Scoutmaster Craig Johnson - He mentored Eagles!

Craig Johnson was an active member of Troop 923 from 1954 until he passed away in 2018. Over the years he has mentored over 50 scouts to Eagle. He spent many summers at Owasippe both as troop leader and as a leader for Summer Camp sessions. For outstanding service to youth, Craig received the Silver Beaver Award from the Chicago Scout Council and the Silver Squirrel Award for service to Troop 923. In 2006 and 2007 he was Senior Commissioner at Owasippe and was Shooting Sports Director. He has been awarded the Scoutmasters Key, District Award of Merit, and Silver Beaver. As Troop Historian, he has worked at organizing and cataloging the troop documents.

Troop Committee Member Reinhard Plaut - What he has built has lasted

Reinhard joined the Boy Scouts of America as a Cub scout, advancing to Scout in 1945, and receiving his Eagle in 1950. Reinhard studied under Mies von der Rohe in the College of Architecture at IIT. The beginning of his career was interrupted by two years in the Army during the Korean War. He received commendations for his work on construction projects in France and Germany for the Corps of Engineers. For the next 35 years he did every kind of architecture while working for Jerome Soltan in Rogers Park. One achievement that he was particularly proud of was the concept and design of the Chicago 4-plus-1 which proliferated throughout Chicago's North side. The unique design contained the lobby and off-street parking below grade, with wood framing supporting four floors of apartments.
His scout career included many years as a leader and as an instructor at Owasippi Camp in Michigan. He has been on the Executive Board of the Chicago Area Council since 2009.
As part of his commitment to the Scouts Reinhardt was instrumental in guiding the long term redevelopment plans for the Scout's Camp Owasippi. Reinhard was proud to be a mentor to young people in both his architectural career and in his avocation of scouting. Some still wear the "Plaut Scout" patch proudly in recognition of his leadership and crafty pranks.

Scoutmaster Chuck Kmiec - We Will Miss Him

      Our long-time Scoutmaster, Chuck Kmiec, suffered a massive heart attack on August 31, 2006, and passed away.  Chuck was a mentor to many, a friend to all, and a unique leader.  The Troop knew him as a laid-back, friendly Scoutmaster.

      Chuck had been active in Scouts for most of his life, but his connection with Troop 923 began in 1995,  Chuck was at Owasippe when he ran into an old friend who was part of Troop 923, Jack Coussens.  Chuck mentioned that he was thinking about becoming more active at the troop level, and Jack convinced him to fill the troop's Scoutmaster vacancy.  The rest was history. 

     Chuck led an extremely active troop over the past 10 years, through good times and bad.  The troop always went to summer camp, and we had an outing every month.  Chuck led bike hikes, camporees, climbing wall outings, sailing weekends, canoe trips, whitewater rafting, trips to museums, U.S. Grant Pilgrimage outings, Trips to the U.S.S. Silversides, and the annual "Just for Fun" weekend at Camp Reinberg.  Chuck was an essential part of the annual Pancake Breakfast, and the Family Thanksgiving Turkey Cookout.

    Chuck had been a staffman at Owasippe, and the first to be nicknamed "Buddha".  He was well known among Council and District Scouters.  He received the District Award of Merit, and was a graduate of National Camping School, serving as Camp Director of the Hoover Outdoor Education Center in 2005 and 2006.

   Chuck was an originator of the Silver Squirrel Award, and received the award posthumously.  Chuck knew, since he was one of two people who nominated the recipients, that he would never receive the award.  The Troop Committee made the award by acclamation, and the medal was placed at the wake, without fuss or ceremony.  Chuck was buried in his Scout uniform, with the Silver Squirrel, his troop neckerchief, National Camping School neckerchief slide, Eagle Mentor pin, troop belt buckle, Order of the Arrow Brotherhood sash and Owasippe Lodge flap patch.  He is buried at St. Adalbert Catholic Cemetary, 6800 Milwaukee Avenue, Niles IL.

From the Broken Arrow Ceremony, from the Order of the Arrow

Hear us in our thoughts,
In our final tribute to our Brother.
He who loved the haunts of nature,
Loved the moonlight on the water,
Loved the sunshine on the meadow,
Loved the shadow of the forest,
Loved the wind among the pine trees,
Loved the rushing of great rivers,
Loved the thunder of the mountains,
Loved the of nature in its splendor.
Found in nature his duty to Man
And pledged himself to cheerful service
Serving his Brothers and his fellow man
Rest, Brother, we’ve known you well indeed
And now in peace you’ll sleep
You have done your work, and done it well
So none of us need weep.
In Scouting we will miss your smile
And your friendly handclasp
But your Master will guide your steps
And point the way for you.