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Orange Empire Council # 39 (1944 – 1972)

Orange Empire Council # 39 came into being after the split of the original Orange County Council # 39 and Northern Orange County Council # 37. After the split, the remaining council chose this name.

Perhaps the greatest (and certainly, biggest) event in local Scouting history occurred in 1953, as Irvine Ranch (near today’s Fashion Island) was selected for the 3rd Boy Scout Jamboree, bringing over 50,000 Scouts from across the country to Orange County.

The access road would become Jamboree Road, which was a small road in its day before becoming the major arterial road it is today.

In 1972, the Councils came together again, reconstituting Orange County Council # 39.

Chronology

  • 1921: E.E. Heidt is Scout Executive.
  • 1943: Scout Executive Harrison E. “Pop” White dies.
  • 1944: Hugh Wilcox is hired as Scout Executive.
  • 1949: Hugh Wilcox resigns as Scout Executive to enter the private finance field in Ohio. Cecil “Skip” Fife hired as Scout Executive. He had been a field executive in the San Fernando Valley Council.
  • 1953: Orange Empire Council is the host council for the 3rd National Boy Scout Jamboree.
  • 1956: Scout Executive Skip Fife dies.
  • 1957: Ross J. Taylor hired as Scout Executive.
  • 1963: William Bent is hired as Scout Executive.
  • 1966: William Bent resigns as Scout Executive.
  • 1971: Kenneth Hickenbottom is Scout Executive.

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Last updated: August 19, 2024 at 21:08 pm

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