Corpus Christi in the Sister City Program. Since that time Scouts in the Troop have served as hosts to the exchange students from Yokosuka, Japan. The brother troop to Troop 3 is Troop 7 in Yokosuka. 

In December, 1972 Troop 3 was given a tour of the first Russian ship to enter the port of Corpus Christi. The Troop was given a complete tour of the ship including the engine room, wheel house, kitchen, and the captain’s office and quarters. After the tour the troop was shown a movie about Russia and was presented the Russian flag as a gift of friendship.

In the 1990’s, Troop 3 leaders began scheduling ‘venture’ trips for older, experienced Scouts and leaders to various exciting locations. These venture trips provided an opportunity for Scouts to demonstrate the Scouting skills that they had learned, and provided an incentive for older boys to stay active in Scouting. In July, 1996, Scouts and adult leaders of Troop 3 took a sailing trip around the Florida Keys. The daily adventure included preparing lunch while under sail in six foot seas, and bow riding with green water coming over the deck. The Scouts were able to experience the strength of the Gulf Stream and snorkeling in crystal clear water.

In April 1997, the Troop, led by Scoutmaster Bill Gregorcyk, took a trip to Bustamonte, Mexico to go caving. The caves were awesome. While there, the Scouts experienced caving in its truest form. At night the sky was alight with the Hale-Bopp comet.

In July, 1999, a group of Scouts and adults comprised two crews who backpacked through the Philmont Scout Ranch at Cimarron, New Mexico. The Scouts had a wonderful adventure and experienced many new sights and survived to tell about their adventures on the trail. Their motto was “Faster than you, Smarter than you, and above all else, Stronger than you.” 

In June 2000, sixteen Troop 3 Scouts and adult leaders took a sailing adventure trip to explore the Florida Keys. After flying to Miami from Corpus Christi, the Scouts had an opportunity to see and explore the Tall Ships from many nations which were in port in Miami as part of OpSail 2000. On the way to the Keys, the Scouts toured an alligator farm by airboats. After an “enlightening” visit in Key West, the Scouts bought provisions and set sail on the 65-foot, twin-masted sailboat “Dream Catcher” to explore the Marquesas and the Dry Tortugas. There they visited the Civil War-era Fort Jefferson. They spent 7 days at sea, maintaining a “port watch crew” and a “starboard watch crew” who alternated days cooking duties and nights standing watch. They stopped to snorkel and fish at various scenic locations and managed to catch a seafood dinner along the way.

In July, 2002, nine Scouts and two adults traveled by van to Canada to experience the BSA Northern Tier canoe trip, departing from Atikoken for a seven-day canoe trip through the Canadian wilderness. Notwithstanding a harrowing tire blowout while on the trip, the Scouts and leaders visited St. Louis and the Gateway Arch and explored the Mall of the Americas in Minneapolis in addition to their canoeing adventures. The scenery was incredible, but the most amazing part was traveling 75 miles in the wilderness without seeing anyone outside of their group.

In addition to their venture trips, Troop 3 participated in numerous and varied long-term camps and monthly campouts and trips during this time period. The Troop regularly attended Summer Camp each June and Winter Camp each December at Camp Karankawa at Lake Corpus Christi, Mathis, Texas, camping at Campsite 12, named and sponsored by Troop 3 in honor of former Scoutmaster Hank Deschner. Each year Scouts earned many merit badges and completed requirements for advancements in rank along with earning certifications as BSA Lifeguards and completing the Mile Swim at Summer Camp, and participating in the Polar Bear Plunge at Winter Camp. The parents joined the Troop at “Camp K” for Family Night to see the Troop’s campsite and learn about the boys’ adventures. In December, 2004, the Scouts had the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to have a snowball fight at Camp Karankawa on the first day of Winter Camp because the “Christmas miracle snow” of December 24th had not all melted at the Camp. In 2003 and again in 2006, some of the Scouts in the Troop attended Summer Camp at Camp Ben Delatour near Red Feather Lakes, Colorado where they were able to participate in serious rock climbing and white water rafting. In addition to Summer and Winter Camp, the Troop frequently went backpacking and rock-climbing at Enchanted Rock State Park, backpacking and hiking at Lost Maples State Natural Area, and camping at numerous privately owned ranches and river-front properties. The Troop also regularly participated in Council Camporees held at Knolle Farms or the King Ranch, where the Scouts were able to demonstrate their Scout skills in competition with other area Scout Troops. Competitions included fire building, knot tying, first aid, orientation and obstacle courses. The camaraderie and competition were always enjoyable.

Troop 3 Scouts have earned funds for their activities in a number of fundraising projects over the years, including parking cars for the annual Buccaneer Days Festival and Illuminated Night Parade. The most enduring fundraising project is the annual Troop 3 Chicken Barbecue, which celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2006. Scouts, leaders, moms, dads, and other family members work diligently to prepare for and carry out this amazing fundraising project. Currently the Troop cooks and sells over 2,500 chicken dinners in a 24-hour period at the First United Methodist Church in Corpus Christi. The money raised from this project helps to fund the Troop’s advancement awards, purchase new camping equipment, and support camping trips and other outings for the Scouts.

When former Scoutmaster Henry Deschner passed away in 2002, his family and friends established the Hank Deschner Troop 3 Memorial Fund. Mr. Deschner was the Scoutmaster of Troop 3 from 1966 to 1985. The Memorial Fund, which continues to accept contributions today, is intended to benefit the Boy Scout Program conducted by Troop 3 with specific emphasis on the needs of individual Scouts who are members of Troop 3. The fund has been used to provide to provide financial aid to Scouts in the Troop who could not afford the cost of attending Summer or Winter camp or other Scouting functions. 

Over the years Scouts in Troop 3 have participated in many National, International and World Jamborees, as well as having backpacked at Philmont, taken canoe treks in Canada and taken part in many other national and international Scout trips.

Community service has always played an important part in Scouting and Troop 3 has continued to be active in various community service projects. Scouts have assisted a local Kiwanis club in its annual Apple Sale benefiting Driscoll Children’s Hospital, collected food as part of Scouting for Food to benefit the Corpus Christi Food Bank, and making and distributing food and clothing to the homeless as part of the Salvation Army canteen. The Scouts and adults repaired, refurbished and repainted the totem pole segments that grace the Order of the Arrow campfire circle at Camp Karankawa. In addition, numerous community groups have benefited from the many leadership and service projects completed by Eagle Scout candidates in Troop 3 over the years. These projects have benefited our chartering organization, First United Methodist Church, as well as many other community non-profit organizations. Scouts and adults have worked tirelessly on many projects to improve the Corpus Christi area.

Over the ensuing 90 years at Troop 3 many men have given of themselves in leading young Scouts through the trails of Scouting. The names of these Scoutmasters are listed in the Scout Hut and will never be forgotten. These Scoutmasters could not possibly do the job alone. There were many fathers and men (our “Old Crab Patrol”) who gave their time and energy as well. Since the Troop’s beginning, more than four generations of Scouts and Scouters have walked many adventure trails in Troop 3. The Troop has been served by 33 Scoutmasters and in 2006 the 200th Eagle Scout award was earned in Troop 3. Many prominent community leaders, doctors, lawyers, engineers, scientists, military, civic leaders, teachers, ministers and members of many other business and professional fields have come out of the ranks of Troop 3.

On this, the 90th Anniversary of Troop 3, our sponsor, the First United Methodist Church, and Troop 3 can take pride in its traditions and the contributions that the Troop and Church have made in the development of boys into manhood. Troop 3 has emphasized the importance of character traits and good citizenship as set forth in the principles of the Scout Oath and Scout Law. On this occasion, the Troop rededicates itself to the principles of Scouting and its program to boys, and through them, to build a better community, a better nation, and a better world.