As Manager of Special Affairs of Plant Communities at Philip Morris, I believe that the quality of leadership available to a community determines, in large part, the quality of life obtainable in that community. All of us benefit from the contributions to enlightened leadership that Scouting brings. We at Philip Morris support Scouting as a solid way to serve as good corporate citizens of the community in which we are located.
The method we have employed to create this history has resulted in a work that we feel is as cross-sectional, comprehensive and representative of the true state of the Negro in the Scouting movement as is possible. Rather than relying primarily on materials preserved in Scouting archives, we have utilized living sources of information -- men and women who themselves were active as Boy Scouts, Scoutmasters, troop Committeemen, Scouting professionals and district and Council volunteer officials. The writer, William C. Hocker, interviewed many of the surviving people who were "key players" in Richmond-area Scouting from 1928 to the present. Mr. Hocker compiled their recollections of the pioneering Negro troops, noted their tributes to leaders who have passed away and constructed a picture of the issues that were part of the setting for so many accomplishments in Scouting. These contributors are not historians, but are the history. To that extent, contributors' dreams, fears, opinions, aspirations and personal biases are as germane to the subject under study as are statistics, newspaper accounts of events and file memorabilia.
Despite the divergent views of these various contributors, all share a common respect for the Scouting movement. A consensus was reached on several points in a meeting of many of these leaders at Philip Morris in February, 1988. All give testimonials to the years when Scouting was especially strong among blacks in Richmond. All view Scouting as a worthwhile endeavor and look to its future revitalization with optimism. A number of these contributors are still active in Scouting today. These leaders are unanimous and persistent in recommending Scouting as a mechanism for instilling honesty, self reliance and other moral virtues in youth.
We thank everyone -- individuals, churches, pack and troop representatives, community-based organizations and Scouting headquarters for valuable input that has been used to form this history. A condensed version of this work will appear as a chapter in a book commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Robert E. Lee Council.
This history is dedicated to the adult leaders and boys who will be active in the Scouting movement in years to come. Our premise is that we can meet the challenges of the future with greater effectiveness if we are equipped with an objective understanding of our past.
Dr. William R. Johnson, Jr.
Manager of Special Affairs of Plant Communities
Philip Morris USA
January 3, 1989
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