1941 Koshare News

In February, 1933, Bill Sisson and Bob Inman called the first meeting of a dozen close friends to form a Boy Scout Indian Club patterned after Troop 10 of Colorado Springs. After a dozen meetings through the spring, they gave up until September when they gathered again in the shack in Buck’s back yard, and started in earnest. The rest is an old story to you. What you really want to know is what happened in 1941, so here it is.

In February, 46 members gathered at the Colorado University Boys’ Gym to paint up for a dance at the half of the C.U. – Aggie game. Everyone was tense and on their toes for the stakes were high. An outstanding show would mean a prominent place at the International Rotary Convention in Denver the following June. The show was a success and we were signed up. On June 1st, 8 Chiefs danced for the Izaak-Walton Convention at MonumentLake. The thing that thrilled us most there was when we called Ernest Thompson Seton, the world renown naturalist and author to the “mike.” He stood there with tears in his eyes and said some of the most complimentary things of our Club we have ever heard.

Then came the Spring Show. Rainy weather prevailed, but we still did pretty well.

Then the International Rotary and the dedication of the Theater of the Red Rocks in Denver. (That was something!)

There before ten thousand people from all over the world, 65 Koshare members opened the program and for the first en minutes captivated the audience with their Eagle Dance. Twenty minutes after leaving the stage, we were on the way to the bus. Jack Lacy said circuses are famed for moving fast, but they could take a few pointers from our gang most of the time.

A week after the Rotary International a large group danced for the State Dental Convention in Colorado Springs. It was one of our most successful shows of the season, held on the patio by the lake at the Broadmoor hotel. Then came the Scout Circus in Pueblo. We took 40 Koshare members and 30 others. Many a Scout leader has told us that they wouldn’t have had a circus had it not been for our 40-piece Scout Band and 25 minutes of Indian dancing.

Our performances at the Old Settlers’ Picnic and Tomato Day Celebration at Manzanola were not so hot. Some fellows may have let us down a little? (We need everyone’s help in every show.) Then came the Gallup trip. Thirty-two boys and four leaders. A swell trip. On September 13th we danced at Nunn, Colo., 19 miles north of Greeley. A good show and a nice audience, but a little damp. Then our last show at the Harvey House in La Junta for the State Public Health Association where we had a fine audience and a good show.

How do you like our new stationary? Lacy fixed it up at the Chamber of Commerce. You can get it there at low cost.

Have you seen our new booklet? Also the five-color, windshield stickers? We will send you some. They cost us plenty – you get them for 5 cents each.

Football
La Junta High’s 1941 football team had plenty of tough luck, but we are certainly proud of Ray Ritter’s fine job at quarterback. Smoky Groth, Jim Wilson, Bill Driscoll, Harold West, and Gaylord Cox and several others, not members of the Koshare Club, but former scouts, played a fine game. Jim Beavers carried the water and was a very important manager. In the Gas House Gang, we counted 13 out of the 26 on the squad as prominent members of the Koshare Club. We are hoping for better days in football in the future.

Publicity
The Koshare publicity keeps on showing up. To date, pictures have appeared in many places. In Life, American, two in Lions, Rotarian, Boys’ Life, News and Views, Dental Magazine, Elks, Jamboree Journal, Boy Scout Jamboree, Picture Book, Round-up Lodge booklet for 5 years, several moving news reels, Rotogravure of St. Louis Post Dispatch. Watch for features to appear before long in Rotarian and Saturday Evening Post.

Archery
Archery still plays an important part in our summer program. We held three tournaments last summer in La Junta, with an average of 15 participating. We took eleven to the Rocky Mountain Tournament and won the second leg on the beautiful Anderson Trophy besides first, second and third in the Junior Flight Shoot, second in Junior Target Championship, and numerous other prizes. Stansberry, Mapes and Gordon were our Junior champions.

New Chiefs
In the two elections this last year, the members elected to Chief’s Clan were Harve Varner, Jim Wilson, Grant Stansberry, Ralph Ritter, Dean Doenges, Jim Beavers, Lawrence Ridennoure, and Chester Denton.

Head Chiefs
Since the Koshare has grown in the last few years, we have decided to abandon the practice of electing a head chief and have elected a head chief and assistant in each clan. For the coming year, Ray Ritter will be head chief of the Sioux with his brother Ralph as assistant; Harold West, head chief of the Kiowa and Charles Groth, assistant; Dean Doenges, head chief of the Cado with Chester Denton, assistant.

Handicraft
The Koshare Handicraft Shop is going well with John Hardy in charge. A large supply of colored and natural feathers are on hand, also silver and copper Indian conchos and bracelet material. The shop will be open in the future on Mondays for Braves and Chiefs only, to do silver work; and Wednesday and Thursday for all scouts. We recently purchased a fine prestolite torch for silver soldering.

Gallup
The Gallup trip was a great success again this year. Thirty-two boys were elected to make the trip. Mesa Verde was swell and everyone there was grand to us and well informed of our activities. We swam again at Aztec under the bridge. In Gallup the fellows bought as much junk as usual, and the ceremonial shows were swell. We all enjoyed the Mexican dinner in Santa Fe and the people of Santa Clara were interesting as ever. We ate at the new dining room of the LaFonda de Taos Hotel, a unique place filled with a gallery of swell paintings. We met Governor Carr of Colorado at the ceremonials and hew was enthusiastic about our gang and spent a great deal of time with us.

Missing
Buck requests all members of the Koshare Club to look over their costumes and return to him anything that is not theirs. Several beaded belts are missing. A number of Buck’s books have been borrowed and not returned (look over your books – you may have one). Bring your outgrown Indian costumes and Scout uniforms to Buck to be passed on to the younger fellows.

Registration
Troop registration is due. All high school graduates should keep registered in the Rover Crew of Troop 230. From now on registration falls due on January 1st, so bring it in Christmas.

231
Troop 231, the Koshare’s younger boy troop, is progressing well. Twenty-five members were transferred to Troop 230 this year. Fifteen new scouts and transfers have already been taken in this fall.

Dates
Winter Camp for first class Scouts, Jan. 2-3-4, MounumentLake, $4.00

February Court of Honor will be an Eagle Court. Fifteen members will receive their Eagle awards. All past Eagles and Scouts are urged to attend. Eagle Scouts are requested to get a picture of themselves in to Buck for the Hall of Fame. 1942 Spring Show will be held June 10-11. We hope all the old gang will show up with moccasins and all to help out. Why not send the gang a telegram like so many do, when you know the Koshare Club is gathered at the annual Christmas party or Spring Show? It’s a real thrill for all the members, young and old, to know you still dream of Indians and drums and a swell gang of fellows.

In Camp
“Inky” is still holding out at Camp Highland. Next summer will make it his fifth year, and all reports show a fine job. Jess Humphries and Spike Everhart made a real success of their program at Round-up Lodge. Harold West and Charles Groth had charge of the Canon City Abbey Camp Indian Lore and reported a good summer.

How About You?
The Koshare Club is justly proud of the many boys who have completed their Eagle rank. We are still looking forward to having our graduated Braves and Chiefs who have not completed their Eagle to return someday and finish it up.

Leadership
Many a graduated member of the Koshare Club is now beginning to settle down from school and getting settled for life. We are anxious that more and more of our fellows will step into the Scouting program and assist the boys in their community. With the training you have had, you can, no doubt, make a world Champion Scout Leader. There will be no compensation but a great deal of satisfaction, and who of our whole gang can say they do not owe Scouting a lifetime of service for the things they have learned and the fun they have had?

News from the Members out of High School
Tom Cash has been out with the Santa Fe Signal Gang all summer and still working hard. We see him every few weeks

Bill Chalfant. Remember bashful Bill, who hated all girls at one time? Well, he finally found one he didn’t dislike and married her last week. They are at home at 418 San Juan. Congratulations, Bill. (The new squaw’s name is Marguerite Woodall.)

Stu Danford is another one of the guys who decided California was greener. He is working with Union Oil Company at Pasadena, California.

Vernon Elder is in the Army Air Corps. He paid us a visit last week and left for the broad Pacific and will soon be flying a bomber over HonoluluBay.

Ray Ethridge is an apprentice with the Santa Fe in La Junta and we see him often.

Spike Everhart is in college at WentworthMilitaryAcademy, Lexington, Mo., and gunning for Annapolis. We understand he played football there this year and is having a great time.

Vernon Konkel, a C.U. freshmen, going strong with his usual enthusiasm. Just now enthusiastic over an N.Y.A. job with the Journalism professor in charge of a Cub Pack.

Bob Mann gave up Boulder for Brown’s and expecting a naval assignment.

Bud McCluskey a senior at Texas A & M, married and doing lots of flying.

Bob McCluskey, a Phi Gamma at Boulder, junior in the C.U.School, flying summer and winter.

Chet Ralston, married, managing a very large grocery and market. Long Beach, California.

John Ritter, married, graduated last Feb. from Colorado Aggies; now a first Lieutenant. Fort Knox, Kentucky

Charles Ritter, “Just Married.” Residence at home, La Junta. Serving time with Leland at the Ritter boys’ regular job, Texaco station.

Ray Seal, married, (announced just recently), with the Post Signal Department, Lowry Field, Denver.

Orval Seal dividing his time between CentennialHigh School, senior, working at Safeway store, and numerous girl friends. Pueblo, Colorado

Ed Garlington is nearing the last lap on a trip through BoulderUniversity, majoring in Business Administration.

Custis Green, Jr., transferred from Colorado College to Aggies this year. We haven’t heard how he likes the cow college.

Bud Harris is going strong at Albuquerque, New Mexico, dividing his time between High School Senior, Indians and a H. O. gage model railroad.

David Hill is working for John Santa Fe during busy seasons in La Junta and spending the off seasons at the University of New Mexico and with Buddie’s sister.

Jess Humphries is a Phi Gamma Pledge at Boulder. Destination – Medicine. Sports – Skiing.

Delmar Kimball is a C.U. Freshman rooming with Jess Humphries and planning a career in engineering.

Stanley Kimball is serving time with Uncle Sam; now classed near tops in Weather Observation. Rantoul, Illinois.

Charles Stafford is also attending the Junior College at La Junta. Charles is bigger and better looking than ever and has that winning smile that will someday help him go places.

Marshall Turner. We haven’t heard from Marshall for quite some time. We understand that he has transferred his tiny physique of 5’ 20”, to Oregon State College where he is gunning for big time basketball. You know he did mighty well in basketball and football at WesternState last year.

Vernon Frame is now working at San Diego for Consolidated Aircraft Company. We are still expecting him to go places in music and when the rush is over we hope he will find time to complete his last year in college.

Jack Horton is a private for Uncle Sam’s 7th Engineers at Camp Custer, Michigan.

H. F. Lambert, (Ham to you fellows) is working for Uncle Sam at Fort Benning, Ga. We would like to hear from him.

Gerald Hastings. We haven’t heard from Gerald for a long time. We hope he writes us soon and tells us all about himself

Doc Maas. We would like to hear from Doc, too. Last we heard he was beginning to settle down and must be enjoying California by now.

Bill Sisson at home in the C.U.MedicalSchool, Denver, will be a full-fledged doctor in a couple of more years.

Tom Sisson, a ColoradoUniversity junior majoring in Business Administration.

Jiggs Snyder, graduated from WoodburyCollege, decided Uncle Sam did not need him so is now employed at Barnsdall Auto Co. and driving very nifty convertible. Kennon Los Angeles

Dean Strain, a C.U. junior, played a pretty swell game of basketball for C.U. last year. Flying regularly.

Jim Taylor. We were sure glad to see him home last year. Our informer tells us that he has recently been promoted to Capt. For Uncle Sam’s army at Fort Bragg, N.C., 112th Field Artillery.

Harve Varner is pledge king for the Phi Delta Theta Lodge at ColoradoCollege. As enthusiastic as ever and still punishing his bad back.

Durwood White is serving time with McCluskey’s dad in the creamery business, night and day.

Tom Woodruff, flying for old ColoradoUniversity and studying something, including a few girls.

George Wright, working for John Santa Fe the last summer, washing windows, Phi Kappa Psi, ColoradoUniversity, where he is ranting plenty high in engineering.

Bob Inman graduated from ColoradoUniversity last June, and now head over heels in law. He has done a fine job of his music. We are looking forward to having him lead the gang in some of the old ditties at the Christmas party.

Jack McCandless is going strong at St. John’sMilitarySchool in Salina, Kansas. From all reports, he has been making a fine record there. Incidentally, he worked in the St. John’s Summer Camp last summer.

Bob McNeal is now a freshman student at the La Junta Junior College. Most of the boys up there found out that they have a lot of work to do in college. Bob has been working hard at a dozen different jobs but we always look forward to him dropping in and helping out the drummers.

Denny Ralston is now running his own filling station and garage at Long Beach, California. When you are by that way, stop in and say “Hello” to Denny.

Lawrence Ridennoure writes that he is doing some Scout work on the side while attending Colorado Aggies. Lawrence did a swell job here in high school and we expect him to go far.

Vincent Arnold is serving time for Uncle Sam at Alameda, California.

Van Holzschuh is going to PhillipsUniversity at Enid, Oklahoma, taking pre-medics, and writes that he likes the Oklahoma girls.

Dwane Atwill is on duty for Uncle Sam. We are sorry it was impossible for us to see him when his company was through La Junta a few weeks ago. He is now at Ft. Loonard Wood, Missouri.