In 1921, Warren Harding was inaugurated as president, KDKA Radio in Pittsburgh broadcast the first live baseball game on radio and, in June, Mineola Boy Scout Troop 45 was issued its first charter.
The troop was sponsored by the Civic League of Mineola, with Joseph Nohowec serving as its first scoutmaster.
Troop 45 enters the 91st year of its history in 2012, after observing its 90th anniversary with a gala dinner at the Chateau Briand in Carle Place on Nov. 26.
Frank Pewarski, who served as the troop’s scoutmaster for 23 years, made the trip from Florida to attend the gala.
His successor, current scoutmaster Steve Grosskopf, was there too and recently shared his reflections on the event and his own 13-year term of service.
“I thought it was going to be a temporary situation. I just assumed I’d do it for a year or two,” Grosskopf said. “It’s fun to see the kids grow up from knuckleheads to being responsible young men. It’s a labor of love and I enjoy doing it immensely.”
Grosskopf told those who had gathered for the event, including 100 alumni of the troop,
“Now is the best time the troop has ever been,” he said. “These are the great days.”
There were 18 scouts in the troop when it was formed in 1921, according to Grosskopf, who noted that the troop now numbers 65 members.
He said he’s proud of what the troop has accomplished during his term as scoutmaster, with 35 scouts achieving the rank of Eagle. In the past 90 years, 125 troop members have attained that rank.
That level of achievement has earned the Mineola scouts the nickname of “super-troop” in the county Boy Scout council, Grosskopf said. The troop has won the county Klondike Derby – an annual competition of scouting skills – for the past 14 years.
For Grosskopf, the 90th anniversary observance was a landmark occasion.
“It was nostalgic. It really connected the old scouts with the current scouts,” said Grosskopf, who had also presided over the 80th anniversary celebration. I saw guys who were 12 years old when I started with them. They have their own families now and it was really amazing. Now I’m one of the old guys.”
Assistant scoutmasters Don Franz and Village of Mineola Mayor Scott Strauss served as co-chairs for the 90th anniversary event which drew 275 people, including 50 current members of the troop.
“It was fantastic,” Strauss said. “We saw people we hadn’t seen in 30 years.”
Scout Chris Mueller was recognized as Troop 45 Scout of the Year, and his Phoenix Patrol was name Honor Patrol of the Year. Assistant Scoutmaster George Durham, a Mineola trustee, was honored for his service with the Silver Stallion award and Grosskopf was presented an award of thanks by the troop.
Reach reporter Richard Tedesco by e-mail at rtedesco@theislandnow.com or by phone at 516.307.1045 x204
