October 20: Rountable Discussion

Title of Project: The Josey Boy Scout Lodge

Summary: My paper will be about the donation to the Walker County Boy Scouts of the lodge and surrounding area by Robert A. Josey. Main points in the paper will be how the lodge has served the Boy Scout organization in Huntsville, the principles the organization teaches to the Scouts, and the service the Scouts provide the city with. So far I have a lot of basic information about the lodge and the Boy Scouts from when I did the park project. I have a lot of newspaper clippings, obituaries, and a handout given at the dedication ceremony that is word for word Josey's speech he gave at the ceremony. I also have a lot of photos from the National Park project. I have met a Scoutmaster from one of the local troops, Mr. Smith, who will let me take a look at a scrapbook that the Scouts have at the lodge, but I yet to hear back from him. He has also told me about a book called Sam Houston Scouts: A History of Scouting in the Sam Houston Area Council. Also, I might go to see Mac Woodward to see what kind of information he might have on the lodge. I have a big newspaper clipping from the day after the lodge was dedicated that has a lot of good information and quotes to use in the paper. I think this will prove to be a valuable resource in writing this paper.

My thesis statement will be as follows: "His gift, the Robert A. Josey Boy Scout Lodge , gave the Boy Scouts of Walker County and surrounding areas, a place to hold their meetings and practice Scout skills. To this day, 75 years later, the Josey Lodge remains a Huntsville landmark, continuing to serve as a cherished meeting house for the Boy Scouts of Walker County.

Sources Examined:
1. McCormick, Harry" Robert A. Josey's Beautiful Gift to the Boy Scouts." The Houston Press, June 18, 1934

2. "Huntsville is Grateful To Houstonian for Its Fine Boy Scout Lodge" Houston Post, December 21, 1935.

3.Walker County Geneaogical Society and Walker County Historical Commission, Walker County Texas: A History

4. "Spindletop's R.A. Josey Dies at 83", The Houston Post, February 1,1954.


Outline:

I. Introduction
II. Body
A. The Background, Planning, and Construction of the Builiding.
of the Building.
B. Robert A. Josey's contributions and family history.
C. Detail of the structure and activities held there.
D. History of Scouts in the Huntsville area.
E. How the Scouts serve Huntsville.
F. Prominent local scouts.
III. Conclusion: How this simple investment has paid back the community. Robert Josey's service to Huntsville.