Scout Troop to Mark its 60th Anniversary

When Boy Scout Troop 54 held its first meeting, FDR was president, the Studebaker was a hot car and few Americans had even heard of Pearl Harbor.

While the world has greatly changed in the past 60 years, members of Troop 54 are still learning to tie knots, going on camp-outs and striving to become Eagle Scouts.

Troop 54, originally chartered in March 1940 and one of the oldest Boy Scout troops in the San Fernando Valley, will celebrate its 60th anniversary at a church in Woodland Hills where members have gathered throughout the years.

“They are one of our leading Boy Scout troops in the community--obviously, because of their tenure, but also because they have strong leadership,” said Jon Cieslak, district executive of the Western L.A. County Council of Boy Scouts.

Each troop has its own personality, and troop leaders and members say they enjoy the troop’s relaxed atmosphere.

“They have fun developing outdoor skills, leadership skills and character, but we do it in a less regimented way,” said Scoutmaster Leonard Rymsza.

The boys run the meetings, bring food on camping trips and do their own cooking and cleaning.

“We don’t have a leader on our backs saying, ‘Do this now, do that now,’ ” said troop guide John McGuire, 16. “Each boy can go at his own speed, but there are definitely people to help them.”

Bill Becker, who joined the troop in 1952, said his experience was “entirely positive.”

“I remember how much time the adults put in on our behalf, how much they gave of themselves,” said Becker, 58, a retired computer programmer.

A member during the ‘60s, Carl Wishner said many of the things he learned in Scouting have carried over into his adult life.

“There’s a certain amount of self-sufficiency that comes from having participated in Boy Scouts. You learned to cook for yourself and set up camp. We learned some of these things the hard way,” said Wishner, 47, a biologist.

But Troop 54 almost didn’t make it this far. In 1990, it was in danger of losing its charter. Membership was down and its scoutmaster had quit.

Bill Carter, who was a member in the ‘50s, worked to revive the troop, even though he was busy as scoutmaster of Troop 126 in Woodland Hills. He recruited new members and taught their parents how to run a Boy Scout unit.

“There are just so few things today that are so positive,” Carter said.

Sunday’s event is planned from noon to 4 p.m. at Woodland Hills Community Church, 21338 Dumetz Road. A 1949 time capsule will be opened at 12:30 p.m. and new items will be added.