Boxwell Reservation, 1996

30 years ago was Larry Green’s second summer as Reservation Director.  It was an interesting summer for Green.  Tom Willhite had retired in 1994, but stuck around as an independent contractor in 1995 to oversee construction from the capital campaign.  That work was now done.  1995 had also seen the arrival of a new Council Executive, Joe Long.  Long was a guest to camp in 1995, but by 1996, he was exerting his influence, which created a lot stress for Green.

In 1996, Cubworld ran its first summer.  Savantha Tesar was the very first program director and Alan Hamlin with Shane Gladden were the Camp Directors. The Boat Harbor had reopened because of the capital Campaign.  Rick (now Reese) Ehler was the Director.  Lance Ussery ran COPE.  At Stahlman, Ron Ramsey began his first summer as Program Director and Moses Caballero was his Camp Director.  At Parnell, Kerry Parker was Program Director and Kevin Beirnes his Camp Director.  Bill Freeman was entering his first summer as Head Ranger and Sandy Haller took over for the recently retired Pearl Schleicher.  Russ Parham was still the Business Manger, a position he had held since 1980.

Here are the staff photos for Stahlman and Parnell.

Stahlman Staff, 1996

The Camp Parnell Staff in 1996. Program Director Kerry Parker is in the dark green Explorer shirt.

Stahlman Staff, 1996

Boxwell Reservation, 1986

40 years ago Tom Willhite was well into his run as reservation director.  By this point, he knew how to make things happen and wasn’t struggling to just make camp survive anymore.  In fact, he had not only run what he called a ‘quasi’ capital campaign–“quasi” because it was done on the quiet–but he brought a whole new program to Boxwell the year before: COPE.  Generally speaking, Willhite had solid leadership by this point and camp could pretty much run itself.  Which was good, because 1986 was just a wee bit weird.

The 1980s were the Barnett-Ragsdale years, but in 1986 both Jerry Barnett and Ernie Ragsdale missed the summer. Kerry Parker was Program Director at Camp Craig with Chuck Simmons was his camp director.  At Stahlman Harold Tracy stepped in for Ragsdale with Michael Morgan as Camp Director. Christy Willhite ran Murrey and Pearl Schleicher was still running the kitchen.  Willie Claud was now head ranger and Carl Hyland was running the new COPE program.  Back in Nashville, Hershel Tolbert was Council Executive.

Here are the staff photos for Craig.  We have no Stahlman staff photo for 1986. As a placeholder, here is the patch from the staff hat that summer.  The red staff hat was by now a staple of staff life.

The Camp Craig Staff in 1986. Kerry Parker (far right, green shirt, red beard) was Program Director.

The 1986 Staff hat patch, aka “the Amoco hat.”