HISTORY of the ECHECONNEE LODGE # 358 Order of the Arrow

Founding of the Order of the Arrow

Dr. E. Urner Goodman and Carroll A. Edson founded the Order of the Arrow (O.A.) in 1915 at the Treasure Island Camp of the Philadelphia Council, Boy Scouts of America. It became an official program experiment in 1922 and an approved part of the Scouting program in 1934. In 1948, the O.A., recognized as the BSA’s national brotherhood of honor campers, became an official part of the national camping program of the Boy Scouts of America. The Beginning of the Echeconnee Lodge

Dusk fell; the sounds of the frogs were just beginning – the croaking still tentative and intermittent in the beginning darkness as the Scouts, Scouters, and parents gathered in the campfire arena on the hillside across the ditch behind CBH cabin number seven for a special event. A bridge of lashed logs spanned the sandy ravine and supported the quick feet of the Scouts and the cautious footfalls of the parents as they filed in and took their places in the campfire circle. It was late May. The green tree frogs along the banks of the CBH lake below increased their croaking, marking the coming summer and another year of Boy Scout summer camp at Benjamin Hawkins. Vestiges of the old grist mill stood at the southeast corner of the lake along the dam, reminding one of older times, before this land became a Scout camp, times when farmers drove their wagons, full of corn and other grains, to wait by the spillway as their corn was ground into flour by the turning stones of the water-powered grist mill.

A colorful totem pole stood tall in the arena, its pictures silently and vividly telling the story of Camp Ben Hawkins from the time of wilderness to the beginnings of this Scout camp. It had been carved six years earlier by the CBH Staff of 1941 and placed here in the summer campfire circle, across the ditch behind cabin number seven, with the Bald Eagle at its summit overlooking the campfire and listening to the songs and skits of the evening.

Later, as the campfire program came to a close, boisterous sounds of the Scouting campfire faded into the forest. All became quiet; the atmosphere changed; expectation filled the air. As the embers of the campfire glowed softly, the totem pole Eagle looked down over the campfire circle and watched silently as Indians in full regalia wearing red and white felt arrow sashes over their shoulders solemnly approached the council fire, selected twenty-five Scouts one by one, tapped them on the shoulder, and took them from the arena into the sounds of the central Georgia night, into the croaking of the frogs which seemed to get louder, as one-by-one, the Scouts disappeared from the firelight into the night.

Echeconnee Lodge # 358 Order of the Arrow Draft version: July 30, 2015 Page 1 The approaching summer camp season for CBH would be very different this year. World War II was over; resources and manpower were again available to build up Scouting in Central Georgia. Camp Benjamin Hawkins had been operating a summer camp program now for twenty years, but during the war years the program was minimal, and Scouting was an afterthought to a country focused on the war effort. Boys who had attended Camp Ben Hawkins as Scouts had grown into men and served their country in this effort, and some were now returning to Central Georgia to become community leaders and Scoutmasters.

Attendance at camp was expected to grow rapidly over the next few years; the Dining Hall and Canteen were ready to serve the Scouts, and a new camp waterfront had been completed. But the summer of 1947 would be special. The Order of the Arrow would begin in Central Georgia this summer.

Mr. V. Carlyle Sullivan had served Scouts in the Central Georgia Council since Scouting’s inception in the area in the 1920’s. As Scout Executive he had been instrumental in establishing Camp Ben Hawkins and served as the Camp Director for the first season in 1928 all the way through the summer of 1946. Both his sons, Bill and Carl Jr., had grown up at CBH, for the family lived in the old farmhouse at the entrance to camp within earshot of the spillway. When the boys were young they would chop wood for the wood burning stove in the camp kitchen – his wife, Mary, ran the kitchen – and as they got older, both boys worked on the camp staff. Several months earlier Mr. Sullivan hired Herman Chafin to take over the job of Camp Director so he could focus more on developing the council program. Mr. Sullivan had a quiet vision for greater opportunities for the young men of central Georgia.

Mr. Sullivan had heard of a program called the Order of the Arrow, the “Wimachtendienk” as it was called, a program of leadership and cheerful service that had been successfully introduced in Scout camps around the nation. The Order had expanded rapidly since its founding, and there was talk that the Order of the Arrow could become an official part of the Boy Scouts of America. Mr. Sullivan made inquiries to existing O.A. lodges in Augusta, Savannah, and Atlanta and made plans to bring the Order of the Arrow to central Georgia.

Echeconnee Lodge # 358 Order of the Arrow Draft version: July 30, 2015 Page 2 The weekend of May 23-25 would be perfect for this special event! Five hundred Scouts and Scouters would gather together for a Council Camporee; this would be the best opportunity for the Troops and Outfits to choose from among themselves the campers who best exemplified the Scout Oath and Scout Law to be a part of this new Brotherhood of Cheerful Service, the Order of the Arrow.

The arrangements were made, Lodge members of the Atlanta O.A. lodge under the leadership of Claude Humphries agreed to travel to Ben Hawkins to conduct the induction. Carl Sullivan would start a brand new lodge of the Order of the Arrow! He would bring the “Wimachtendienk” to Camp Benjamin Hawkins!

So, on a Friday night in May, 1947, twenty-five Central Georgia Boy Scouts were led from the glowing embers of the campfire for a night alone, to learn of the principals of the Order of the Arrow. Later that weekend, on Saturday, May 24, 1947, in the sandy woods of Camp Benjamin Hawkins, with the sound of the frogs in background reminding them of the nature that surrounded them, these twenty-five Scouts were inducted into the Wimachtendienk and became the charter members of the Order of the Arrow in Central Georgia.

Charter Members of the Echeconnee Lodge On May 24, 1947, ten Scouts and fifteen Scouters were inducted as charter members of the Order of the Arrow members in the Central Georgia Council.

Youth charter members: Adult charter members:

Jack Ard W.G. “Bill” Hardeman James Brown R.E. Lowrance Lewis Dunn Francis Williams Elliott Dunwoody V Joel Cummings Kenneth Lee W.E. Head, Sr. William Rice Harold Woodruff Bob Stout Paul Doster Carlysle Sullivan Jr. W.A. Wood, Sr. Tommy Tolbert III Carroll Long

James Trimble Paul M Clark, Sr. Photo courtesy of Hank Personius

Herman K. Chafin V. Carl Sullivan Central Georgia Scout Executive 1922- 1958 Carl Sullivan, Sr. First Camp Ben Hawkins Camp Director Harvey T. (R.?) Brown

Echeconnee Lodge # 358 Order of the Arrow Draft version: July 30, 2015 Page 3 First Years of the Echeconnee Lodge

First tasks of the new lodge First Lodge Officers - 1947 Immediately after becoming Order of the Arrow members, the young men faced some very important tasks: The new lodge, only one day old, Lodge Chief needed a name and a totem. Lodge Officers must be elected, and the Billy Rice newly-elected leaders must immediately prepare a program to begin Scribe the operation of the Order of the Arrow in the Central Georgia Council. Tommy Tolbert Billy Rice, a Life Scout from Outfit 23, was elected as the first Lodge Treasurer Chief. Other officers elected were Tommy Tolbert from Troop 3 as James Brown Lodge Scribe and James Brown of Outfit 12 as Lodge Treasurer. Field Executive Harvey T. Brown was appointed as the Lodge Adviser by the 1948 Lodge Officers Scout Executive V. Carl Sullivan. Lodge Chief “Echeconnee” Tommy Tolbert Echeconnee Creek is a prominent land feature near Camp Benjamin Hawkins, and members of the lodge incorporated this as lodge name, Scribe Echeconnee Lodge. Echeconnee is a Creek Indian word meaning "Deer Jim Trimble Trap Creek", from “echo” meaning deer, and “conna", meaning trap. It Treasurer was so named because deer that came to drink from Echeconnee creek Teddy Ryther were attacked by Indians before they could escape up the steep banks. Lodge members also chose the deer as the official totem of the 1949 Lodge Officers Echeconnee Lodge. Lodge Chief When the lodge’s application was officially approved on June 16, 1947, Tommy Tolbert (?) the lodge was assigned number 358, the 358th Order of the Arrow lodge to be chartered.

First year of Lodge Program During the first year of operation, the Lodge conducted two inductions with help from the already established Egwa Tawa Dee Lodge #129 from Atlanta, Georgia. To conduct the Ordeal induction and the Ordeal ceremonies, an Ordeal team was organized including Billy Rice, Carl Sullivan Jr., Tommy Tolbert, Elliot Dunwoody, and Bob Stout. The team conducted two inductions in the first year of the Echeconnee Lodge, the first was held at Camp Benjamin Hawkins and the second was held at the Ocmulgee Indian Mounds. 1948 Echeconnee Lodge Officers: Teddy Ryther, Tommy Tolbert, and Jim Trimble

Echeconnee Lodge # 358 Order of the Arrow Draft version: July 30, 2015 Page 4 The 1950’s

In the 1950’s the Echeconnee Order of the 1950’s LODGE CHIEFS Arrow lodge was very active at Camp Benjamin Hawkins with many OA members 1950 Jim Trimble serving on the Camp Staff. The Lodge grew 1951 Pete Neilson rapidly in membership during the early 1950s. 1952 Billy Schaffer Building the CBH campfire arena In approximately 1952, The OA built a 1953 Billy Schaffer campfire arena on the hillside overlooking the CBH lake behind the dining hall. The Lodge held several service weekends to clear trees, 1954 Henry McKay Jr construct a supportive brick wall, and place seating. Upon completion, 1955 David Richardson this arena was used for summer camp campfires. The CBH Totem pole, which tells the history of the camp, (carved in the summer of 1941) was 1956 Joe Smaha moved from the former arena on the hillside behind the Valley Dale area of camp and placed in the new arena behind the dining hall. This 1957 Frank Armstrong arena was used continuously as the 1958 Francis Clark summer camp campfire 1959 Phil Brown arena for many decades until the last summer camp campfire in the summer of 2005.

1952 - Building the campfire arena Echeconnee Dance Team The OA Dance Team was first formed in 1954. Led by Joe Smaha, the Dance Team met at the Troop 19 Scout Hut in Macon, Georgia. Early members included David Richardson, Mallory Atkinson, Albert Reichert, Ron Freeman, Al Mitchell, Frances Williams, Chet Lowe, Billy Kidd, and Denny McCrary. Joe recollects that the team performed not only at CBH and Area 6-C Fellowships but also in the old Macon auditorium. Joe was a fancy dancer and David was a snake dancer.

Echeconnee Lodge # 358 Order of the Arrow Draft version: July 30, 2015 Page 5 First Pocket Flap The first lodge pocket flap was created in the late 1950’s. The atlatl, a sophisticated hunting tool used by Native American Indians, inspired the design. The atlatl, a short, wooden shaft with a point that socketed to the base of a spear, allowed the hunter to fling a spear with greater speed and accuracy. The patch featured a Native American warrior preparing to launch his hunting First Echeconnee Lodge pocket flap spear with an atlatl with one of the Ocmulgee Indian Mounds visible in the background. The border of the lodge flap, which consists of an alternating pattern of swirls on a green background, represents an elaborate pottery design used by the early inhabitants of the area during the Woodlands period (1000 BC – AD 900). Visits by Echeconnee Lodge members to the Ocmulgee Indian Mounds National Monument sparked interest in the original cultures, and displays of artifacts likely inspired the design. This original patch design was proudly worn by Echeconnee lodge members for more than 50 years. The pottery border itself continues to be included on almost all Echeconnee patches as a symbol of the heritage of our Lodge and recognition of the rich history of the native cultures that lived in the central Georgia region.

Camp Shop building burns In the summer of 1953, the CBH Camp shop building burned to the ground, destroying several handmade headdresses made by Lodge Chief Billy Schaffer.

1953 - Echeconnee Ceremony Team, Billy Shaffer and Pete Neilson

Echeconnee Lodge # 358 Order of the Arrow Draft version: July 30, 2015 Page 6 Echeconnee attendance at Area events in the 1950’s The 1951 Area 6-C conference was probably the first Area event attended by Echeconnee. Arrowman Ned Buck likely attended this event.

1952 Area 6-C Conference 1951 Lodge Chief Pete Neilson remembers attending the Area 6-C Conference in Savannah, Georgia.

Several Echeconnee arrowmen attended the 1955 Area 6-C Conference at the A.H. Stephens Park in Crawfordville, Georgia, hosted by the Bob White Lodge from Augusta.

Frank Evans remembers attending this event as a brand new Ordeal member of the OA. He did not know much about this group called the Order of the Arrow, but he wanted to be a part it. He had been very disappointed when he was not elected to the OA the first year he was eligible, but now that he was an OA member, he wanted to give his best. So he travelled to A.H. Stephens Park for the Area Conference to attend one of his first OA events.

During the Area Conference, Frank thought back to his Ordeal ceremony which was held in a flat area in the depths of the CBH swamp. He remembered the Legend, the story of the Lenni Lenape Indians and the beginning of the Order of the Arrow told by Meteu. Meteu had read the Legend from a booklet, and Frank thought he could do better. If he memorized the Legend, they will let me do it, and I can really be a part of the O.A.!

So, Frank sat on the banks of Lake Buncombe at the 1955 Area 6-C Conference with his ceremony booklet and memorized the legend. And for the next four or five years, he performed Meteu in the Ordeal ceremony, not because, Frank says, “I was the best one to do the part, or looked philosophical, but because I was the only one who knew the part!”

His dedication to learning the Legend as an Ordeal member began a long adventure in the OA. Frank Evans did learn a great deal about the Order of the Arrow and would become a lodge leader, editor of the lodge newsletter, “The Buckskin”, and the fifth youth to be inducted as a Vigil Honor member of the Echeconnee Lodge.

Echeconnee Lodge # 358 Order of the Arrow Draft version: July 30, 2015 Page 7 The “Buckskin” The newsletter of the Echeconnee Lodge in the 1950’s was called The Buckskin in which lodge officers and members shared articles and information on lodge events and activities with the lodge membership. The Buckskin was most likely published for the first time in 1953 under the leadership of Lodge Chief Billy Schaffer. The Editor of the Buckskin in 1957 was Frank Evans.

Lodge Adviser in the 1950’s Mr. Leo Deas served as Lodge Adviser for several years in the 1950s. Mr. Deas, a police officer in Macon, rode his motorcycle to camp for Echeconnee Lodge events. He was the motivating force behind building of the OA Lodge building in the area of camp that became known as The Buckskin - 1960 “Lodge Hill”.

Lodge Chief David Vaughan indicates that Mr. Deas played a significant part in creating the design for the first lodge flap – incorporating a design based on drawings and images from the archeological record of the prehistoric southeastern Native Americans.

Echeconnee Lodge # 358 Order of the Arrow Draft version: July 30, 2015 Page 8 The Snake Dance 1950’s CBH campsites The snake dance was names: performed at the “OA Raccoon Day” campfire Seminole numerous times during Powder Horn summer camp in the Whip-poor-will 1950’s. An Echeconnee dancer would display Broken Arrow the live snake while Thunderbird Eagles Nest dancing - the movements 1955 Lodge Chief David Richardson Bear Claw reportedly mesmerizing the sometimes perturbed reptile. The dancer, Creek with his arms held wide, would hold the snake in his mouth and dance Long Rifle to the utter amazement of the onlooking Scouts. Cherokee 1952 Lodge Chief Pete Neilson recalls easing through the CBH swamp by canoe, searching for snakes for the performances with Nature Director and 1953 Lodge Chief Billy Schaffer.

On more than one occasion, the annoyed snake would not cooperate. John Blanks once performed the dance with the snake firmly attached to his check. 1954 Lodge Chief David Richardson’s snake escaped one week, and he was forced to dance with a replacement snake, a recently acquired corn snake. Unaccustomed to the jostling it would receive in the performance, the perturbed snake took firm hold of David’s armpit for the duration of the show.

O.A. Day at CBH - 1951

Echeconnee Lodge # 358 Order of the Arrow Draft version: July 30, 2015 Page 9 The OA Lodge The OA lodge, a building built by the Echeconnee Lodge, stood on the hillside not far from the Iroquois campsite where it overlooked the Lodge Hill part of camp. Lodge Adviser, Leo Deas, led the effort to build this building of the Order of the Arrow at camp despite objections from the professional staff. Mr. Deas collected money, designed, and built the OA lodge building.

The OA Lodge was used by the OA and the camp for many decades. On a brick base with a wooden structure, the lodge had two extremely large windows in the front and a big open area which spanned the width of the building. Double doors opened in front onto to a short, brick staircase. On one door a large, wooden, red-painted “O” and the other a large “A”. As Lodge Chief Joe Smaha recounts “It was a first class building in the middle of run-down camp”. The OA lodge was used only during special occasions; the Lodge Chief was one of the few who had a key. Ceremony costumes were stored in the lodge and team members dressed here for the weekly tapout ceremonies held at First Echeconnee Lodge neckerchief summer camp.

During the 1970’s the OA Lodge housed some of the CBH camp staff during the summer; however, by the mid 1980’s the building was in such disrepair it had to be abandoned. Situated far from the main part of camp, its two huge windows attracted vandals who not only broke all the windows, but demolished much of the interior. The building became not only an eyesore but a danger to Scouts who were warned to stay away from the building.

Despite effort, no photo has yet been found of the OA lodge. When asked about photos of the OA lodge 1974 Lodge Vice-Chief John Proctor stated very accurately “in my tenure, the OA lodge was not very photogenic”.

In approximately 1995 the OA Lodge was flattened and removed leaving only remnants of its foundation. Former Lodge Chief Craig Rotter preserved one board from the OA Lodge, and during the 1998 Lodge Chief’s reunion, all twenty two former Lodge Chiefs signed this one remaining board from the OA Lodge. Craig presented this board to former Lodge Chief Larry Mobley for his part in researching and organizing the Lodge Chiefs’ Reunion. 1952-53 Lodge Chief Billy Schaffer as Meteu

Echeconnee Lodge # 358 Order of the Arrow Draft version: July 30, 2015 Page 10 The first Vigil Honor member Early youth Vigil Honor The Vigil Honor is a high mark of distinction and recognition reserved for members those arrowmen, who, by reason of exceptional service, personal effort, and unselfish interest, have made distinguished contributions beyond From 1957 to the end of the the immediate responsibilities of their position or office to the lodge, 1960’s, twelve youth the Order of the Arrow, Scouting, or the Scout Camp. The Vigil Honor is members of the Echeconnee the highest honor that the Order of the Arrow can bestow upon its Lodge were inducted as Vigil members for service to the lodge, council, and Scouting. Honor members. All served on the CBH Staff. The first member of the Echeconnee Lodge to be inducted as a Vigil Honor member was Joe Smaha, who was inducted in April, 1957 at the 1957 Camp Strachan Area 6-C Conclave at Camp Strachan in Savannah, Georgia. His Indian Joe Smaha name, “Gentgeen”, means “Dancer”. 1958 Camp Ben Hawkins Frank Armstrong Francis Clark

1960 Camp Ben Hawkins Ben Whitley

1961 Camp Ben Hawkins Frank Evans

1962 Sam Jones Phillip Parrish

1965 Camp Linwood Hayne Manley Carter Frank Comer David Vaughan

1966 Camp Tolochee John Gamble James Glenn

1970 Camp Strachan Ted Vinson Stephen Shimmel Wes King

1971 Camp Barstow Charles Crawley Sam James McKinley King

Echeconnee Lodge # 358 Order of the Arrow Draft version: July 30, 2015 Page 11 Order of the Arrow Region and Area Organization In the 1950’s, the Order of the Arrow was organized into 12 regions; each region was further subdivided into Areas. The Echeconnee Lodge was part of Region #6 which included Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Region #6 was divided into areas; Echeconnee, along with the other eleven lodges in Georgia, belonged to Area 6-C.

Each spring, the OA lodges in Area 6-C gathered for a weekend event of 1957 OA membership card This membership card belonged to 1962 fun and fellowship called the Area Fellowship which was led by an Lodge Chief “Flip” Parrish elected youth Area Chief and hosted by one of the lodges in the area.

The first Area Chief from Echeconnee Lodge In the spring of 1958, Lodge Chief Francis Clark was elected to serve as Area Chief for Area 6-C. In this role, Francis was responsible for coordinating and leading the Area 6-C Fellowship to be held the following year for the lodges in the state of Georgia. Never before had an arrowman from the Echeconnee Lodge been elected to an office on the area level; and Francis became the first Echeconnee Lodge member to serve as Area Chief.

Ocmulgee Fellowship In 1959, for the first time, the Echeconnee Lodge hosted an Area 6-C Ocmulgee Fellowship – 1959 event to which other lodges Program Cover were invited. The event was the Area 6-C Fellowship; all the lodges in Area 6-C were invited. This Fellowship, called the “Ocmulgee Fellowship”, was held at Camp Benjamin Hawkins in April, 1959. The Fellowship was under the leadership of Area Chief Francis Clark, a former Lodge Chief of the Echeconnee Lodge who had been elected as Area Chief. Leading the Echeconnee Lodge in hosting the event was Lodge Chief Phil Brown.

The event program included a Brotherhood ceremony and a Vigil Honor induction. No members of the Echeconnee Lodge were inducted into the Vigil Honor during the event; however, Leo Deas, Echeconnee Lodge Lay Adviser, coordinated the registration of the Vigil Honor candidates for the other lodges. The Lodge provided tenting, bunks, and mattresses for up to 30 members of each visiting lodge, and the fee for the weekend was $4.50 which included a beautiful but unusual patch.

Echeconnee Lodge # 358 Order of the Arrow Draft version: July 30, 2015 Page 12 Echeconnee Lodge Vigil Honor Inductions

1 ***** Class of 1957 ***** 04/27/57 y Joe Smaha Gentgeen Dancer

***** Class of 1958 *****2 07/18/58 y Frank W. Armstrong Pischk Night Hawk 07/18/58 y Francis G. Clark Meechgalanne Sparrow Hawk 08/01/58 a Jim Mauldin Achtu Running Deer

***** Class of 1960 *****3 08/20/60 a William H. Burns Langundowi Peaceful One 08/20/60 a William G. Hardeman Takachsin Leader 08/20/60 a Charles F. Shinholster Netopalis Warrior 08/20/60 y James Ben Whitley Brave

**** Class of 1961 *****4 04/15/61 y Frank O. Evans Jr. Holata Prophet

***** Class of 1962 ***** 05/05/62 y Samuel P. Jones Sanquen Weasel 05/05/62 y Phillip Parrish Jr. Nagatamen Reliable One 11/17/62 a William Barron Segachtek Ardent One

5 ***** Class of 1965 ***** 04/24/65 y Manley L. “Sonny” Carter Achpamsin Hiker 04/24/65 y Frank C. Comer III Nitis Companion 04/24/65 a John Lawhon Lilchpin Diligent One 04/24/65 a C. Cloud Morgan Achgumhok Cloud 04/24/65 y David Vaughan Kittelendamwagan Earnest One

***** Class of 1966 *****6 04/24/66 y John B. Gamble Jr. Lippoe Wise One 04/24/66 y Harry James Glenn III Netopalis Warrior

7 ***** Class of 1970 ***** 04/24/70 y8 Ted M. Vinson Wowoatam Skillful One 04/24/70 y Stephen M. Shimmel Wulamoc Speaks Truly 04/23/719 y Wesley J. King Jr. Memhallmund Trader

***** Class of 1971 *****10 04/23/71 y Charles Crawley Gunaquot Tall One 04/23/71 y Sam James Klamachpin Quiet One 04/23/71 y McKinley King Allohakasin One Who Instructs 04/23/71 a James W. Shimmel Gishhatteu One Who Is Ready 04/23/71 a William F. Wendt Memhallmund Trader

***** Class of 1972 *****11 11/11/72 a William P. Davis Gischitehen Determined One 11/11/72 y Richard Owens Leke Alluns True Arrow 11/11/72 a Milton W. Rose Tschitanigachen Firm One 11/11/72 y William S. Sorrells Skattek Zealous One 11/11/72 y Kenneth Thompson Achowalogen Worker

1 Vigil Honor Induction held at Camp Strachan in Savannah, GA at the Area 6-C Conclave. 2 Vigil Honor Induction held at Camp Benjamin Hawkins. 3 Vigil Honor Induction held at Camp Benjamin Hawkins. 4 Vigil Honor Induction held at Camp Tolochee in Waycross, GA at the Area 6-C Conclave. 5 Vigil Honor Induction held at Camp Linwood Hayne in Augusta, GA at the Area 6-C Conclave. 6 Vigil Honor Induction held at Camp Tolochee in Waycross, GA at the Area 6-C Conclave. 7 Vigil Honor Induction held at Camp Strachan in Savannah, GA at the Area 6-C Conclave. 8 Nominated as a youth, inducted when 21 years old. 9 Member of Class of 1970, inducted the following year at the Area 6-C Conclave. 10 Vigil Honor Induction held at Camp Barstow in Charleston, SC at the Area 6-C Conclave. 11 Inductions from 1972 and later held at Camp Benjamin Hawkins.

Echeconnee Lodge # 358 Order of the Arrow Draft version: July 30, 2015 Page 13 Echeconnee Lodge Vigil Honor Inductions (continued)

***** Class of 1974 *****12 10/13/74 y Richard H. Baggs Allapijeyjuwagan Quick One 10/13/74 y Lawrence M. Hammack Gebtschaat Anatschiton Clown - One Who Cares 10/13/74 a George E. Hoffman Sr. Lachauweleman He Who Is Concerned 10/13/74 y David N. Lewis Gischitehen Determined One 10/13/74 y John R. Proctor Wunita One Who Is Able 10/13/74 a Frank R. Trowbridge Jr. Kittelendamwagan Earnest One 10/13/74 y Robert F. Willingham Jr. Wulelendam Joyful One

***** Class of 1975 ***** 10/12/75 y Richard A. Boyd Kichkinet Guide 10/12/75 a Omar E. Herndon Tindeuchen Lippoe Firemaker - Experienced One 10/12/75 y Robert F. Koester Achtu Gentgeen Deer Dancer 10/12/75 a James B. Kopp Witatschimolsin Moschakantpeu Adviser - Bald Headed One

***** Class of 1976 *****13 10/09/76 y John Ross Adams Jr. Lekhiket Secretary 10/09/76 y Hyden C. Aiken Nageuchsowagan One Who Has Confidence 10/09/76 y Robert F. Boyd Allowat Sakima Mighty Chief 10/09/76 a Glenn W. Horner Skattek Zealous One 10/09/76 a James L. Keeney Lippoe Wise One 10/09/76 y G. Barry Rogers Gentgeen Dancer 10/09/76 y Randy Sherrill Atschimolsin Counselor 10/09/76 y Bradley J. Shimmel Achibis One Who Gives First Aid

***** William G. Hardeman Class of 1977 ***** 11/06/77 y Christopher B. Brechin Tgauchsin Good Natured, Friendly One 11/06/77 y C. Neal Doty Gischihan One Who Creates With Hands 11/06/77 y Anthony Hughes Ksukquamallsin Perplexed One 11/06/77 a Paul R. Odum Memsochet Traveler 11/06/77 a Joseph B. Rogers Klamhattenamin Calm-Minded One 11/06/77 y Paul M. Sparrow Gentgeen Apendamen Dancer, One Who Enjoys 11/06/77 a Louis J. Spears Achgiguwen Noisy One 6/27/7814 y William Howard Trowbridge Apatschin He Who Comes Back 6/27/78 a Bert Struby Nanatschitaquik Business Manager

***** Howard Allison Class of 1978 ***** 11/05/78 a John R. Adams Sr. Amangiechsin Speaker, Loud Speaker 11/05/78 y Vance King Klamhattenamin Calm-Minded One 11/05/78 y David Lee Aschowin Swimmer

***** Bill Barron Class of 1979 ***** 11/04/79 y Daniel Morgan Tschitanissowagan Capable One 11/04/79 a Charles W. Hughes Sr. Glistam Listener 11/04/79 y Larry A. Mobley Wischixin One Who Exerts Himself 11/04/79 a Donald A. Strathern Jr. Tgauchsin Good Natured One 11/04/79 a Walter B. Simmons Jr. Wilawi Valuable One 11/04/79 y Charles S. Adams Gattopuin Hungry One

***** Wesley King, Sr. Class of 1980 ***** 10/26/80 y Charles E. “Chip” Greene Wulalogewagan One Who Does Good Work 10/26/80 a Louis Emilio Hashawije Square One 10/26/80 a Arthur J. Silsby Nutemekiset Shepherd 10/26/80 y Mark Southerland Achewon Spiritual One 10/26/80 a William D. Hall Bischik Sure One 10/26/80 y15 Billy W. Jones Awullsu Good One 10/26/80 y James A. Bowman Liau Man of Valor

***** James W. Shimmel Class of 1981 *****16 11/08/81 y Elijah Morgan Nagatamen One Who Can Be Trusted 11/08/81 a Robert I. Bell Allohakasin One Who Instructs 11/08/81 a Kenneth Baker Wulihan He Who Does Good For Others 11/08/81 a Elam J. Whitby Olsittam Believer 11/08/81 y Gordon M. Calley Nechochwen He Who Travels Alone

12 Mr. Hubert Ellison, nominated by Lodge #104, was also inducted. 13 Class of 1976 included five Lodge Chiefs. 14 Date estimate within two weeks. Inductions conducted at summer camp. 15 Registered as a youth with the Boy Scouts of America. 16 No Vigil Honor Nominations were made during the year 1982.

Echeconnee Lodge # 358 Order of the Arrow Draft version: July 30, 2015 Page 14 Echeconnee Lodge Vigil Honor Inductions (continued)

***** Class of 1983 *****17 11/20/83 y David Shelton Elangomat Friend 11/20/83 y Stewart McLamb Mos Moose 11/20/83 a Melvyn F. Wenner Tuney Achowalogen Bearded Worker 11/20/83 a Norman M. Burkhalter Wapantpeu Lenno Gray-Headed One 11/20/83 a John D. Caldwell Memhallmund Trader 11/20/83 y M. Lee Barber Wulelendam Wendamen Merry Fisherman 11/20/83 y Nicholas J. Sasso Achsin Rock 11/20/83 a David Bowring Lachauweleman He Who Is Concerned

***** Joe Wilson Class of 1984 ***** 11/18/84 y Ross H. Stillwell Najundam One Who Carries a Load 04/28/8518 y Craig M. Rotter Gettemagelensit Kikehuwet Humble Doctor

***** Class of 1985 ***** 11/24/85 y Samuel J. Waller Lattoniken One Who Searches 11/24/85 y19 Wayne Whitby Tschitanissohen Wulantowagan One Who Strengthens Spirits

***** Class of 1986 ***** 11/16/86 y Kerry Freeman Wulapeju Gentgeen Honorable Dancer 11/16/86 y Paul Ogles Gischitehen Witschindin Determined Helper 11/16/86 a Roy P. Bowden Gischachsummen One Who Enlightens

***** Class of 1987 ***** 11/15/87 a David K. Sessions Klamachpin Quiet One 11/15/87 y Tim Rusk Lauchsoheen He Who Makes Others Happy 11/15/87 a Sam B. Edwards Lippoe Achgeketum Experienced Teacher

***** Class of 1988 *****20 01/22/8921 y Louis M. Napolitano III Wulihan He Who Does Good For Others 01/22/89 a Louis M. Napolitano Jr. Natachtu Wood Gatherer 01/22/89 y Doug Bush Woakus Gray Fox 01/22/89 y Daniel P. Sanders Achowelendam Deep Thinker

***** Class of 1990 ***** 11/04/90 y Robbie C. Guest Gischeleman One Who Creates With Mind 11/04/90 y Nick Ingles Chesimus Younger Brother 11/04/90 a Jack W. Parks, III Wulowachtauwoapin He Who Looks Beyond

***** Class of 1991 ***** 12/15/91 a Steve Clark Achgeketum Teacher 12/15/91 a Thames "Eek" Economos Amangi Gokhos Big Owl 12/15/91 y Clifford R. Fonda Tschikenum Turkey 12/15/91 y Charles B. Miller Ganschapuchk Big Rock

***** Manley L. “Sonny” Carter Class of 1992 ***** 11/15/92 a Lawrence E. Pierce Amendchewagan Papanauwelendam Stubborn One Who Gets Attention 11/15/92 y Gary G. Clark Meechgalhukquot Allogagan Redheaded One Who Serves 11/15/92 a David M. Fonda Wulaptonaelchukquonk One Who Advocates Our Cause 11/15/92 y Bradford J. Mate Mamalis Young Deer 11/15/92 y Jody D. Rice Gentgeen Dancer 11/15/92 y William A. Schwarz, II Tgauchsin Friendly One 11/15/92 y Andy J. Bacon Ichauweleman He Who Gives Advantage Unto Others

***** Class of 1993 ***** 11/14/93 y Shannon Fonda Wichixin Active One 11/14/93 a Antoinette B. “Annie” Bacon Witscheman Mowichleu Helpful Wild Dove 11/14/93 y Jonathan Bowling Tulpe Lattoniken Turtle One Who Searches 11/14/93 y Brad Triplett Wewingtonheet Witawematpanni Talker One Who Aids 11/14/93 a William R. “Bill” Jones Wihungen One Who Sacrifices 11/14/93 a Andrew Scheuermann Klamachpin Tuney Quiet Bearded One

17 No Vigil Honor Class Name was chosen for the Class of 1983. 18 Vigil Call Out held at the Rotter residence. 19 Registered as a youth with the Boy Scouts of America. 20 No Vigil Honor nominations were made for the Class of 1989. 21 Inductions held the following January at a separate Vigil Honor Induction Weekend.

Echeconnee Lodge # 358 Order of the Arrow Draft version: July 30, 2015 Page 15 Echeconnee Lodge Vigil Honor Inductions (continued)

***** Class of 1994 ***** 11/13/94 y Johnathon Daryl Gibbons Elauwit Lattoniken Hunter One Who Searches 11/13/94 a Carl Jay Gibbons Witatschimoisin Tcshitanissohen Advisor, One Who Strengthens 11/13/94 y Brandon J. Mate Klamhattenamin One Of Calm Mind 11/13/94 a Larry C. Pearce Ktemaque Allogagan Beaver One Who Serves

***** Class of 1995 ***** 11/19/95 y William J. Hall Elgixin Takachsin Worthy One, One Who Leads 11/19/95 y Drew Crawford Nitis Companion 11/19/95 y Dean Ryan Simpson Wilawilihan Generous One 11/19/95 y Joel A. Gibbons Asgalendam Papenauwelendam Impatient One That Gets Attention 11/19/95 a Troy C. Gay Achowalogen Hard Worker 11/19/95 a Ross D. Cooper Tuney Wowoatamnowino Bearded Wiseman

***** Clayton Doty22 Class of 1996 ***** 11/24/96 a Kathleen M. Cooper Achgeketum Witscheman Teacher Helpful One 11/24/96 a Ronald N. Wagner Moschakantpeu Wulihan Baldhead One Doing Good For Others 11/24/96 y Joseph G. Bush Gelackelendam Weuchsowagan Funny Knowledgeable One 11/24/96 y M. Devlin Cooper Gentgeen Wischixin Dancer One Who Exerts Himself

***** Melvyn F. Wenner Class of 1997 ***** 11/9/97 y Jeremy Bowling Apatschin He Who Comes Back 11/9/97 y Michael A. Helman Jr. Achtschinkhalan One Who Persuades 11/9/97 y Benjamin T. Grimes Apuelendam One Who Thinks Easily 11/9/97 a P. Mike McCrocklin Allogagan One Who Serves 11/9/97 y Justin Jones Apensuwi Useful One 11/9/97 a Greg H. Ware Ahowoapewi One Who Has Endurance 11/9/97 a Havis Bonner Achewen Tuney Bushy Bearded One

***** Larry A. Mobley Class of 1998 ***** 11/21/98 y Charles E. Helman Klamhattenamin Calm-Minded One 11/21/98 y Joseph W. Jones Glakelendam Excited One 11/21/98 y Kevin Wright Aschowin Awelendam Swimmer, One Who Is Certain 11/21/98 y Jason W. Daugherty Wulihan He Who Does Good for Others 11/21/98 a Robert Thorn Jr. Nagatamen One Who Can Be Trusted 11/21/98 a Albert P. Reichert Jr. Gentgeen Allowelendam Dancer, One Who Is Highly Esteemed 11/21/98 a Don Jones Mantowagan He Who Has Spiritual Power 12/12/98 a Richard A. Wolverton Tschitanessoagan One Who Has Authority

***** Mike Land23 Class of 1999 ***** 11/20/99 y Jeremy Stinson Wulaptonaelchukquonk One Who Advocates Our Cause 11/20/99 y Dwight McGee Nagatamen Reliable One 11/20/99 y Patrick J. Sperlein Gentgeen Achowalogen Dancer, Hard Worker 11/20/99 a Charles M. Bertram Gunaquot Klakaptonaganall Tall, Amusing One 11/20/99 a Phil Nelson Gelackelendam Funny One 11/20/99 a John W. Grant III Gihim One Who Encourages 11/20/99 a Dwight Kerr Lachpiechsin Fast Speaker 12/24/9924 y Scott M. Martin Nageuchwagan Trustworthy One 6/2/00 y Ruvan Weerasuriya Achowelendam Deep Thinker

***** Craig Rotter Class of 2000 ***** 11/11/00 y Jared M. Bertram Nageuchsowagan One Who Has Confidence 11/11/00 y Hans T. van Loenen Kschamehhellan Fast Runner 11/11/00 y H. Lee Smith II Gattamen One Who Desires 11/11/00 y Wesley Phillips Wulalogewagan One Who Does Good Work 11/11/00 a Ronny L. Mays Sr. Allogagan Nehellatank Servant of the Lord 11/11/00 a Paul K. van Loenen Tachpachiwi Modest One 11/11/00 a Grant Cauthen Witschindin Leke Helper, Loyal One 6/1/01 a Alfred B. Peters Papesu Patient One

22 Inducted as a Vigil Honor member by Itibapishi Iti Hollo Lodge # 188 on 4/22/66; Lippoe, Wise One. 23 Inducted as a Vigil Honor member by Ini-To Lodge # 324 on 11/20/70; Klamachpin, Quiet One. 24 Vigil Honor Induction held at Camp Pine Lake in Macon, GA.

Echeconnee Lodge # 358 Order of the Arrow Draft version: July 30, 2015 Page 16 Echeconnee Lodge Vigil Honor Inductions (continued)

***** Ross D. Cooper Class of 2001 ***** 11/10/01 y Ryan Meyer von Bremen Gettemagelensit Nagatamen Humble Reliable One 11/10/01 y Scott Corkery Ksinelendam Carefree One 11/10/01 y Glendon Will Smalley III Tgauchsin Good-Natured One 11/10/01 a John Mullis III Wulowachtauwoapin He Who Looks Beyond 11/10/01 a Henry “Hank” Personius Wulelendam Merry One 11/10/01 a W. Irby Small Jr. Leke Tschitanissohen Loyal One Who Strengthens

***** M. Devlin Cooper Class of 2002 ***** 11/16/02 y Joshua L. Stinson Ksinachpin One Who Is At Leisure 11/16/02 y William E. Tanner II Wulaptonen He Who Speaks Favorably 11/16/02 y John S. “Trae” Weaver III Nachgundin Agreeable One 11/16/02 a Jared Johnson Witschindin Allohakasin Helper One Who Instructs 11/16/02 a Patrick J. Beer Leke Takachsin Loyal One Who Leads 11/16/02 a David T. Plaxico Ktemaque Achowalogen Beaver Hard Worker

***** William R. “Bill” Jones Class of 2003 ***** 11/15/03 y Thomas Christian Gunaquot Lachauweleman Tall One Who Is Concerned 11/15/03 y Jonathan M. Personius Lilchpin Nutiket Diligent Guard 11/15/03 y Charles Camp Wewingtonheet Kichkinet Babbling Guide 11/15/03 y Matthew Edwards Klamachpin Glistam Quiet One Who Listens 11/15/03 a Edwin Edwards Wulilisseu Kind One 11/15/03 a Billy M. Phillips, Jr. Tuney Achgiguwen Bearded Jocular One

***** Kathleen M. Cooper Class of 2004 ***** 11/6/04 a Steven E. Corkery Klamhattenamin Calm-Minded One 11/6/04 y Tyler Adsit Ksinelendam Japeechen Carefree One Who Is Along Riverbank 11/6/04 a William E. Tanner Tgauchsin Gebtschaat Good Natured Clown 11/6/04 y Joshua Basilio Tatchen Weuchsowagan Little One, One Who Has Knowledge

***** W. Irby Small, Jr. Class of 2005 ***** 11/5/05 y Billy M. Phillips III Tepelendam Contented One 11/5/05 y Robert Alan Hudgins Meechgalhukquot Apuelendam Redheaded One Who Thinks Easily 11/5/05 a Leroy Bundrage Anatschiton Epit Caring One Who Is There 11/5/05 a Leon A. Lovett Wulapeju Honorable One 11/5/05 a James Lyle Fritze Kittaptonen One Who Assures 11/5/05 a Fred Bongiovanni Guttgennemen One Who Gives Back 5/13/06 y Soren Young Gischileu He Who Has Proven True 5/13/06 y Phillip R. Duddles Amocholes Little Canoe

***** Henry “Hank” Personius Class of 2006 ***** 10/14/06 y Luke van Loenen Waskeu Witschindin Thin One Who Assists 10/14/06 y Carr Jones Memhallamund Alappiechsin Trader Fast Talker 10/14/06 y Brice Bongiovanni Klamachpin Weuchsowagen Quiet One Who Has Knowledge 10/14/06 y Ben Smith Elauwit Achewon Hunter Strong One 10/14/06 a Jeff Jump Wilawi Nihillasohen Valuable One Who Delights 10/13/0725 a Phillip Ham Hakihet Lippoe Farmer Experienced One

***** Ronny L. Mays Sr. Class of 2007 ***** 10/13/07 y Derek Brown Lachauweleman He Who Is Concerned 10/13/07 y Jacob Walton Wiquihillau Achkindiken Tired One Who Reads 10/13/07 y Phillip Lee Apatschin He Who Comes Back 10/13/07 y Andrew Patrick Weuchsowagan Gegachxis One Who Has Knowledge of Lizards 10/13/07 a Sheila Sweat Witatschimoisin Wischiki Adviser Busy One 10/13/07 a Andrew Walton Pilapeu Sachgachtoon Big Boy Cook 10/13/07 a Jon Griggs Tgauchsin Kikehuwet Friendly Dentist 10/13/07 a Danny Bumgardner Alappiechsin Wikhetschik Fast Talking One Who Builds

***** James Y. Proctor26 Class of 2008 ***** 11/8/08 y Tyler Adam Stepanek Elahkenasu Nitis Painted Friend 11/8/08 y Nathan S. van Loenen Wehwulilaihewet One Who Makes Others Laugh 11/8/08 a Gary V. Sparks Hitai Wixenu One Who is Skilled at Cooking 6/06/09 a William Grier Sowell Tuney Nagatamen Bearded One Who is Reliable

25 Vigil Honor Induction held the following year. 26 Inducted as a Vigil Honor member by Kecoughtan Lodge # 463 on 12/17/76; Nachgohuman, One Who Sings.

Echeconnee Lodge # 358 Order of the Arrow Draft version: July 30, 2015 Page 17 Echeconnee Lodge Vigil Honor Inductions (continued)

***** Brad Shimmel Class of 2009 *****27 11/14/09 y Sean Tighe Elgixin Worthy One 06/5/10 a Larry Choate Komelendam Gock Thifty One

***** Chip Greene Class of 2010 ***** 11/7/10 y Jacob Kraft Gunaxin Miechheken Witscheman Long-Haired Helpful One

***** Paul K. van Loenen Class of 2011 ***** 11/5/11 y Cody W. del Solar Gattopuin Wewingtonheet Hungry One Who Likes to Talk 11/5/11 a Alan G. Stepanek Gischitehen Nochnutemaliuwet Gock Determined Money Keeper

***** J. Ross Adams Class of 2012 ***** 11/4/12 y Nicholas T. Johnson Klamachpin Lilchpin Quiet Diligent One 11/4/12 y Kenneth J. Higginbotham Gihim Nimat Tpittawe Encouraging Brother to All 11/4/12 a Henry H. Harrison IV Klamachpin Wapantpeu Lenno Quiet Gray Haired One 11/4/12 a Earl R. Reneman Papesu Witschindin Patient One Who Helps Others

***** Billy W. Jones Class of 2013 *****28 11/08/13 y Alex S. Boland Nak-hayeh Kelpee Puchasee Mechanical Brain Master 11/08/13 y Justin L. Loney Nagatamen Wewingtonheet Trusted Babbler Who Likes to Talk 11/08/13 y Robert A. Sweat Gachpees Pilhìksutin Twin Who Does Ceremonies 11/08/13 a Vicky H. Grigsby Allogagan Wulihan Servant Who Does Good for Others 11/08/13 a Russell J. Higginbotham Lilchpin Tschitanissohen Diligent One Who Strengthens 11/08/13 a James G. Martin Sachgachtoon Allogewagan Amemens Cook Who Works for the Youth

27 Garrett Williams, nominated by Ma-Nu Lodge # 133, was also inducted. At the time of his induction, Mr. Williams was serving as Central Georgia Council Scout Executive. 28 No Vigil Honor nominations were made for the Class of 2014.

Echeconnee Lodge # 358 Order of the Arrow Draft version: July 30, 2015 Page 18 1960’s

During the 1960’s the Echeconnee Lodge was very active at Camp Ben 1960’s LODGE CHIEFS Hawkins. Numerous lodge meetings, Ordeals, and fellowships were held at CBH which was the center of activity for the lodge. Work 1960 Ben Whitley continued on the new council ring, and Echeconnee members played a 1961 Hook Burnes key role in the program at Camp Ben Hawkins. Every Echeconnee Lodge Chief during the 1960’s served on the CBH summer camp staff. 1962 Flip Parrish

1960 Lodge Meetings 1963 Rick Edwards Several lodge meetings and Ordeal ceremonies were held during the summer of 1960 at Camp Ben Hawkins. 1964 David Vaughan

Lodge Chief “Hook” Burnes led the July 15-17 lodge meeting at which 1965 Sonny Carter 42 Ordeal candidates were inducted and much work was done on the new council ring. The registration fee for the weekend of $ 2.50 1966 Jimmy Glenn included five meals. 1967 Sandy Johnson

During the Lodge business session in July, Ben Whitley was elected to 1968 Hu Hamilton serve as Lodge Chief for the following year. A nominating committee composed of “all former Lodge Chiefs and present Lay Advisors” and led 1969 Steve Shimmel by newly-elected Chief Ben Whitley was appointed to “draw up a slate of supplementary officers” to be submitted for approval by the lodge at the August meeting.

The Silver Shaft By 1963, all the original lodge flaps had been distributed, and new flaps were ordered for the new members. This second issue of lodge flaps added the lodge number 358 in the upper left corner of the patch, for the lodge number had been omitted in the first flap. The color of the spear shaft changed from yellow to white. As Lodge Chief David Vaughan recollects “when I was inducted I received a white spear flap since there were no more no-number flaps”. Each arrowmen was entitled to purchase no more than two of these flaps – a restriction referred to as “two per life”. Today, this white spear flap is called the “silver shaft” and is quite a collectible item.

In 1966 or 1967, the third issue of the Echeconnee lodge flap changed the color of the shaft back to the original yellow but retained the lodge number. This design served as the basis for the Echeconnee lodge flap for many decades.

Echeconnee Lodge # 358 Order of the Arrow Draft version: July 30, 2015 Page 19 1961 Fellowship held at Robins Air Force Base 1960’s Lodge flaps Lodge Chief “Hook” Burnes organized and led the Fall Fellowship held at Robins Air Force Base during the first weekend in October, 1961.

1963 Fellowship held at Robins Air Force Base Lodge Chief Rick Edwards organized the 1963 Lodge Fellowship held at the Robins Air Force 1960's Echeconnee Lodge flap Base.

Camp Hook Burnes Lodge Chief Hook Burnes’ father, William H. Burnes, one of the first adult Vigil Honor members of the Echeconnee Lodge, donated land on Lake Sinclair to become Camp Hook Burnes.

1964 Fellowship held at Rock Eagle The 1964 Echeconnee Fellowship was held at Camp Rock Eagle under the leadership of Lodge Chief David Vaughan. David

designed this multi-colored patch.

Dr. E. Urner Goodman visits Echeconnee lodge members Many Echeconnee lodge members attended the 1964 National Jamboree in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. While serving in the Jamboree Administrative Staff, former Lodge Chief Rick Edwards met O.A. founder E. Urner Goodman and invited him to visit the Central Georgia Council campsite to speak to the lodge members. Dr. Goodman accepted Rick’s invitation and accompanied him to the council campsite. Dr. Goodman took time to speak with each lodge member and signed many Echeconnee members’ O.A. sashes during his stay.

1964 Echeconnee Hoop Dancer Foreman Heard

Echeconnee Lodge # 358 Order of the Arrow Draft version: July 30, 2015 Page 20 Area Chief Lodge Chief David Vaughan was elected Area 6-C Chief for 1965. In this role David was responsible for the planning and implementation of the Area 6-C Fellowship held in the spring of 1965 for the twelve lodges in Georgia.

Order of the Arrow 50th Anniversary National Conference Six lodge members travelled by train to attend the 1965 NOAC at Indiana University including Lodge Chief Sonny Carter and past Lodge Chief David Vaughan. David remembers this event well: “I went with Sonny, and we had a great time. We took the new back patches we had designed to trade. During the conference, I wanted to trade patches, but Sonny wanted to go and do absolutely everything he could possibly do during NOAC! He wanted to bring ideas back to our lodge.”

David encountered Sonny Carter at the 1990 NOAC as Sonny was standing at the campus union center wearing his Astronaut flight suit, signing sashes for an eager group of arrowmen. Even though David had not seen Sonny in more than twenty years, when David walked up, Sonny immediately smiled, pointed to David and said to the gathered crowd “There’s my Lodge Chief!”

First Echeconnee backpatch Designed by David Vaughan and Sonny Carter in 1964 Echeconnee Backpatch Lodge Chiefs David Vaughan and Sonny Carter designed the first Echeconnee backpatch in 1964. Their original design included a beautiful, multi-colored sky background; however, the cost was too high. The final order not only removed the multiple colors in the sky background, but also removed the embroidery completely for a less expensive twill background.

OA Tapout ceremonies at CBH Many times during the 1960’s a flaming arrow was used to light the fire for OA tap outs. 1967 Lodge Chief Sandy Johnson remembers paddling across the CBH lake by canoe and shooting flaming arrows over the water during OA tapout ceremonies in the 1960’s.

Echeconnee Lodge # 358 Order of the Arrow Draft version: July 30, 2015 Page 21 Campsite names changed In the 1960’s the campsite names at CBH were changed to Indian names that are still in use today: Kickapoo, Tuscarora, Winnebago, Choctaw, Shawnee, Iroquois, Cherokee, Ottawa, and Natchez.

OA Pageants in the 1960’s A significant event during each week at camp was the “OA Day” where families were invited to camp for a picnic in the afternoon and a campfire in the evening. The campfires frequently included a spectacular Order of the Arrow pageant and an Order of the Arrow tap out ceremony.

Creative and inspirational campfire program elements highlighted the evening campfire held in the council ring on the hillside below the dining hall overlooking the CBH lake. These campfires included magic fire-lighting, exciting native American dancing, and memorable performances.

In 1968, a replica of Fort Hawkins was built in the campfire arena to serve as a prop for the OA pageants that summer. The plot of one of the pageants centered on the story of an “Evil Chief” who attempted to poison the good Chief.

Lodge Advisers in the 1960’s In the early 1960’s Bill Hardeman served as Lodge Adviser. Mr. Hardeman was inducted as a charter member of the Echeconnee Lodge in 1947. During the late 1960’s Judge C. Cloud Morgan served as the Lodge Adviser.

Major improvements at Camp Ben Hawkins In approximately 1963, a dirt causeway was constructed across the center of the lake to provide easy access for Troops camping on the other side of the lake. Up until this time, access to the campsites in Lakeside was via the spillway bridge at the end of the lake. The causeway significantly shortened the travel time between the campsites and the dining hall during the course of a week at summer camp.

In 1967 several structures were built at CBH: three A-Frame shower houses, an A-frame administration building, a shooting range structure, a new chapel, and camp entrance.

For the first time African American Boy Scouts were invited to CBH to participate in the summer camp program in approximately 1967. Until this time, African-American Scouts attended Camp Pine Lake in Bibb County between Macon and Gray.

In this same timeframe more African American Scouts became active OA members. (more research needed)

1967 Winter Fellowship patch

Echeconnee Lodge # 358 Order of the Arrow Draft version: July 30, 2015 Page 22 Echeconnee Astronaut 1965 Lodge Chief Sonny Carter became a physician with a specialty in internal medicine, was professional soccer player, a US Navy Flight Officer, training to become a pilot flying F-4 phantoms with Marine Fighter Squadron 333 as a Captain. Dr. Carter was selected by NASA to become an astronaut and qualified as a mission specialist where he logged 120 hours in space on Space Shuttle Mission STS-33 in November, 1989.

Sonny Carter was the keynote speaker at the 1990 National OA Conference.

Quote from the 1990 National OA Bulletin: Astronaut Sonny Carter 1965 Echeconnee Lodge Chief Sonny Carter took a Vigil Honor sash with him into space and presented this sash to Daniel Powell, the first mentally handicapped Eagle Scout during the 1990 National OA Conference. He presented the sash to Powell, conveying his respect by saying: “Someone who overcomes tests others may consider impossible … now that’s American.”

Dr. Carter went on to say that the single most important factor in Scouting and the Order is service. Speaking to a mesmerized crowd about the importance of Scouting and the Order, he said: “I think that if somebody understands service to someone other than oneself, that’s leadership. That’s something you can’t teach. Service to your fellow man is the core of our country, and that’s what makes us great.”

Sonny Carter was killed on a commercial airplane crash in April, 1991 while training for Space Shuttle Mission STS-42.

Crew of the 1990 Space Shuttle Mission STS-33

Echeconnee Lodge # 358 Order of the Arrow Draft version: July 30, 2015 Page 23 1970’s

The Echeconnee Lodge was very active at Camp Benjamin Hawkins 1970’s LODGE CHIEFS during the 1970’s, and CBH was the center of activity for the Echeconnee Lodge. The summer camp program at CBH was strong - 1970 Charles Crawley more than 1,000 Scouts spent a week at CBH during the early to mid 1971 Sam James 1970’s. Similarly, the Echeconnee Lodge was strong and active during the 1970’s. All Lodge Chiefs from the 1970’s served on the CBH summer 1972 Mck King camp staff, and almost all staff members were members of the Echeconnee Lodge. 1973 Ken Thompson

A key event for the lodge during the 1970’s was serving as host lodge 1974 Randy Sherrill for the 1974 Area SE-5 Conclave. 1975 Bobby Boyd Chapters During this decade, the Echeconnee Lodge had 1976 Ricky Boyd six Chapters which corresponded to the six 1977 Ross Adams Districts of the Central Georgia Council: the Piedmont Chapter, the Creek Chapter, the 1978 Brad Shimmel Oconee Chapter, the Thunderbird Chapter, the Pine Forest Chapter, and the Peach Belt 1979 Clack Aiken Chapter.

The “Black Border” Flap 1972 Fall Fellowship patch The Echeconnee Lodge celebrated its 25th anniversary in 1972, and for the first time, a black border was added to the Echeconnee lodge flap. This flap was designated as the 25th anniversary flap and given to newly inducted arrowmen during 1972, 1973, and 1974 at the conclusion of their Ordeal.

In 1974, when only a small number of these flaps were left in stock, the Echeconnee Lodge Executive Committee set aside all the remaining inventory of this anniversary flap for exclusive use as recognition for the newly-created Lodge Chief's Award. These "black border" flaps were used as the Lodge Chief's Award from its inception to approximately 1983 when the reserved stock was depleted.

Echeconnee Lodge # 358 Order of the Arrow Draft version: July 30, 2015 Page 24 1974 Area 5 Conclave Hosting the 1974 Area SE-5 Conclave at CBH was a major event for the Echeconnee Lodge. For over a year, the Echeconnee members exerted an enormous effort to plan program elements and to prepare the camp for the over 900 arrowmen who would be in attendance. Under the leadership of Section Vice-Chief, Ken Thompson and Lodge Chief Randy Sherrill the lodge built a larger, new arena across the lake complete with a fine gravel base for the dance competition. This arena was used

1974 Area SE-5 Conclave patch for several decades for summer camp The Deerpath - September, 1973 campfires – in particular the closing campfires on Friday evening. (more detail)

A Conclave Committee was established under the leadership of 1973 Lodge Chief Ken Thompson with a dozen subcommittees to coordinate and plan various aspects of the Conclave. Numerous workdays, planning meetings, and a huge amount of Echeconnee effort resulted in a tremendously successful Conclave event – the first ever Conclave hosted at Camp Benjamin Hawkins.

1973 CBH Program Director Mck King, Irene Hight, and Camp Director Leroy Hight

Echeconnee Lodge # 358 Order of the Arrow Draft version: July 30, 2015 Page 25 1970’s Lodge Events: Fellowship and Ordeals In the 1970’s the Echeconnee Lodge held three primary lodge events during the course of a year: the first Ordeal, the second Ordeal, and the Fall Fellowship. The “First Ordeal” was usually held in May or early June; most of the year’s new members were inducted at this event. The First Ordeal often included an opportunity for arrowmen to seal their membership in the OA with Brotherhood membership. During the later portion of the summer, usually soon after the close of summer camp in late July or early August, the lodge would hold the “Second Ordeal”. This Ordeal was typically a little smaller than the first Ordeal, but it was almost always hotter!

In 1976, exactly ninety-nine candidates completed the Ordeal during the first Ordeal in May. This was typical of the Ordeals in the mid 1970’s. Unfortunately for the 99 candidates, a torrential rainstorm delayed the Ordeal ceremony. Lodge Chief Chip Greene remembers the Ordeal well as he was one of these 99 candidates standing on the volleyball court in silence in the pouring rain, waiting for the rain to end and the ceremony to begin.

The major event of the year was the Fall Fellowship in October or early November. The most heavily attended event of the lodge of the year, the weekend was full of fellowship and activities. Saturday morning often included training, and the afternoon offered physical games and competitions between the Chapters; the competitions were known as the “Quest for the Silver Shaft”. On Saturday evening, a campfire in the arena behind the dining hall was a highlight of the weekend. It was at the campfire that the Vigil Honor Call-Out was conducted to identify and recognize arrowmen who had been selected for Vigil Honor membership. Following the campfire, the Brotherhood ceremony was typically held in one of the several ceremonial circles scattered in the swamps and forests of CBH.

1970’s Echeconnee Dance Team The Echeconnee Dance Team was very active in the early 1970’s including numerous dancers who competed at both Area and National events. In particular, Barry Rogers, former Echeconnee Dance Team chairman, was well-known throughout the state of Georgia for his expertise in native American dancing. Other very active members of the Dance Team in the early 1970’s included Mck King, Randy Sherrill, Dick Baggs, and Kevin Bridges. Later in the 1970’s, other key members of the dance team included Neal Doty, Paul Sparrow, Rob Tuggle, Chuck Horton, and Billy Linnenkohl.

~1970 Echeconnee Dance Team Back row (L-R): Howard Trowbridge, Rick Rose, Mr. Davis, Gary Locke, Leon Cleghorn, Bobby Koester Front row (L-R): Peter Catherwood, Wayne Gordy, Kevin Bridges, Larry Griggs

Echeconnee Lodge # 358 Order of the Arrow Draft version: July 30, 2015 Page 26 Lodge Chief’s Award First Lodge Chief’s In 1974 under the leadership of Randy Sherrill, the Lodge Chief's Award Award Recipients: was created by the Echeconnee Lodge Executive Committee to provide recognition and encouragement to youth Arrowmen who provide Fall Fellowship, 1974 outstanding or unusual service to the Lodge. Up to five recipients, all of Ricky Boyd whom must be youth members of the Order of the Arrow, are selected Clack Aiken Barry Rogers by the outgoing Echeconnee Lodge Chief at his sole discretion. The David Lewis award is especially intended to provide recognition and encouragement for younger or newer arrowmen.

The first presentations of the Echeconnee Lodge Chief’s Award occurred at the 1974 Fall Fellowship. Lodge Chief Randy Sherrill presented the award to four arrowmen:

Ricky Boyd Echeconnee "Black Border" flap Clack Aiken Barry Rogers David Lewis

Echeconnee Lodge # 358 Order of the Arrow Draft version: July 30, 2015 Page 27 1975 NOAC Several Echeconnee members attended the 1975 National Order of the Arrow Conference at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.

Lodge Chiefs Randy Sherrill, Bobby Boyd, and Ken Thompson at the 1975 NOAC E. Urner Goodman Camping Award The strengthening of the lodge from hosting the 1974 Conclave and the resulting increase in support and participation at Camp Ben Hawkins were contributing factors when, in 1976, Echeconnee Lodge was one of two lodges in the Southeast Region to earn the E. Urner Goodman Camping award.

Only twelve E. Urner Goodman Camping Awards were presented nationwide in 1976.

E. Urner Goodman Camping Award

Ninety-nine candidates and the red brick road Former Lodge Chief Chip Greene clearly describes the first Ordeal in May, 1976, for he was one of the ninety-nine candidates inducted that weekend. Each candidate wore a carved arrow around his neck during the Ordeal, and if he broke the code of silence, the arrow could be “notched” by an OA member. “If you got three notches”, Chip says, “you were out”.

Chip’s group of candidates was assigned the task of laying bricks on the eroded sandy road from the warehouse to the parking area near the camp ranger’s home. All of the roads at CBH are sandy and many were eroded and crisscrossed with ditches making them difficult to travel. Efforts to smooth out the ruts by filling them with dirt is usually only a temporary solution, as the erosion resumes at the next rainfall and in not-to-many months, the ruts and ditches reappear. One particularly difficult road to maintain is the sandy road from the warehouse that leads down the hill to the parking area near the camp ranger’s house. This road was the target of the assigned task for Chip’s group of candidates. Under the direction of an OA member, the “task master”, Chip’s group of candidates worked in silence most of the day to lay bricks on this road.

Echeconnee Lodge # 358 Order of the Arrow Draft version: July 30, 2015 Page 28 However, the repair of this road begun in this first Ordeal in 1976 was long-lasting – for instead of simply filing the ditches with dirt the entire width of the road was laid with bricks – placed carefully brick-by- brick to “pave” the road, creating a hard surface resistant to erosion. It is not known from where the bricks originated, possibly a donation from the Burns Brick company in Macon, but for years thousands of large, red bricks were stacked around the warehouse and in the nearby woods. Laying the hundreds of bricks required to complete the paving of this stretch of CBH road was to take several years and many Ordeals. The laying of bricks was an ever-present project for Ordeal candidates for several years. During these years as the paved stretch of road grew longer and longer, “taskmasters” became “elangomats” or “friends” and the notching of arrows was eliminated.

Echeconnee Lodge # 358 Order of the Arrow Draft version: July 30, 2015 Page 29

Vigil Honor bolos Since 1974, every new Vigil Honor member of the Echeconnee Lodge is presented a carved bolo to wear with the Scout uniform. Each year, the creative design of the bolo is unique and displays some symbolic significance of the Order of the Arrow, the Boy Scouts, or the current year.

Photo courtesy of Bill Jones and Bill Hall Mr. Jay Shimmel, the colorful and unforgettable Explorer Post 22 1974 Vigil Honor bolo adviser, started this tradition at the 1974 Fall Fellowship when he presented his carved bolos to the Vigil Honor class of 1974 in front of the CBH Trading Post at the Vigil Honor public recognition ceremony.

Mr. Jay Shimmel was inducted as a Vigil Honor member of the Echeconnee Lodge in 1971. Both his sons are Vigil Honor members and both served as Echeconnee Lodge Chief: 1969 Lodge Chief Steve Shimmel and 1978 Lodge Chief Brad Shimmel.

In 1996, Brad Shimmel accepted the responsibility to continue this Photo courtesy of Bill Jones and Bill Hall tradition and has created bolos for every Echeconnee Vigil Honor class 1981 Vigil Honor bolo since 1996.

Photo courtesy of Bill Jones and Bill Hall 1970's Echeconnee dancers Paul Sparrow and Neal Doty 2003 Vigil Honor bolo

Echeconnee Lodge # 358 Order of the Arrow Draft version: July 30, 2015 Page 30 Winter Fellowship A Lodge event at CBH during winter was unusual; yet Lodge Chief Ross Adams organized and led the Echeconnee Winter Fellowship early in 1977. The occasion for this event was the 30th anniversary of the Echeconnee Lodge. The patch designed for the event was closely based on the red and green arrowhead-shaped insignia with a deer head from years before.

The fee for the weekend was $ 5.00 with the patch included. Lodge dues in 1977 1977 Winter Fellowship patch – 30th Anniversary were $ 1.50.

Vigil Honor Class Name Tradition In 1977, the tradition of naming the Vigil Honor class began in front of the CBH Trading Post with the “Bill Hardeman Vigil Honor class of 1977”. Mr. Bill Hardeman was a charter member of the Echeconnee Lodge inducted as a Scouter in 1947. He served as Lodge Adviser from the mid 1950’s until 1964.

1979 National Order of the Arrow Conference Several Echeconnee Lodge members attended the 1979 NOAC in Fort Collins, Colorado. The group camped out every night as they drove across country in Mr. Jay Shimmel’s 1969 station wagon touring several National Parks on the trip out and back. To make more room in the car for the long trip, the Shimmels removed the backdoor of the station wagon and built a plywood box extending out a few feet in back to accommodate a sleeping arrowman behind the third station-wagon seat.

Pre-Ordeal Ceremony Revision Echeconnee Lodge 1979 NOAC Contingent John Proctor, Cary Hoyt, Jay Shimmel, Brad Shimmel, Bert Donald, and Ricky Samper The Pre-Ordeal ceremony was significantly modified in the late 1970’s and implemented by the Lodge for the first time at the first Ordeal in May, 1979. This significant change eliminated the performing of the ceremony in two locations, in favor of one location with four principal speakers. The OA arena in Lakeside was the first location for this newly written Pre-Ordeal ceremony.

Prior to this revision, the Pre-Ordeal ceremony was performed in two locations. In the first location, typically beneath the branches of the massive oak tree on the trail to the waterfront, the candidates met Allowat Sakima and their Guide, Kichkinet. At the second location, typically on the dam near the spillway, the candidates met Meteu. Kichkinet had only a few lines in this ceremony, and Nutiket spoke but six words.

Echeconnee Lodge # 358 Order of the Arrow Draft version: July 30, 2015 Page 31 The legend of the three trees 1970’s Lodge Flaps

Ceremony rings There are many OA ceremony rings hidden in the woods of CBH:

 The Red Wall ceremony ring - where your moccasins will always get wet if it has rained  The Iroquois hillside ring with big, beautiful Hickory trees  Champagne Springs ring - hidden in the swamp  The ring across the road – (be careful with the rope)  Dishwasher road ring – benches rotted away long gone, and the dishwasher is gone too  Upper Kickapoo – it’s a long walk in the ditch to get there  And, many others that have faded into the forest with time

Fleur-de-lis added to lodge flap In 1978, the Boy Scouts required all official patches to include a fleur- de-lis. Lodge Chief Brad Shimmel submitted a design change which included a fleur-de-lis in the bottom border of the flap. Brad’s design was approved by the lodge at the 1978 winter fellowship which was held in Milledgeville, Georgia.

1970’s Lodge Advisers During the early 1970’s Milton Rose served as Lodge Adviser, and from 1974-1978 James Kopp served as Lodge Adviser. From 1979-1980, Louis Emilio served as Lodge Adviser.

Echeconnee Lodge # 358 Order of the Arrow Draft version: July 30, 2015 Page 32 First Black Vigil Honor member Daniel Morgan, Lodge First Vice-Chief, was inducted as the first African American Vigil Honor member of the Echeconnee Lodge in November, 1979. His Indian name is “Tschitanissowagan” which means “Capable One”.

1979 Bill Barron Vigil Honor class L-R: Daniel Morgan, Chuck Adams, Don Strathern, Charles Hughes, Walt Simmons, Larry Mobley Lodge Flap and Patch Restrictions To encourage members to attend Lodge functions, and perhaps to increase their trading value, members could purchase only one Echeconnee Lodge flap per event. The Lodge Secretary kept detailed records of the purchases in a large, black binder. Restrictions were placed on certain other patches as well. An Ordeal member of Echeconnee was permitted to purchase only one of the strikingly beautiful Echeconnee Lodge Neckerchiefs, a large triangular patch sewn to a deep blue cloth with green trim. If he achieved Brotherhood membership he could buy a second, and if inducted as a Vigil Honor member he could obtain a third. In the late 1970’s the neckerchief was quite expensive at $ 6.00.

The lodge designed two, large backpatches for wear by the Ceremony and Dance Team members. To earn the right to purchase a Ceremony Team patch, an Echeconnee Lodge Neckerchief arrowman must perform a speaking role in at least two ceremonies. Alternatively, the arrowman could serve as a “torch bearer” in four ceremonies to qualify to purchase the patch. The Dance Team patch required two performances in competition or singing on the drum team at least six times.

Lodge Record Keeping During the 1970’s, before personal computers and the internet existed, the Lodge Secretary kept membership records in a huge black book with strong covers and metal bindings. 3” x 10” hole-punched cards documented the induction, dues, awards, and restricted patch purchases for each member. When new members were inducted, cards were completed, OA membership record card - 1970's organized by Chapter, and placed into “the black book”.

Echeconnee Lodge # 358 Order of the Arrow Draft version: July 30, 2015 Page 33 OA Support of the Program at Camp Benjamin Hawkins The Echeconnee Lodge has served in a crucial role in the development and operation of the summer camp program at Camp Ben Hawkins. Since the establishment of the lodge, Echeconnee arrowmen served on the camp staff, directed the camp staff, and planned and supported the camp program. The vast majority of lodge functions are held at CBH, and thousands of hours of service have been conducted by the OA at CBH during hundreds of workdays and Ordeals over the decades. In fact, the program of the Echeconnee lodge has been intertwined with Camp Ben Hawkins. During years with large and growing summer camp attendance, the lodge is typically strong and active, following the same cycles.

From the 1950’s through the last summer camp season at CBH in 2005, at least 90% of the CBH Staff were members of the Order of the Arrow – Echeconnee arrowmen provided leadership, guidance, and the sheer hard work required to produce and implement a successful summer camp program. Likely, these same youthful arrowman instigated all sorts of memorable camp adventures during their tenure on the staff; and the Lodge benefited from these memories too, for the close friendships formed among lodge officers who lived in different parts of the council allowed the officers ample time and energy to communicate and share ideas. In the days before email and cell phones the Camp Staff area or the CBH Administration building often became the place where Ordeals were planned.

Key Echeconnee leaders at CBH in the 1950’s In the early days of CBH the leadership of the camp, both program and facilities, rested in the hands of the Camp Director, a professional Scouter responsible for the entire operation. Sometimes an Assistant Camp Director was appointed – again an adult, once again a professional Scouter, to assist in overseeing the summer camp operation. There was no official role for a “Program Director”, a young adult leader of the camp staff and camp program. The “Senior Staff” led the hands-on programs at the Waterfront, Campcraft, Nature, and other camp areas and reported directly to the Camp Director. The “Junior Staff” consisted of the younger staff that supported and provided the camp program under the leadership of the Senior Staff.

Echeconnee Lodge Officers as CBH Staff – 1940’s and 1950’s There were numerous Echeconnee Lodge members who served on the Camp Ben Hawkins staff in the 1940’s and 1950s. Here are the names of only a few of the many who had a significant positive impact on the Camp Ben Hawkins summer camp program during that time.

Elliott Dunwoody CBH Staff of 1947 – 1948 Jim Trimble CBH Staff of 1947 – 1948 Bill Acker CBH Staff of 1949 – 1951 Pete Neilson CBH Staff of 1951 – 1953 Billy Schaffer CBH Staff of 1951 – 1953 David Richardson CBH Staff of 1953 – 1954

Echeconnee Lodge # 358 Order of the Arrow Draft version: July 30, 2015 Page 34 Echeconnee Lodge Officers as CBH Program Directors In 1959, the role of a young adult leader of the camp began to emerge – the job of “Program Director” - a key leader of the camp, old enough to accept the responsibility of planning and leading the entire camp program and yet young enough to maintain a close, mentor-like relationship with the staff. Here again, the council looked to the Echeconnee Lodge for Scouts who could provide the leadership required as Camp Benjamin Hawkins Program Director.

Echeconnee Lodge Officers who served as CBH Program Director

CBH Program Director 1959 CBH Program Director 1974 Frank Armstrong Ken Thompson 1957 Lodge Chief 1973 Lodge Chief

CBH Program Director 1960 – 1961 CBH Program Director 1975, 1979 – 1980, 1992 Mallory Atkinson John Proctor Lodge Officer (?) 1974 Lodge Vice-Chief

CBH Program Director 1963 CBH Program Director 1976 – 1977 Francis Clark Randy Sherrill 1958 Lodge Chief 1974 Lodge Chief

CBH Program Director 1964 – 1965 CBH Program Director 1978 Henry Flournoy Jim Proctor Lodge Officer Lodge Officer (?)

CBH Program Director 1966 CBH Program Director 1981 – 1985 Frank Comer Larry Mobley Lodge Officer 1980 Lodge Chief

CBH Program Director 1967, 1969 – 1970 CBH Program Director 1986 Ted Vinson Nick Sasso Lodge Officer (?) 1985 Lodge First-Vice Chief

CBH Program Director 1968 Guy Wyche Lodge Officer (?)

CBH Program Director 1971 – 1973 Mck King 1972 Lodge Chief

Echeconnee Lodge # 358 Order of the Arrow Draft version: July 30, 2015 Page 35 The 1980’s

The 1980’s for the Echeconnee Lodge began with the huge task of 1980’s LODGE CHIEFS hosting the Area 5 Conclave. Several new lodge program elements were introduced in the 1980’s including the elangomat system, the new 1980 Larry Mobley Pre-Ordeal ceremony, and the welcoming of female Scout leaders into 1981 Chip Greene the OA. The decade saw five Echeconnee arrowmen elected to Section office more than any other decade. 1982 Stewart McLamb

1980 Conclave at CBH 1983 David Shelton Echeconnee Lodge hosted the 1980 Area SE-5 Conclave at Camp Ben Hawkins. Once again, the traditional pottery design border from our 1984 Craig Rotter lodge flap was included in the Conclave logo to be used on the conclave 1985 Sam Waller patch, neckerchief, and coffee mug for the event. It was not until the patches arrived from the vendor did the Lodge officers realize that the 1986 Sam Waller border had been omitted from the patch to reduce its cost. At least the coffee mug and neckerchief maintained the tradition. The design of the 1987 Dan Sanders Conclave logo, the lifting of hands, was designed by Paul Sparrow, an award-winning Echeconnee fancy dancer, who served as Lodge 1988 Lou Napolitano Secretary in 1978. 1989 Lou Napolitano The Conclave theme shows, one of the highlights of the event, included slide presentations showing scenes from the weekend. Today, this is routine, but more than a decade before cell phones, the Internet, and digital photography, this program element was groundbreaking. Randy Piland, former Area 6D Chief, spearheaded this task by creating his own dark room at camp and developing his photographs onsite – only hours after the pictures were taken.

Saturday afternoon of the Conclave featured a “Go BANANAS” festival. Free cokes

and bananas were 1980 Lodge Chief Larry Mobley available to all participants while the Robins Air Force Band

Robins Air Force Band - 1980 Conclave provided the music. “Go B.A.N.A.N.A.S.” has meaning: “Go Become A New Arrowman Now And Serve.”

A large, wooden replica of the Conclave patch from 1980, with the pottery border, still hangs in the CBH dining hall.

Echeconnee Lodge # 358 Order of the Arrow Draft version: July 30, 2015 Page 36 Passing of Dr. E. Urner Goodman Dr. E. Urner Goodman, the founder of the Order of the Arrow, passed away in March, 1980. To honor Dr. Goodman, the patch for the 1980 Fall Fellowship included a replica of the signature of E. Urner Goodman and the totem of the Lenape Indians, a turtle superimposed on a triangle. Dr. Goodman wore this totem, a symbol of leadership to the Lenape Indians, on his robes during the first induction ceremonies of the Order of the Arrow in 1915.

“A Thing of the Spirit”, the theme for the 1980 Fall Fellowship, comes from words of Dr. Goodman himself that he wrote in the forward to the 1961 edition of the OA Handbook:

“The Order of the Arrow is a thing of the spirit rather than of mechanics. Organization, operational procedures, and paraphernalia are necessary in any large and growing movement, but they are not what count in the end. The things of the spirit count.” Lodge Chief Stewart "Moose" McLamb at the top of one the CBH totem poles Introduction of the Elangomat System The word “elangomat” means “friend” in the language of the Lenni- Lenape. The elangomat system, introduced to the Order of the Arrow in the early 1980’s, groups ordeal candidates into patrol-sized clans and pairs a lodge member to serve as the leader for each clan. The elangomat stays with the candidates throughout the ordeal induction weekend and serves as their friend and guide. The elangomat leads the clan in silence, setting the example, abiding by all tests of the Ordeal to better teach the principles of the Order of the Arrow.

After some initial resistance to this program – many found it hard to believe that a member would go through the Ordeal again - the elangomat system became an integral part of the Echeconnee Lodge inductions.

Echeconnee Lodge # 358 Order of the Arrow Draft version: July 30, 2015 Page 37 Founder’s Award Echeconnee Chapters The Founder’s Award was introduced in 1981 to recognize Arrowmen The Echeconnee Lodge had who have given outstanding service to their lodge. The award is six Chapters in the 1970’s reserved for Arrowmen who demonstrate the spirit of selfless service as and 1980’s advocated by founder E. Urner Goodman and cofounder Carroll A. Edson. The Lodge can present no more than two Founder’s Awards per Piedmont Chapter year. Creek Chapter In November, 1982, in front of the CBH Oconee Chapter Trading Post, Lodge Chief David Shelton and past Lodge Chief Chip Greene Thunderbird Chapter presented the lodge’s first Founder’s Awards to Larry Mobley (youth) and Bill Pine Forest Chapter Barron (adult). Peach Belt Chapter

Photo courtesy of David Sessions Founder's Award recipient Jim Proctor playing the banjo at CBH in 1984 Jim’s Vigil Honor name is Nachgohuman which means “One who sings”

Echeconnee Lodge # 358 Order of the Arrow Draft version: July 30, 2015 Page 38 Echeconnee Lodge Founder’s Award Recipients

**** 1982 ***** **** 2000 ***** 11/14/82 youth Larry A. Mobley 1/20/01 youth Dwight McGee 11/14/82 adult Bill Barron 1/20/01 youth Joey Jones

**** 1988 ***** **** 2001 ***** 1/29/89 adult Mel Wenner 1/19/02 youth Jared Bertram 1/19/02 adult Chuck Bertram **** 1990 ***** 11/4/90 adult Chuck Rice **** 2002 ***** 1/25/03 youth Thomas Christian **** 1991 ***** 1/25/03 adult John Mullis 10/11/91 youth Bradford J. Mate 10/11/91 adult David M. Fonda **** 2003 ***** 1/24/04 youth William Tanner II **** 1992 ***** 1/24/04 youth Trae Weaver 11/14/92 youth Clinton D. Pearce 11/14/92 adult David E. Rodriquez **** 2004 ***** 1/22/05 youth Jonathan “J.P.” Personius **** 1994 *****29 1/22/05 adult Hank Personius 1/7/95 youth William J. Hall 1/7/95 adult Troy C. Gay **** 2005 ***** 1/28/06 youth Joshua Basilio **** 1995 ***** 1/28/06 youth Ben Smith 1/6/96 youth Mike Kristoffer Berry 1/6/96 adult Kathleen D. Cooper **** 2006 ***** 1/27/07 youth Tyler Adsit **** 1996 ***** 1/27/07 youth Derek Brown 1/11/97 youth Dean Ryan Simpson 1/11/97 adult Ross D. Cooper **** 2007 ***** 11/6/10 youth Nathan van Loenen **** 1997 ***** 11/6/10 adult Ron Wagner 1/10/98 youth Devlin Cooper 1/10/98 adult Bill Jones **** 2008 ***** 2/20/09 youth Billy Phillips III **** 1998 ***** 2/20/09 adult Billy Phillips Jr. 1/9/99 youth Jeremy Stinson 1/9/99 adult Mike Land **** 2009 ***** 1/23/10 youth Carr Jones **** 1999 ***** 1/23/10 youth Luke van Loenen 1/8/00 youth Kevin Wright 1/8/00 adult Craig Rotter **** 2010 ***** 1/29/11 youth Tyler Johnson 1/29/11 adult James Y. Proctor

29 1993 selected recipients’ names were published in The Deerpath but the awards were never presented.

Echeconnee Lodge # 358 Order of the Arrow Draft version: July 30, 2015 Page 39 Echeconnee Lodge Founder’s Award Recipients (continued)

**** 2011 ***** **** 2013 ***** 1/28/12 youth Tyler Stepanek 1/25/14 youth30 Billy Jones 1/28/12 adult Ross Adams 1/25/14 adult Charles “Chip” Greene

**** 2012 ***** **** 2014 ***** 1/26/13 youth Robert Sweat 1/24/15 youth Kenneth J. Higginbotham 1/26/13 adult Paul van Loenen 1/24/15 adult Bradley J. Shimmel

30 Registered as a youth with the Boy Scouts of America

Echeconnee Lodge # 358 Order of the Arrow Draft version: July 30, 2015 Page 40 Echeconnee Lodge and CBH – 1980’s Lodge active at CBH during the 1980’s.

The 1980’s summer camp season at CBH included many inspiring OA pageants and campfires. In 1982, Lodge Chief Stewart “Moose” McLamb wanted something special for the OA pageant that summer. His enthusiasm and leadership resulted in a 50 foot flaming arrow in the lake! When finished washing dishes in the Dining Hall, Moose and his Kitchen staff cut large poles and sunk them vertically in the lake in front of the campfire arena in the shape of a large arrow. A small scrap of plywood formed a platform at the top of each pole on which he placed smudge pots. In the twilight of the CBH summer campfires, the Echeconnee pageant team approached the arena by canoe, lit by Moose’s flickering flaming arrow in the CBH lake.

The mud and muck in the bottom of the CBH lake preserved the flaming arrow poles quite well, and with only a few replacement poles, the 1985-86 Lodge Chief Sam Waller flaming arrow was again alight during the Section Conclave at CBH in 2012.

Echeconnee Lodge # 358 Order of the Arrow Draft version: July 30, 2015 Page 41 Section Officers in the 1980’s Several Echeconnee Lodge Chiefs were elected Section Chief during the 1980’s: Larry Mobley served as Section SE-4 Chief in 1982, David Shelton served as Section SE-4 Chief in 1984, and Craig Rotter served as Section SE-4 Chief in 1985.

Other Section officers included Ross Adams, 1981 Section SE-5 Vice-Chief and Dan Sanders, who served as Section SE-4 Secretary in 1988 and 1999.

1985 OA Philmont Trek In the mid 1980’s for the first time, a high adventure experience designed specifically for the Order of the Arrow was conceived and organized on the national level. This high adventure program came to fruition as the 1985 OA Philmont Trek. Twelve hundred selected arrowmen and leaders accepted the 1981-85 CBH Program Director Larry Mobley challenge to experience Philmont Scout Ranch in a special program for Arrowmen only. This first time program took place in the summer of 1985 where 300 arrowmen per day hiked the beautiful back country of Philmont in the first 4 days.

The national planning meeting for the OA Philmont Trek was held in Dallas, Texas in late December, 1984. Former Lodge Chief and SE-4 Section Chief Craig Rotter attended the national planning meeting for the OA Philmont OA Trek in Dallas, Texas in late December 1984. Craig was assigned to the National Trek Committee as a trainer and served on the Training Staff for the 1985 OA Philmont Trek.

A new campsite: Gish In the 1980’s several new campsites were added at CBH. In the early 1980’s the hilltop campsite once known as Eagle’s Nest was reopened after a dozen years. The site was cleared, and a new sandface latrine was constructed for the campsite – replacing the last remaining two-holed outhouse on camp property. Funding for the new campsite was provided by a local judge, and to honor this contributor the campsite name was to be “judge” in the language of the Lenni Lanape. Research found the name to be “Gishachenammen”, the length of which surprised the Scout Executive. Nonetheless, plans went forward and Camp Ranger Mel Wenner routed a new campsite signpost - “Gishachenammen”, which barely fit on the three feet wide sign. Campers at CBH enjoyed attempting the pronunciation, and generally the campsite was known simply as “Gish”.

To make things easier, the campsite name reverted back to Eagle’s Nest in the 1990’s, and the original campsite signpost “Gishachenammen” still resides in the CBH warehouse.

Women in the Echeconnee Lodge Prior to 1988 the Order of the Arrow had been for boys and men only. Starting the 1988 female leaders could become members of the OA just the same as male leaders. Soon after, the Echeconnee lodge inducted several female leaders into the OA including Annie Bacon, who in November, 1993, was the first woman in the Echeconnee Lodge to be awarded the Vigil Honor.

Echeconnee Lodge # 358 Order of the Arrow Draft version: July 30, 2015 Page 42 Lodge Offices The first lodge officer positions of the Echeconnee Lodge were Lodge Chief, Scribe, and Treasurer. By the late 1950’s a Lodge Vice-Chief position was added. Ben Whitley from Troop 19 in Macon served as Vice-Chief in 1958; he is the first Vice-Chief on record in our history.

In the mid-1960’s the term Secretary replaced the term Scribe, and in a few years in the 1960’s the Lodge had two Vice-Chiefs: one for program and one for ceremonies. In 1965, Gary Hammontree served as Echeconnee Vice-Chief of Program and John Gamble served as Vice- Chief of Ceremonies.

Throughout the early 1970s the Lodge officers consisted of Lodge Chief, Vice-Chief, Secretary, and Treasurer; however, in 1975, the Vice-Chief position was again split, this time into First Vice-Chief and Second Vice- Chief. Brad Shimmel was the lodge’s “first First Vice-Chief” and Larry Hammack served as Second Vice-Chief in 1975.

The First Vice-Chief handled administrative and program responsibilities; the Second Vice-Chief oversaw the ceremonies and Dance teams.

For the remainder of the 1970’s and for several ensuing decades, the lodge officer positions remained unchanged: Lodge Chief, First Vice-Chief, Second Vice-Chief, Secretary, and Treasurer. It was not until 1993 that the office of Third Vice-Chief was added. Will Hall likely served as Third Vice- 1982 Lodge Chief Dave Shelton Chief in 1993.

Lodge Advisers in the 1980’s Lodge Advisers during the 1980’s include Louis Emilio, Buster Horner, Dr. Jim Keeney, and Chuck Rice. From 1987 to 1989, three Lodge Advisers served a term of one-year each: Randy Sherrill, Tom Petrie,

and Lou Napolitano, Sr .

Echeconnee Lodge # 358 Order of the Arrow Draft version: July 30, 2015 Page 43 OA Pageants at CBH In the mid 1980’s, very successful OA pageants were performed weekly at the Wednesday night campfire during summer camp at CBH. In 1985, Kerry Freeman wrote and directed a pageant entitled, “The Passing of White Dog”. The following year as Lodge Second Vice-Chief, Kerry wrote and directed “The Dakota Story”.

Echeconnee dancer Kerry Freeman performing the hoop dance at the 1987 Conclave Lumulgee Chapter

Early in 1986 the Oconee Chapter voted to change their name to the Lumulgee Chapter. “Lumulgee” means “eagle” in Muscogee in the language of the Creek Indians.

1986 Section SE-4 Conclave Under the leadership of Lodge Second Vice-Chief Kerry Freeman the Echeconnee ceremony team won first place at the 1986 Section SE-4 conclave.

Lodge Christmas Banquet – 1986 For the first time in many years, the Echeconnee Lodge hosted a lodge banquet in December, 1986. Lodge Chief Dan Sanders organized and promoted this first banquet event held at the Morrison’s cafeteria in the Macon Mall. Deerpath – spring, 1986

Echeconnee Lodge # 358 Order of the Arrow Draft version: July 30, 2015 Page 44 1988 National OA Conference 1980’s Lodge Flaps Four Echeconnee Lodge members attended the 1988 NOAC in Fort Collins, Colorado: Lodge Chief Lou Napolitano, former chief Dan Sanders, Joe Wood, and Gordon Calley.

Echeconnee annual dues were raised from $ 3.00 to $ 5.00 in October, 1988.

A feur-de-lis was added to the Lodge Backpatch in 1988.

Lodge Chief Lou Napolitano and other 1987 CBH Staff members

Echeconnee Lodge # 358 Order of the Arrow Draft version: July 30, 2015 Page 45 1990’s

1990 Section Conference 1990’s LODGE CHIEFS Once again, the Echeconnee Lodge hosted the 1990 Cliff Fonda Section SE-4 Conference in 1990 at CBH. Under the leadership of former Lodge Chief Lou 1991 Chuck Miller Napolitano.(more details) 1992 Shannon Fonda New Chapters The Central Georgia Council realigned its District 1993 William Schwarz structure resulting in the formation of four new 1994 Andy Bacon Chapters for the Echeconnee Lodge: The Ocmulgee Chapter, the Oconee Chapter, the Pine Forest Chapter, and the Robert L. Scott Chapter. 1995 Will Hall

1990 National OA Conference 1996 Will Hall In 1990, the Order of the Arrow celebrated its 75th anniversary at the National Order of the Arrow Conference at Indiana University in 1997 Devlin Cooper Bloomington, IN. Several Echeconnee members attended the event. 1998 Devlin Cooper The keynote speaker for the Monday evening show was Astronaut and past Echeconnee Lodge Chief Sonny Carter. Earlier in the year, Sonny 1999 Devlin Cooper had spent 120 days in space as the Mission Specialist of space shuttle 1999 Kevin Wright mission STS-33. The audience of 7,000 arrowmen was mesmerized.

To the delight of the crowd, Sonny Carter left the stage of the arena immediately after his speech climbed the stairs into the audience where he sat with the Echeconnee Lodge contingent for the remainder of the evening program.

Removal of OA Lodge building (OA Lodge removed)

Removal of causeway (year?)

Echeconnee Lodge # 358 Order of the Arrow Draft version: July 30, 2015 Page 46 Distinguished Eagle Scout 1990’s Lodge Flaps In March 1990, former Lodge Chief Sonny Carter, was awarded the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award by the National Eagle Scout Association. Other Distinguished Eagle Scouts from the Central Georgia Council include U.S. Senator Sam Nunn and U.S. Congressman Roy

Rowland. 1990 Lodge Flap – OA 75th anniversary

Lodge Banquet tradition Begun in 1990s?

National Fancy Dance Champion At the 1994 NOAC Silverstein won first place in the national Fancy Dance competition.

Echeconnee Lodge # 358 Order of the Arrow Draft version: July 30, 2015 Page 47 Lodge Leadership Development (description of LLD sessions held at the Bertrams)

Echeconnee Lodge 50th Anniversary and Lodge Chiefs’ Reunion The Echeconnee Lodge celebrated its 50th anniversary in 1997. In the fall of 1997, Lodge Chief Devlin Cooper originated plans to locate and invite all former Echeconnee Lodge Chiefs to the Lodge Banquet to be held in January, 1998. After much research, more than 30 former Lodge Chiefs were identified and located. Twenty-two former Lodge Chiefs attended the banquet with some traveling from as far away as Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and south Florida. Each former Lodge Chief spoke briefly to the more than 100 Echeconnee arrowmen and families who attended this very successful event.

Since the “Lodge Chiefs’ Reunion”, additional research resulted in identifying all former Echeconnee Lodge Chiefs. Our Lodge Chief history can now be preserved!

50th Anniversary Echeconnee Lodge Flap

Echeconnee Spring Fellowships (Spring Fellowships – when started, when held)

Ocmulgee Indian Mounds Service Project (Ocmulgee Indian Mounds service – when started, purpose, successes)

National Quality Lodge (Achievements of National Quality Lodge, basic description, years awarded)

Lodge Banquet Forest Hills Methodist Church was often the location of Lodge banquets held during the 1990’s.

Fall Fellowship Patch Auction Auctioneer Mr. Bill Jones entranced the audience of arrowmen during the first patch auction held during the 1997 Fall Fellowship. The auction raised funds for the lodge’s James E. West Award. The patch auction became a favorite program element at Fall Fellowships for several years.

1990’s Lodge Advisers From 1993 to 1994, Mr. Bill Hall served as Lodge Adviser. For thirteen years, from 1995 to 2007 Mr. Ross Cooper served as Lodge Adviser.

Echeconnee Lodge # 358 Order of the Arrow Draft version: July 30, 2015 Page 48 2000’s

Section Chief 2000’s LODGE CHIEFS Three-term Lodge Chief Devlin Cooper was elected to serve as Section S-4 Chief in 2000 and again in 2001. At the 2000 NOAC Devlin served as 2000 Jeremy Stinson National Conference Vice-Chief for Indian Events. 2001 Jeremy Stinson NOAC 2000 University of Tennessee 2002 Jeremy Stinson Echeconnee builds footbridge across the CBH lake In 2000, the Echeconnee 2003 Thomas Christian Lodge won a $ 3,000 2004 Thomas Christian service grant from the National Order of the 2005 Joshua Basilio Arrow Committee. Former Lodge Chief Devlin Cooper 2006 Tyler Adsit was instrumental in 2007 Tyler Adsit achieving the grant. Under the leadership of Lodge Chiefs Jeremy Stinson and Kevin Wright, 2008 Billy Phillips the Lodge used this grant to build a handicapped-accessible bridge across the CBH lake. 2009 Derek Brown

With the removal of the causeway in the 1990’s, Scouts camping in 2009 Jacob Walton Lakeside had no alternate route to the main camp area other than the long hike around the lake and over the spillway. With the addition of the beautiful bridge, access to Lakeside became much easier while preserving the integrity of lakebed.

2000 Fall Fellowship The 2000 Echeconnee Fall Fellowship included several special features. The ceremony team performed an impressive rededication ceremony wearing black robes and black sashes with white arrows. Arrowmen explored the far corners of camp in the 2000 Fall Fellowship Arrowman’s Adventure during the afternoon as they followed clues and searched for CBH historical sites.

Echeconnee Lodge # 358 Order of the Arrow Draft version: July 30, 2015 Page 49 Echeconnee presents James E. West Fellow awards Echeconnee Chapters The James E. West Award is a national recognition for contributions to a Ocmulgee local council’s endowment trust fund. The lodge contributes $1,000 to Central Georgia Council’s endowment fund for each James E. West Oconee Fellowship Award presented. Big Indian Creek The National Quality Lodge program encouraged lodges to use this Pine Forest award to create a closer relationship with the council and to support the council financially. The use of this award began in the Echeconnee Lodge in January, 2000.

Lodge Chiefs, Devlin Cooper (already a James E. West Fellow), Kevin Wright, and Jeremy Stinson decided to start this lodge tradition and included this donation in the 2000 lodge budget proposal. Voting members of the lodge approved the budget and the first award was presented at the January, 2000 Lodge Banquet setting the precedent for this tradition. The Lodge’s first James E. West Fellow was awarded to Betty H. Johnson, a long-time council employee and a supporter of the Order of the Arrow.

2001 Ordeal Ceremony Team (L-R) JP Personius, Matt Strickland(?), Charles Camp, Trae Weaver

Past Lodge Chief Devlin Cooper and Lodge Chief Jeremy Stinson in 2001 on the steps of the Trading Post

Echeconnee Lodge # 358 Order of the Arrow Draft version: July 30, 2015 Page 50 NOAC 2002 Indiana University Several Echeconnee Lodge members attended the 2002 NOAC at Indiana University.

Vigil Honor Pubic Recognition at the CBH Trading Post Since 1972, the public recognition ceremony for new Vigil Honor members of the Echeconnee Lodge Order of the Arrow has been held in front of the Camp Ben Hawkins Trading Post.

Photo courtesy of Hank Personius 2003 Bill Jones Vigil Honor class (L-R) Bill Jones, Matthew Edwards, Edwin Edwards, JP Personius, Charles Camp, Thomas Christian, Billy Phillips Jr.

NOAC 2004 Iowa State University

Final summer camp season at CBH 2005 was the final summer camp season at CBH.

Lodge Chief Josh Basilio served in Aquatics as a member of this final CBH Staff. Former Lodge Chiefs Jeremy Stinson, and future Lodge Chiefs Billy Phillips, Derek Brown, and Jacob Walton also served on the CBH Staff of 2005.

One Day of Service – Ocmulgee Indian Mounds National Monument

The Echeconnee Lodge has provided service and support at the Ocmulgee Indian Mounds National Monument during the Indian Mounds Festival for at least a decade.

Echeconnee Lodge # 358 Order of the Arrow Draft version: July 30, 2015 Page 51 Section Officers In 2005 former Lodge Chief Thomas Christian was elected Section Chief of Section S-6S. Thomas was reelected the following year for a second term.

Other Section officers during the decade include Dan Trust who was twice elected to serve as Section S-9 Secretary in 2009 and

2010. 2003-2004 Lodge Chief Thomas Christian

NOAC 2006 Michigan State University Lodge Chief Tyler Adsit and his father Andy Adsit attended the 2006 NOAC at Michigan State University in East Lansing, MI where the theme was “The Legend Lives On”. Section Chief Thomas Christian and former Section Chief Devlin Cooper served on the NOAC staff.

Echeconnee Lodge # 358 Order of the Arrow Draft version: July 30, 2015 Page 52 Lodge Banquet 2007 Throughout this decade, each January the Echeconnee Lodge hosted an annual banquet at the Forest Hills Methodist Church in Macon. Newly- elected lodge officers were inducted, Founder’s Award recipients were announced, and the Vigil Honor class from 60th anniversary flap - 2007 the fall were recognized.

At the 2007 lodge banquet, Lodge Chief Tyler Adsit introduced a special guest: Dr. William Schaffer, 1952 Echeconnee Lodge Chief. Dr. Schaffer serves as chairman of the Economics Department at Georgia

Tech. 2006 Founder's Award Recipients: Lodge Chief Tyler Adsit and future Lodge Chief Derek Brown Echeconnee Website Echeconnee Chapters Lodge created a website www.echeconnee.com in the fall of 2008. In 2008, Big Indian Creek chapter was renamed to the 2008 Lodge Second-Vice Chief Dan Trust wrote and edited the content Robert L Scott chapter. for the first webpage, and Mr. Ed Trust provided guidance with the format and coding. The website resides on a dedicated server provided Ocmulgee and hosted by Mr. Larry Mobley. Oconee Most OA lodges use .org as the top-level domain Robert L Scott name for their lodge Pine Forest website; however, the Internet domain echeconnee.org was taken at the time by a local hunting club, so the lodge Echeconnee webpage leadership chose to press forward with the domain name Echeconnee.com.

Current arrowmen use the website to easily access information about lodge activities and the Order of the Arrow. The website has also enabled former Echeconnee arrowmen from around the world reestablish contact with the lodge.

Echeconnee Lodge # 358 Order of the Arrow Draft version: July 30, 2015 Page 53 Lodge Leadership Development at the Adam’s cabin The Lodge Leadership Development (LLD) was first held at the Adam’s cabin in Hawkinsville December, 2008 under the leadership of Lodge Chief Derek Brown setting a precedent for many retreat-style LLDs to be held there over the next decade. A Lodge Leadership Development is designed to provide training to newly-elected lodge and chapter officers to prepare them to serve as an officer.

2008 Echeconnee Lodge Officers (Back L-R): Luke van Loenen (Sec.), Ben Smith (3V), Tyler Stepanek (Tr.) (Front L-R): Derek Brown (1V), Billy Phillips (LC), Dan Trust (2V) 2008 ArrowCorps Two Echeconnee arrowmen served on staff of this national OA service event: Dan Trust and his father, Mr. Ed Trust. Organized in conjunction with the US Forest Service, five national service projects were held nationwide. Dan and Mr. Trust attend the ArrowCorp event in the Mark Twain National Forest in Missouri.

Former Echeconnee Lodge Chief becomes Scout Executive In 2006, former Lodge Chief Bob Boyd accepted the job as Scout Executive of the Central Georgia Council. Mr. Boyd’s service as “Supreme Chief of the Fire” marked the first time a former Echeconnee Lodge Officer rose to this top-level professional role in Scouting – the amazing fact is that this occurred at home – in the Central Georgia Council!

Other former lodge officers to serve Scouting professionally include 1964 Lodge Chief David Vaughan, 1973 Lodge Vice-Chief Mike Boles, 1974 Lodge Chief Randy Sherrill, 1976 Lodge Chief Ricky Boyd, and 2000-2001 Lodge Second Vice-Chief Jared Bertram.

Echeconnee Lodge # 358 Order of the Arrow Draft version: July 30, 2015 Page 54 NOAC 2009 Indiana University 15 Echeconnee arrowmen attended the 2009 NOAC at Indiana University.

Lodge Advisers during the 2000’s decade Ross Cooper completed 13 years of service as Lodge Adviser in 2007. In 2008, for the first time, a former Echeconnee Lodge Chief was named Echeconnee Lodge Adviser! In fact, two former Echeconnee Lodge Chiefs became Echeconnee Lodge Advisers: Ross Adams, 1977 Lodge Chief, and Chip Greene, 1981 Lodge Chief, served the lodge as Co- Advisers for the remainder of this decade

2008 Echeconnee Fancy Dancer Jacob Kraft

Echeconnee Lodge # 358 Order of the Arrow Draft version: July 30, 2015 Page 55 Distinguished Service Award - DSA The Distinguished Service Award (DSA) was created in 1940 to honor those who have rendered distinguished and outstanding service to the Order on a sectional, regional, or national basis. The first Distinguished Service Awards were presented at the 1940 National Order of the Arrow meetings at Camp Twin Echo in Pennsylvania to E. Urner Goodman, Carroll A. Edson and nine others.

Between 1940 and the first national Order of the Arrow conference in 1948, the DSA was presented at national meetings as deserving individuals were identified. Thereafter, the Award became a traditional part of the pageantry and ceremony of the national conference.

Since the time of the first Distinguished Service Awards in 1940, only 965 DSA’s have been presented nationwide. This alone is testament to its standard of excellence.

Three brothers of Echeconnee Lodge have received the Distinguished Service Award. Past Lodge Chief Larry Mobley received the DSA at the 1988 National OA Conference in Fort Collins, Colorado. Past Lodge Chief Devlin Cooper received the Award at the 2002 National OA Conference in Bloomington, Indiana, and past Lodge Chief Tyler Stepanek will receive the Award at the 2015 National OA Conference in East Lansing, Michigan.

Echeconnee Lodge # 358 Order of the Arrow Draft version: July 30, 2015 Page 56 2010’s

2011 Echeconnee Nantahala Rafting Trip 2010’s LODGE CHIEFS

2010 Tyler Stepanek

2011 Tyler Stepanek

2012 Tyler Stepanek

2012 Kenny Higginbotham

2013 Kenny Higginbotham

2011 Lodge Banquet 2014 Robert Sweat At the 2011 Lodge Banquet, Lodge Chief Tyler Stepanek announced the presentation of six High Adventure scholarships for six Echeconnee 2015 Robert Sweat arrowmen. These scholarships provided financial assistance to the deserving arrowmen to attend a national OA High Adventure program.

Former Echeconnee Chapter Chief and current Central Georgia Council president Elijah Morgan gave the keynote speech at the banquet.

2012 Section SR-9 Conclave After a 22 year gap, the Echeconnee Lodge hosted the 2012 Section S-9 Conclave at CBH. Lodge Chief Tyler Stepanek led the Lodge in this event and was elected as the next Section Chief at the close of the Conclave.

Closing circle of the 2012 Section S-9 Conclave at CBH

Echeconnee Lodge # 358 Order of the Arrow Draft version: July 30, 2015 Page 57 Journey to Excellence – 2012 Gold A new national program, Journey to Excellence, was introduced in 2012 to measure and guide lodges to continued improvement. During this first year Echeconnee scored at the top level – Gold!

Echeconnee Event Pass In 2010 the Echeconnee event pass was created to allow arrowman to make a one-time purchase and be entitled to attend all the lodge events during the course of the year.

Echeconnee Featured on National OA Website In late 2011, Lodge Chief Tyler Stepanek submitted an article to the national Order of the Arrow website describing the Lodge Leadership Development training the lodge hosts each December at the Adam’s cabin in Hawkinsville to train incoming Lodge and Chapter officers. Tyler’s article was selected as a “best practice” for the Order of the Arrow and is currently posted on the national Order of the Arrow website!

Spring Fellowship Returns In the Spring of 2013 Lodge Chief Kenny Higginbotham organized and led a spring fellowship for the lodge at Camp Ben Hawkins. The was the first spring event to held by the lodge in many years.

Lodge Advisers in the 2010’s Former Lodge Chief Ross Adams served as Lodge Adviser through 2014. Former Lodge Chief Craig Rotter joined Ross as a Co-Adviser for 2014, and the following year, Mr. Rotter took over the full responsibility of Echeconnee Lodge Adviser.

Photo courtesy of Craig Rotter

2014-2015 Lodge Chief Robert Sweat

Echeconnee Lodge # 358 Order of the Arrow Draft version: July 30, 2015 Page 58 The Echeconnee Lodge History

Contribute to the Echeconnee Lodge history To contribute documents, photos, or written stories to the Echeconnee Lodge History, please send email or scanned images to [email protected]. Your collected material can trigger many good memories for former and current Echeconnee Lodge members. We don’t want information and memorabilia about the history of the Echeconnee Lodge to be lost forever.

Photos:  scanned photographs taken at Echeconnee Lodge activities  scanned photographs taken at CBH  photos of the Lodge members: dance team, ceremony team, officers  photos of the OA Lodge building  photos of the CBH Staff  photos of the 1998 Lodge Chiefs’ Reunion Newsletters:  scanned copies of “The Buckskin” from any year  scanned copies of “The Deerpath” prior to 1977 and from 1985 to 1996  scanned copies of other Lodge mailings and notices Documents:  scanned copies of any documents related to the Echeconnee Lodge  lists of Lodge or Chapter officers  programs, schedules, or handouts from Lodge Events Patches:  scanned images of any patches or memorabilia issued by the Echeconnee Lodge prior to 1970  history of specific Echeconnee patches: — Who designed the patch? — When was the patch issued? — What is the meaning or symbolism of the design? Stories:  written descriptions of adventures, activities, successes and mishaps of Echeconnee arrowmen  comments, suggestions, and articles from former Echeconnee Lodge officers

For those without the technology to create scanned images, contact us by telephone or email; we will make arrangements to scan your items. All contributors will be given credit for their contributions.

Notes: All references to youth arrowmen in this document use the arrowman’s name or nickname at the time. For example, all references to Dr. William Schaffer who served as 1952-53 Lodge Chief, are listed as Billy Schaffer.

Echeconnee Lodge # 358 Order of the Arrow Draft version: July 30, 2015 Page 59

In Memoriam

The following Echeconnee Lodge Chiefs have passed away. Each is fondly remembered.

Phillip “Flip” Parrish 1962 Lodge Chief

Manley L. “Sonny” Carter 1965 Lodge Chief

David Shelton 1983 Lodge Chief

The following Echeconnee Lodge members, who served the lodge as youth members, have passed away.

Dupont Cheney 1951 – 1953 CBH Staff

Bill Wenner 1979, 1983 – 1985 CBH Staff

Echeconnee Lodge # 358 Order of the Arrow Draft version: July 30, 2015 Page 60