History of B.S.A. Troop 465

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(Special thanks to Daniel F. Warner, for providing this section. Complete excerpts have been taken from his book, "The First 32 Years of Troop 465, 1963 to 1995" written in July of 1995.)

Eagle Scouts

Troop 465 currently has had 60 scouts earn the rank of Eagle Scout since 1967. In 2006, five scouts earned this rank and also reached a new troop 465 milestone. For more information, see Eagle's Nest.

Troop Sponsors

The troop has been sponsored by three different organizations. The troop was originally founded in June 1963, and sponsored by the Hickory Flat Elementary School PTA, located at the northwest corner of East Cherokee Drive and Hickory Road. Roy W. Johnson was the Principal of the school that year. The PTA sponsored the troop until 1985, when the Hickory Flat United Methodist Church Men's Club became the troop sponsor. The church was located across from Hickory Flat Elementary school, where the Hickory Flat Library is currently located, but moved two miles north on East Cherokee Drive in 1992. From 1997 to present day, the troop has been sponsored by 465 Alumni, Inc., a non-profit organization established to perpetuate the philosophies of George Lingefelt.

Troop Meeting Places

The troop has had five meeting places over the course of years. The first meeting place was at the Hickory Flat Elementary school, mostly meeting in the cafeteria. The troop used this school from 1963 until 1985, except for 1969 when a scout hut was used on Vaughn road. In 1985 the troop moved to what was formerly the Hickory Flat Courthouse located at the northeast corner of East Cherokee Drive and State Highway 140, where the BP gas station sits today. In June of 1990 the troop moved to the Union Hill Community Center, formerly the Union Hill School (1925 to 1958), located behind the Union Hill United Methodist Church at the intersection of Union Hill Road and A. J. Land Road.

In September of 1997, the Cherokee County Board of Education donated the old Avery School site on East Cherokee Road to 465 Alumni, Inc. This three plus acre site would soon receive the donation of the Big Springs Methodist Church Sunday school building. A basement was dug for this building by Jack Mitchell, an Eagle Scout from Troop 465. The footings, basement floor, basement walls, and all of the decks and walkways for the Scout Hut were donated by Dave Butler (committee member), materials and all. The troop began meeting at this new location on upon completion of the remodeling. Because 465 Alumni, Inc. owns the three plus acres that the current scout hut sits on, it is very unlikely that Troop 465 will ever have to move again.

Scoutmasters

There have only been four scoutmasters of the troop since its first charter in 1963. James R. Johnson was the first scoutmaster, followed by David Callahan from 1964 to 1966. George Lingefelt became the Scoutmaster for the troop in 1967. Under his leadership, the troop became strong and its reputation grew. Mr. Lingefelt received the Silver Beaver Award and completed the Wood Badge class in 1994. Gerald Dobson became the fourth Scoutmaster of the troop in 2002. Mr. Dobson first became involved with Troop 465 when the first of his three sons joined the troop in 1992.

Troop Activities

The troop has always enjoyed a variety of activities such as hiking, backpacking, camping, canoeing, rappelling, capture the flag games, orienteering, caving, and community service.

Summer Camps

In 1963 and 1964 the troop held their own summer camp at Lake Winfield Scott. The next six years the troop attended Bert Adams Scout Reservation camp in Covington GA for their summer camp. In 1971, the troop again held their own summer camp at Lake Allatoona. In 1972 and 1973 the troop held their own summer camp at Cox's Lake. From 1974 to 1977 the troop held their own summer camp's on the south side of Crowe's Lake which is located off Roper Road. In 1978 the troop moved to the north side of Crowe's Lake where they erected a headquarters building, and summer camp was held there through 1986. In 1987, summer camp was held at Bert Adams Scout Reservation. In 1988 and 1989, the troop again returned to Crowe's Lake. In 1990 and 1991, the troop attended the Atlanta Area Council summer camp held at Woodruff Scout Reservation in Blairsville. In 1992, summer camp returned to Crowe's Lake, and the headquarters building had its roof removed and reinstalled with a higher pitch. Beginning in 1993, the north Crowe's Lake site was renamed "Camp George" in honor of Scoutmaster George Lingefelt. For the summer camps of 2002 and 2003, the troop held summer camps at Camp 175 located on Lake Allatoona. After 2003, the troop again attended many summer camp's at Woodruff Scout Reservation. In 2008 a troop sponsored camp was held in Salacoa Valley near Waleska, GA. There, Camp George while in a different location was re-entered for the first time since the late 1990's.

There have been many years where other troops have opted to come to Troop 465's summer camp instead of attending the council camps.

High Adventure

The troop has been active in many high adventure trips over the years.

National Jamboree - 1981

In 1981 Scout Steve Warren and Scoutmaster George Lingefelt attended the National Scout Jamboree at Fort A. P. Hill, Virginia.

Philmont Scout Ranch BSA - 1982

In 1982 scout Andy Wick and adult troop 465 charter member, John Ballard went to Philmont, participating in the calvacade program. John was the selected AAC leader for this trek.

Washington DC / National Jamboree - 1985

The troop took the bus to one day of the National Scout Jamboree at Fort A. P. Hill, Virginia, and then went on to sight see in Washington DC . There were sixteen scouts and nine adults on the trip. They received an autographed picture of them with Senator Thurman of South Carolina .

Sea Base BSA - 1985

Also in 1985 four scouts, including Tyler Hooks, and seven adults, including Doc Hooks and Michael Lingefelt, went to the Sea Base BSA camp in the Florida Keys . In route they stayed at Homestead AFB. Scoutmaster George Lingefelt was especially happy to see his son Michael accompany the group on this trip.

Philmont Scout Ranch BSA - 1987

The troop took the bus to Philmont Scout Ranch. This trip had seven scouts, including Doug Hyche, Adam Whatley, and Chuck Hosea, and four adults, including Art Wick, George Lingefelt, and Wes Williams. Most of the group drove their way out to Philmont and stayed at Air Force Bases and a Church. Art Wick and Wes Williams flew out to meet the group, and ended up flying first class with free airplane tickets. Philmont Ranger Andy Wick, an Eagle from Troop 465, met the troop on the trail with a watermelon as a treat.

Maine Historical Trip - 1990

A group of seven scouts, eight adults and three children took a sixteen day historical trip up the East coast to Maine . A motor home, van, and car left the scout hut and traveled up to Tannersville, Pennsylvania in the Poconos where a home base was established for a week. From there New York city, Times Square, NBC Tour, Chinatown, Little Italy, World Trade Center, Statue of Liberty, NJ Island beach trip, and a visit to Amish country in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and Paradise Pennsylvania, and then a trip to the Philadelphia mint and Revolutionary War museum. The group then went to Boston Harbor, and Old Orchard Beach, Maine . From there the group went to Washington, DC for visits to the FBI tour, Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, Vietnam Memorial, Smithsonian Museum, passed the White House, visited Annapolis and the Baltimore Harbor Fourth of July fireworks. The group went up I-81 up the Shenandoah valley and came back down I-95 and I-85.

Russia Trip - 1990

Adam Smith was Patrol leader of the Atlanta patrol. Together with the Chicago patrol sixteen scouts in all went for a two week trip to Russia . This was the old Russia before the USSR began to change to the way they now are.

Philmont Scout Ranch BSA - 1993

In 1993 seven scouts and six adults flew with the Atlanta Area Council contingent to Philmont Scout Ranch.

Individual Philmont Scout Ranch BSA Trips

In 1991 scout Adam Warner and adult Andy Wick went with the Atlanta Area Council contingent to Philmont. In 1994 scout Ryan Smith went with adult Richard Smith to Philmont. Ryan was scheduled to go in 1993 but a few days before the trip he broke his ankle at Troop 465's Summer Camp at Crowe's Lake.

Philmont Rangers From the Troop

Andy Wick was a Philmont Ranger in 1986 and 1987. Doug Hyche was a Philmont Ranger in 1992. In addition, Ryan Smith also worked at Philmont during the 1990's.

World Jamboree - 1995

Scoutmaster George Lingefelt was selected by the Troop, Cherokee/Pickens District, Atlanta Area Council, Southeast Region, and the National Council to attend the 1995 World Jamboree in Belguim. However the hosting country had a 60 year old age limit and George was not able to attend. It was a great honor to have him selected, but we all know that no one could have kept up with George!

Philmont Scout Ranch BSA - 2006

The troop flew to Denver, Colorado and drove a van down to Colorado Springs on their way to the Philmont Scout Ranch. This trip had seven scouts, including Trent Davis, Billy Ballard, Zach Wilkins, Hall Absher, Carson Bell, Tony Roberts, and Michael Kirk. In addition, five adults were a part of this trip comprising of Roger Davis, David Wilkins, Jeremy Dobson, Jamey Dobson, and Doug Kirk.

More to come! Please email webmaster@troop465.org if you have additional info..........