The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Scoutmaster logs 40 years on the trail
Larry Howell has taken an unconventional route to a lifelong career working with children.
Howell, 80, a former member of the U.S. Air Force, worked his entire career as a custodian and supervisor of building and maintenance with Vermilion Schools.
In addition, Howell is the city’s oldest Boy Scout Troop scout master, a role he has filled for more than 40 years.
“When I was a custodian, we were at South Street Elementary School and the special education teachers always gave me some kids to work with,” said Howell, who retired in 1990 from the school. “You might say all my life, I’ve worked with kids.”
Howell happened upon the opportunity by chance through his involvement with United Church of Christ Congregation in Vermilion, where he attended.
In 1975, Howell said the troop’s scout master suffered a heart attack.
That led to the church, which had sponsored Troop 447 since early 1910, to search for another scout master.
Howell said troops often are disbanded until a new scout master, either temporary or permanent, is found.
“It’s very hard to find a troop leader,” he said.
When the committee was deciding on a scout master, Howell sat in on the discussion.
“First, we were trying to decide who would make a good scout master: somebody that worked with kids, somebody who liked kids and they talked to all kids of teachers,” he said.
After returning from a separate meeting that same day, the committee informed him that he was chosen as the new scout master.
“I’ve never been anything else but scout master for the troop,” Howell said, adding his only other experience with the Boy Scouts was he attended two meetings when he was a child.
One thing that has remained consistent over the years is the amount of planning needed to run a successful troop, he said.
“We’re planning all the time for something for the scouts to do, and we’re also always trying to recruit,” Howell said. “But I’ve got a really good committee that’s really helping out.”
Howell said he tries to have one event or camping trip every month on top of weekly meetings.
The troop currently has 24 scouts, a number which varies from year to year.
The troop itself, however, has produced 50 Eagle scouts, with five more planning to earn their honors this year, Howell said.
Some of his favorite memories include in 1989 and 1993 when the troop went to the National Scout Jamboree in Virginia, as well as a two-week hiking trip in the New Mexico mountains.
Howell has earned himself a few accolades, including induction into the Boy Scout Hall of Fame, elected into the Order of the Arrow and he received the Centurion Award.
“One that I’m really proud of, because I went to Vermilion High School, was being inducted into the Vermilion High School Hall of Fame,” he said. “I was very honored to receive that.”
Despite the awards and honors, Howell said his favorite thing about being a scout master is working with the local youth.
“I really enjoy it,” he said. “You get to see them grow up.”
Howell has earned himself a few accolades, including induction into the Boy Scout Hall of Fame, elected into the Order of the Arrow and he received the Centurion Award.