My scout story

By Rob Kibler – Eagle Class of 1982

LAFOLLETTE, TN (SPECIAL TO WLAF) – My journey began in the early 1970s when I was around 6 years old. My Dad, Bob Kibler, had recently taken over as scout master of Troop 435 in LaFollette.

My Beginning:

I attended the meetings with him and found this scout stuff to be fun and exciting. Here I was, getting to hang out with a bunch of teenage boys that were more than eager to teach me scouting skills they had learned; how to build a fire, how to use flint and steel to start that fire, and how to cook on that very fire. I was taught how to safely handle a knife and along the way learned first aid. They would patch me up whenever the inevitable cut, burn or bout of poison ivy occurred. They became like family often showing up at our house, usually around supper time. They were like my older brothers and I still view them that way to this day. They taught me by example what it meant to be a scout, lessons which I still carry with me.

My Turn:

When I got to the age to be a scout myself, Dad formed a new troop around out little league basketball team. This way there would be no scheduling conflicts. It also had the benefit of camaraderie we had already formed. I will never forget my first uniform. It was the old green one many of you remember. How proud of that uniform I was! Each patch told a piece of my scouting story and I couldn’t wait to have the latest one sewed on. The entire troop started fresh. We helped each other advance from the ground up, pushing and encouraging each other along the way. We started racking up the ribbons at Camporees. The first ribbons were yellow. We had a lot of third place finishes in the beginning. As our skills grew, the yellows turned to red. Then the reds turned to blue. Once we started earning those first-place ribbons at Camporees, we rarely earned anything less. The infrequent second place finish pushed us to improve even more. With each rank we attained, we would lose a boy or two. Some lost interest, some moved away. But those of us that stayed picked up the slack. We helped the new boys coming into the troop learn the skills we had been taught so well. Several of us were inducted into The Order of the Arrow. We learned how important service to others was. Taught by our advisor, Lee White, we continued to grow as young men. Lee was like a second father to us. He was always there if you needed him. Several generations of Scouts and Arrowmen benefitted from his wisdom, enthusiasm and his friendship. When Lee passed away several years later, fully uniformed scouts of multiple generations were his pallbearers. A fitting tribute to a man that meant so much to us all. Being carried to his final resting place on the wings of Eagles. This is a good example of the type of bond that is formed in scouting. By the time we got to Eagle, we had four scouts from the original crew left. Together we shared the stage as our Mothers pinned that medal on our chest. To say we were proud would be an understatement. We became part of a group that only 4% of all scouts make it to. Yes, we were excited. Yes, we were proud. But most of all, we were honored.

From Scout to Scouter:

I stayed active in scouting, mostly counseling merit badges or teaching skills to various troops for years. I eventually became assistant scout master for Dad’s old Troop 435 while I was in college. This led to an invitation to serve on the Eagle Scout Board of Review. I continued this for several years. When the Eagle Board of Review Chair passed away, I was asked to take his place. I have been serving in this capacity since 2004, also serving on the district committee and advancement committee as well as unit commissioner to several units over the years.

Passing the Torch:

Recently my oldest daughter, Macy, expressed to me her interest in scouting. Since no girls’ troop exists in our area, I became a Lone Scout Counselor with Macy as my Lone Scout. She is now the third consecutive generation in my family to be in scouting. She is currently awaiting her first Court of Honor where she will be awarded the Scout and Tenderfoot ranks as well as two merit badges. I am so proud of her. I hope to make as many memories with her as my Dad did with me.

Conclusion:

Scouting has come full circle for me. I have been involved in one form or another for almost 50 years. It is a way of life for me. I just hope that in some small way I have helped scouts in a way that will make them better and to pass on that which was given to me so many years ago. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 03/26/2021-6AM)