1970 - 1979
Troop 615 was founded in 1971 and chartered in 1972 with the Columbia Station 5th District Volunteer Fire Department. Our founding Scoutmaster was Arnold (Arnie) John Elmore, a US Marine, Viet Nam veteran and double amputee. He served as Scoutmaster for the first 13 years from his wheelchair and even went on most of the campouts each year held at Camp Horseshoe near the Conowingo Dam. The Troop's original meeting space was at Running Brook Elementary School, which opened in 1970 and remained for the next two decades. The Running Brook Elementary School Parent Teacher Association (PTA) became the new sponsor in the late 1970s. Mr. Elmore sadly passed away in 2011, after serving multiple organizations in Howard County and he even ran for public office.
1980 - 1989
The Troop rechartered in 1980 and merged with Troop 696 when they needed a full-time Scoutmaster. Troop 696 began in 1969 as Troop 607 the first Troop in Columbia under their original Scoutmaster John Laudadio Jr. He remained Scoutmaster after the Troop changed sponsors and their troop number changed to 696. Scoutmaster Laudadio stepped down in 1972. Troop 696 brought Assistant Scoutmasters Roy Ferguson, and Ron Thomas and 10 scouts.
During this decade, Scoutmaster Elmore received the National Pike District's Award of Merit in June 1982 and Thomas Bethard became our first Eagle Scout, also in June. Mr. Elmore retired from his position with the Troop in 1984 and was succeeded by Mr. John M. Baumert. Assistant Scoutmaster Ferguson also retired from the Troop in 1984. Scoutmaster Baumert received the National Pike District's Award of Merit in June 1988 for his service to the District. In 1989, he stepped down and Mr. Deacon Buchanan took over as Scoutmaster.
1990 - 1999
Mr. Buchanan was succeeded by Mr. John (Mac) McDermott as Scoutmaster in 1992. The Troop moved its meetings from Running Brook ES in Columbia to the Church of the Resurrection in mid-1993 and rechartered with The Church starting in 1994.
Henry (Hank) Heine became Scoutmaster in 1995 after Mr. McDermott stepped down, and the Troop celebrated our 25th anniversary in 1996. A webpage was created for the event and anniversary bolo ties and patches were made and handed out. Mr. Heine retired in eary 1999 and Raybell (Ray) Maupin Adams started as the new Scoutmaster. Ray was succeeded by Mr. Robert Bredehoft, who was the Acting Scoutmaster in late 1999. Tommy DeWeese joined the Troop in mid-1999 as an Assistant Scoutmaster and became Scoutmaster January 1, 2000.
2000 - 2009
The Troop's period of its largest growth occurred during the tenure of Tommy DeWeese as Scoutmaster. The Troop grew in size, increased its diversity and even formed a Venture Crew in 2000 with Assistant Scoutmasters Robert Bredehoft and James Murray as Venture Leadership. The Troop (at over 100 scouts) had several scouts with Down Syndrome, Muscular Dystrophy and Cerebral Palsy. All were welcome and the Troop was well known in Howard County as one that had no limits on who could join.
From 2000 to 2001, th eonly new scouts coming to the Troop were transfers from other Troops. Assistant Scoutmasters Martin Berlon and Cheryl Murphy received the BSA National Pike District Award of Merit in June 2000. The Troop and 615 Ventures sent a joint crew (801F) to Philmont in August 2001. In the third year (2002) the Troop was beginning to be noticed by some Cub Scout packs and their adults at Webelos-O-Ree and we had our first patrol from two Cub Scout packs. The Cobra Patrol earned the Honor Patrol Award six times.
The following year (2004) the word spread about the Troop and an additional 43 scouts joined. At that time, we only had 23 scouts, so the size tripled overnight. Because of the quick growth, we had to schedule two summer camps. The younger scouts went to Broadcreek and the following week the older scouts went to Ockanickon. Mr. DeWeese also received the Service Provider of the Year and suddenly the Troop began signing up a lot of kids with special needs.
By 2005, we had 97 scouts at summer camp and 16 scouts at High Adventure locations. After we started the High Adventure program in the Troop, we attended two trips per year. We alternated the summer prgram between Philmont and Northern Tier. The Troop also began participating in Sea Base annually for the winter program.
Scoutmaster DeWeese and Assistant Scoutmaster Phil Knox received the NSA National Pike District's Award of Merit in 2006 and Mr. DeWeese was the runner up for the Howard County Volunteer of the Year Award.
2010 - 2019
In 2010, a group of 36 scouts bridged to the troop and pushed our total registered scouts to over 100. Since then, the numbers have readjusted to around 50 registered scouts. Mr. Dan Duesterhaus became the Chartered Organization Representative in 2010 and has remained in that position since.
The Friends of Troop 615 was incorporated March 14, 2012, to provide local community support, financial assistance, adult leadership, supervision, and consultation, all for the benefit of the Troop. Yung Cho was the first principal officer for the Friends.
On March 12, 2012, Mr. DeWeese retired after serving 12 years as Scoutmaster. Tommy was a wonderful Scoutmaster, giving selflessly of his time and talents to teach the boys to better scouts, good citizens and good men. The Troop participated in over 130 monthly campouts, over 15 weeks of summer camps and dozens of service projects and fundraisers.
Mr. Steve Luther became Acting Scoutmaster when Tommy stepped down, and he led the Troop for 6 months. We hosted our first Bull Pork Roast in May 2012 at the Church of the Resurrection. The Troop won first place in the Iron Chef competition at Webelos-O-Ree in 2012.
Dr. Bruce Anderson because Scoutmaster in September 2012
Troop Chaplain Silvia Pugliese received the Shofar Award March 2, 2014 and the Troop earned Gold Status in the Journey to Excellence Program also in March 2014. The Troop won the Webelos-O-Ree Award of Merit for Best Dessert, Best Cook of Plate, Best Overall, and Best Center of Plate.
In 2015 the Troop won the Golden Skillet Award and first place for the Water Carnival Champions at Ockanickon, plus first place in the Iron Skillet Best of Center Plate and Best Overall at Webelos-O-Ree. In 2017, the Troop won first place at Webelos-O-Ree in Best Dessert, Best Meal, Best Center of Plate, and Best Meal. The Troop's Batman Patrol won Honor Patrol at summer camp in Ockanickon in 2019.
2020 - Present
Dr. Anderson retired as Scoutmaster in June 2021 and Mr. Barry Matto became the new Scoutmaster and continues as Scoutmaster today. Under Mr. Matto, the Troop celebrated our 50th anniversary in December 2021. The celebration hosted United States Congressman Kweisi Mfume, Howard County Councilman David Yungmann and BSA District Director Taadie Robinson. After a moving speech, Congressman Mfume presented the Troop with two copies of a Congressional Congratulatory Letter and posed for pictures with the Troop.
We are still going strong, thanks to the foundation started by all the previous scouts, Scoutmasters, and parents. Here is to the next 50 years.