T-696 was started in ‘71 or ‘72, sponsored by the Loesche School, there was a cub pack there also. The troop was floundering and in 1974 the troop (not the pack) needed to find a new sponsor. The troop membership was low; the leadership was poor, etc. The districts executive commissioner’s staff contacted Jack to help them out and re-organize the troop. My father explained his health and limitations and said he would think about it. He called me at college and discussed it with me and I agreed to help as much as possible, I was scheduled to graduate in May of 1975 and this was August 1974.
The present leadership of the troop agreed to stay on and help especially with camping. I decided (not because of the troop) not to go back to college (I took night courses at LaSalle to finish up my last 2 semesters). In April and May of 1975 I took the troop camping as an Assistant Scoutmaster. I was 20 years old then (I turned 21 that June). At the June court of honor, my father turned over the reins to me as scoutmaster and he became troop committee chairman. For the first few months I had no real help (Dave had just turned 18 and ASM, Paul was an Asst. but almost never showed up, Jerry helped whenever he could). I recruited a friend; Bruce to help (Bruce was working full time, going to school full time, in the Air Force Reserves and just engaged; so his time was really limited), he brought a couple of friends to help when we needed them and once I got some help with the troop they all bowed out. About 6 or 8 months after I became SM is when Arnie brought Brian around. Barbara, Rhoda, Syd (and later Jack) and Mindy got very active and were fantastic help and support. After I left as SM, Jerry Epstein took over and shortly after that Mark Pollack.
As far as I know, the troop is now sponsored by the Pennypack
Environmental Center on Verree road.
Thank you,
Rich