Boy Scout Troop 325
Scoutmaster Minute
"Old Ed"
January 16, 2007
Larry Polyak, Scoutmaster

When I first went to Camp Hi-Sierra, I noticed an old guy walking around in uniform and wearing a green camp staff jacket. I asked someone who he was and they said "Why that's Old Ed!", like everyone knows who "Old Ed" is! In fact, I may have been the only one who didn't. As it turns out, Ed Sheldon was the the Camp Chaplain. Later in the week, he gave a short but very moving talk at Scout's own and it was obvious that Ed was a scouter through and through. I got a chance to meet and talk to him a little bit after that.

Thanks to Mr. Denise, I learned that:

Ed Sheldon has been on Camp Staff since the mid-to late 80's. Long before that, however, Ed was a scoutmaster, a minister, a bio-chemist, a high school science teacher, a coach for the U.S. Olympic shooting team, and a probation officer. Years ago, in a city in the Midwest, young juvenile defendants were often given the choice of going to jail or joining Ed's Boy Scout troop. Altogether, Ed served as a scoutmaster for 47 years. During that time, he led over 750 scouts, and he graduated 137 Eagle Scouts.

A few years ago, Ed suffered a heart attack. Even so, he still wanted to come up to camp and be on staff that summer. The adult administration didn't want him to, afraid the strain might be too much. But the youth members and many other scouts who knew him insisted he be allowed to return to camp. The common comment was, "Ed would rather be at camp than be at home, regardless of its affect on his health. If he does pass on, there is no more appropriate place for him to do so than at summer camp. Ed and the scouts got their way and Ed was at camp that summer.

Last year was the first time in 44 years than Ed was not at Summer Camp. He was just too ill. I received an email announcement last week saying that he was in his final days at home and in hospice care. The very next day I found out that he had passed away. I attended a memorial service for him this past Saturday. It was standing room only, filled with Scouts and Scouters. I learned that Ed had a wife who supported him all those years, even though he would go away to summer camp for 3 months at a time. She herself founded and ran a crisis hotline. He had three children, all of whom gave remembrances of him.

Some of you older guys may remember Ed. You younger guys will never get a chance to meet him. I guess I just wanted his memory live on a bit longer, by telling you about him.

Thank you for listening.