2010 Blaze of Lights recognizes Bluffton Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and Leaders during BSA's Centennial Year

Dr. Darrell Groman provided The Icon with information about the 2010 Blaze of Lights parade grand marshals. The marshals are J. Richard Weaver and Richard Cookson. They are being recognized for their contributions as adult leaders to the local boys of the Bluffton community as former Cubmasters of Bluffton Cub Scout Pack #256.

J. Richard Weaver became an Eagle Scout in 1938 with the Goshen, Indiana BSA Troop. As professor of Chemistry at Bluffton College (now retired,) he stepped forward in December 1954 to serve as the first Cubmaster of the newly-formed Cub Scout Pack #56 which was sponsored by the First Methodist Church. Dr. Weaver served as Cubmaster of Pack #256 from 1954 to 1957 and 1968 to 1970. The local Put-Han-Sen Area Scout Council recognized Dr. Weaver's service to Scouting by presenting him with the Silver Beaver Award in 1960.

Richard Cookson, local Marathon Oil distributor (now retired), served as Cubmaster of Pack #256 from 1960 to 1962. Mr. Cookson was presented the Silver Beaver Award by the Put-Han-Sen Area Scout Council in 1966.

The Bluffton's Blaze of Lights Committee has invited all former Cubmasters and Scoutmasters from the Bluffton Cub Scout Pack and Boy Scout Troop to follow the Grand Marshals in the Blaze of Lights Parade. Following the former Scout leaders will be the current Cub scouts, Boy scouts and leaders of Bluffton Cub Scout Pack #256 and Boy Scout Troop #256.

During the Boy Scouts of America's Centennial in 2010, the Blaze of Lights committee wishes to recognize the contributions of those adults who have served (and are currently serving) the local youth as leaders in the Cub Scout Pack and the Boy Scout Troop and the contributions of the Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts for their service to the Bluffton community.

Here are the men and women who have served the Bluffton community as Cubmasters of Bluffton Pack #256 and Scoutmasters of the Bluffton Boy Scout Troops.

Bluffton Cub Scout Pack #256 Cubmasters
1954 - 1957 J. Richard Weaver
1958 Noah Zimmerman
1959 Rev. Paul McComber
1960 - 1962 Richard Cookson
1963 - 1964 James Baumgartner
1965 E. James Szabo
1966 Clarence Kooker
1966 - 1967 Norman Edinger
1968 - 1970 J. Richard Weaver
1971 Neil Kehler
1972 Rev. Robert Carter
1973 - 1974 Edward Laing
1975 No records
1976 - 1977 Richard Huss
1977 - 1979 Wales Whitt
1979 - 1981 Rev. Thomas Cook, Jr.
1981 - 1982 Guy Rhodes
1983 Ruth Whitt
1984 William Gaines
1985 - 1986 Kurt Geisheimer
1986 Phillip Weisenbarger
1987 Kurt Geisheimer
1988 - 1990 G. Michael Cox
1990 - 199? Roger Rhodes
199? - 2003 Denise Fett
2003 - 2005 Wes Fleming
2005 - 2009 James Pletcher
2009 - Eric Reneker

Bluffton Scoutmasters
Unchartered Troops' Scoutmasters ( 1912 - 1938)
1912 - ? J.S. Steiner, M.D.
Steiner Geiger
Turley Rupright
1920 - 1921 Armin Hauenstein
Turley Rupright
Dwight Murray
1930 - 1933 Robert Schaublin

Chartered B.S.A. Troop # 56 / 256 Scoutmasters:
1939 - 1943 Karl "Sparky" Gable
1943 - 1944 A. C. "Coach" Burky
1944 - 1946 Ralph Reichenbach
1946 - 1948 Kenneth Oberly
1948 - 1949 Robert Oberly
1949 Herman Hilty
1949 - 1952 Harry E. Kettlewell, Jr.
1952 - 1957 George Bohrer
1957 - 1958 Donivan Augsburger
1958 - 1959 Everett Suttermeister
1959 - 1960 James Benroth
1960 - 1963 Don L. Badertscher
1963 - 1966 Warren Eastman
1966 - 1968 Ralph Granger
1968 - 1969 Richard Pannabecker
1969 - 1972 Morris Groman
1972 - 1973 Clayton Weiss
1973 - 1974 Morris Groman
1974 - 1979 Gordon Mathewson
1979 - 1981 Harold Shannon
1981 - 1983 Steve McFadden
1983 - 1990 Guy Rhodes
1990 - 2000 G. Michael Cox
2000 - 2001 David Voth
2001 - J. Daniel Groman

Chartered B.S.A. Troop # 82 Scoutmasters:
1941 - ? Woodrow Little
1946 - ? Wade Shook

Chartered B.S.A. Troop # 234 Scoutmasters:
1961 - 1964 Clyde Sommer
1964 - 1967 Charles P. Main
1967 - ? Robert E. Stratton

Silver Beaver Recipients (local council recognition)
Put-Han-Sen Area Council
1932 C. Henry Smith
1950 Charles Zachary "C.Z." Hardwick
1957 George Bohrer
1960 J. Richard Weaver
1964 Everett A. Suttermeister
1964 Harry E. Kettlewell, Jr.
1966 Richard R. Cookson
1968 Morris Triplett
1973 Morris J. Groman
1978 Edward C. Murphy, Jr.
1985 Margaret "Peg" Murphy

Black Swamp Area Council
1996 Gary Wetherill
2009 J. Daniel Groman

Silver Antelope Recipient (Region 4: KY, OH & WV)
1959 Charles Zachary "C.Z." Hardwick

Silver Buffalo Recipient (BSA national recognition)
1966 Charles Zachary "C.Z." Hardwick

Currently, there are 42 boys and 15 adults registered with Cub Pack #256 and 20 boys and 12 adults registered with Boy Scout Troop #256.