Signing Handbooks

Scouting legend William “Green Bar Bill” Hillcourt came to Boxwell in 1986. In addition to bringing a camp song (“Bananas, Coconuts, and Grapes”) and helping build a reservation-wide orienteering course (with the help of Lance Ussery!), Green Bar Bill did spend some time with Scouts. Mainly, he signed Scout Handbooks.

The 9th edition of the Boy Scout Handbook arrived in 1979. It replaced the 8th edition, which guided Scouting in the 1970s. The 1970s program is widely considered a disaster as the program shifted its emphasis from outdoor skills and is often blamed for Scouting’s membership drop in this period (though the baby boom’s end is a more reasonable explanation). Hillcourt came out of retirement and spent a year writing the 9th edition, which was his third Boy Scout Handbook. Not surprisingly, the 9th edition pulled heavily from his previous versions, the 6th and 7th editions.

When Hillcourt came to Boxwell, he set up shop at tables after lunch to sign copies of his handbook. An aide made two “green bars” with a green magic marker and Hillcourt signed over top with a black Sharpie. Here is Hillcourt signing a copy of his 9th edition at Boxwell.

William “Green Bar Bill” Hillcourt signs copies of his Scout Handbook, 1986. Collection of Russ Parham.