A tribute in memory of my dear friend and fellow scouter Greg Townsend.
If you are a Boy Scout, scout leader, former Boy Scout then you know the Scout Law. A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent.
For the last few days I have been thinking of my friend Greg Townsend (Mr T) and how he was all of these things and lived the Scout Law in his daily life. I'd like to say Greg was the best Boy Scout and scout leader I have ever had the pleasure to know. Greg was a school teacher and was dearly loved by his students. Several of his students who knew he was an Eagle Scout, kept asking him to help them get into scouting. Greg started Troop 244 at the Donna United Methodist Church in 1990 and served scouts for 30 years. For those of you who don't know me, I served as an assistant scoutmaster with Greg from 1990-2000.
Greg was an excellent role model. When my son came to Troop 244 after receiving his Arrow of Light, Greg welcomed us with open arms. Greg gave his time to the boys every Monday night, and on monthly camp outs. For those of you who have not served with a Boy Scout group, let me tell you, it takes dedication to make every Monday night available for scouting, one weekend a month for camp outs, and fundraisers in between. Most of those scouts would have never experienced the great outdoors if it had not been for Greg. He helped them raise money for summer camp with chicken barbecues. Greg not only gave a week out of his time for summer camp every year, but he also volunteered to serve as the Super Troop leader for Camp Perry to teach all the boys from across the Rio Grande Valley and help them on the way to the rank of First Class. This required his dedication for 4-5 weeks every summer.
Greg was indeed a legendary figure in Rio Grande Valley Scouting, totally committed to scouting. He had the great quality of bringing out the best in scouts under his charge, developing their leadership qualities, instilling in them the good qualities that make a better person, honesty, truthfulness, dedication to work, sense of duty, self respect, pride in the institution, teamwork, striving for higher pinnacles of achievement and glory.
Greg was a man who had a great impact on the lives of many. A former Troop 244 scout shared this with me “As one grew in life, said goodbye to school and college – and scouting – and ventured out in life, one realized with time how Mr. T guided him during his childhood days as a boy scout, how that person himself had looked upon Mr. T as a father figure”.
Greg was also devoted to his church, serving as choir director and music director for Vacation Bible School, and taught the youth groups Sunday school class.
I truly enjoyed our monthly camp outs and summer camp with Troop 244.
Mr. T may have left this physical world, but he will live eternally in the hearts of many who had the unique privilege of being a scout in Troop 244, with Mr. T as the Scout Master.
May God Almighty forever rest his soul in eternal peace and grant him an abode in heaven. And may God Almighty grant his family the strength and courage to bear this very tragic loss. This world is poorer with the sad demise of one of the greatest Scout Masters Donna Texas will ever see.
Rest In Peace, my dear friend Greg
Written by
Henry Graham (Mr. Graham)
