Oklahoma State Senate
Communications Division
State Capitol
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73105

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For Immediate Release: May 5, 2009


Sen. Joe Sweeden poses with members of the Pawhuska Boy Scout Troop,
which was the first troop in the country.

L-R: Frank Reeves, Scout Master for Troop 33, Bruce Hendren, Scout Master for
Troop 43, Dallan Turner, Second Class Scout and Chaplains Aide for Troop 43, Senator
Sweeden, Joe Thomas, Second Class Scout in Troop 33, Travis Millard, Life Scout and
Senior Patrol Leader for Troop 43, Truman Reeves, Life Scout in Troop 33 and Charles
Moore, Eagle Scout and Assistant Scout Master for Troop 33.

Senate Honors First Boy Scout Troop in U.S.

The full Senate has paid tribute to the first Boy Scout Troop founded in the United States. Lawmakers gave unanimous approval Monday to Senate Concurrent Resolution 24, recognizing the 1909 Pawhuska troop as the first to be founded in America. Sen. Joe Sweeden is principal author of SCR 24. The measure was co-authored by Rep. Eddie Fields, R-Wynona.

"We had a small Episcopal church in Pawhuska, Saint Thomas, and the priest was from England. Reverend John Mitchell had actually served as Chaplain to Lord Baden-Powell, the founder of the Boy Scouts. In 1909 Mitchell organized a troop of scouts in Pawhuska and equipped them with English uniforms and manuals," said Sweeden, D-Pawhuska. "That's how our country's very first Boy Scout Troop began."

The Pawhuska troop will celebrate their centennial at their Historic Trails Camporee, which will be held in Pawhuska on July 3, 4, and 5. While visiting the Capitol, members of troops 33 and 34 presented legislators with invitations to July’s Centennial Celebration.

"Scouting instills important values in our young people such as service to others, self-sufficiency, loyalty, honesty and patriotism. They prepare our young people to be leaders and good citizens, and I'm extremely proud that Pawhuska is home to the first Boy Scout Troop in the United States," Sweeden said. "It is an honor to help pay tribute to this troop's history."

For more information contact:
Sen. Sweeden's Office - 405-521-5581