Our Avery County: ‘World's oldest living Boy Scout’ once called Avery County home
Michael Hardy / (news@averyjournal.com)
Avery County has been blessed with many remarkable citizens who have made a lasting impact on the history of the United States. Some of these folks, like famed radio star Scotty Wiseman, were born and brought up here. Others, like automobile designer Howard Marmon, came “from off,” but called Avery County home later in life. Yet another name to add to that list is Boy Scouts of America pioneer Stanley Harris.
Harris was born Oct. 31, 1883, in Trade, Tenn. Shortly thereafter, his family moved to the Montezuma area of what was then Mitchell County. In 1900, still 11 years before Avery County was created, Harris entered Tennessee Wesleyan College in Athens, Tenn. Harris graduated in 1903, and was soon in Frankfort, Ky., teaching school. Harris read an article about the Boy Scouts organization, which had started in England in 1907. The next year, Harris applied to the scouting organization overseas and received a charter to start his own troop in Kentucky.
In February 1910, Boy Scouts of America was created. The purpose of the organization was “to teach [boys] patriotism, courage, self-reliance and kindred values.” Harris soon found himself one of the founding members of the national organization, and in 1917, he moved to work at the national headquarters of Boy Scouts of America, located in New York City.
Harris was a field representative for the Scouts and traveled all over the United States, helping organize new troops and encouraging the growth of existing troops. The local newspapers place Harris in Charlotte and Tampa, Fla., in 1918; Winston Salem and Columbia, S.C., in 1919, Macon, Ga., in 1920; New Orleans in 1924; Riverside, Calif., in 1930; Canton, Ohio, in 1934; Dallas, Texas, in 1939; and Trenton, N.J., in 1943.
The work that Harris did in Winston-Salem led directly to the formation of the Winston-Salem Council, which is now known as the Old Hickory Council.
One area about which Harris was passionate was involving boys from diverse racial backgrounds in Scouting. In 1916, he organized the first all-black scouting troop in Louisville,, Ky. By the next year, there were four official African-American troops in the area. Ten years after the founding of the first troops, there were 248 all-black troops with 4,923 scouts. That same year, 1926, the Boy Scout's Interracial Service was created, as a program to boost racial diversity. Harris was named the director. He also oversaw the creation of the first all-Native American Boy Scout Troop. In 1927, Boy's Life credited Harris with starting the first scout troop for Mexican-American boys. Harris worked diligently to raise funds to employ African-American staff members and the purchase of camping facilities for African American scouts.
In recognition of his work, Tuskegee Institute awarded Harris an honorary doctorate in 1942, the first ever given by the school to a caucasian. In 1955, the scout camp in Greenville, Tenn., was named in his honor: Camp Stanley Harris.
Harris retired from Scouting in 1947 and returned to the mountain. His wife and children had maintained a permanent residence in Boone since the 1920s. However, he remained active, volunteering with different nonprofit groups, including the chamber of commerce, Rotary, Watauga County United Fund, Watauga Hospital and Southern Appalachian Historical Association.
In 1975, Harris celebrated his 92nd birthday. He considered himself the “world's oldest living Boy Scout.” Boone declared a “Stanley Harris Day” and honored him with a birthday party at the National Guard Armory. Newspapers across the country, as far away as California, ran articles on Harris, and many sent letters of appreciation, including President Gerald Ford, who wrote, “My own special commendation for many hours you unselfishly devoted to the young people of your country.” Soon thereafter, Harris moved to a retirement center in Greensboro, where he passed away on Aug. 13, 1976. He is interred in Boone.
Harris's legacy lives on, and he was recently the recipient of additional accolades. Family, friends and Scouts from the area gathered in Boone on Saturday, Nov. 20, 2010, to dedicate a North Carolina Highway Historical Marker near the site where Harris once lived. Many individuals spoke during the program, including scouts, former scouts and even Harris's son-in-law, Glenn Farthing. Though the marker is appropriate for Boone, it might as easily have been placed in Montezuma in Avery County.
Avery County is blessed with numerous and active Scouting organizations. The next time some of our local scouts are marching at a parade or volunteering at some community event, take a moment to reflect on Stanley Harris, one of the founders of Boy Scouts of America, who once called Avery County home.
Harris was born Oct. 31, 1883, in Trade, Tenn. Shortly thereafter, his family moved to the Montezuma area of what was then Mitchell County. In 1900, still 11 years before Avery County was created, Harris entered Tennessee Wesleyan College in Athens, Tenn. Harris graduated in 1903, and was soon in Frankfort, Ky., teaching school. Harris read an article about the Boy Scouts organization, which had started in England in 1907. The next year, Harris applied to the scouting organization overseas and received a charter to start his own troop in Kentucky.
In February 1910, Boy Scouts of America was created. The purpose of the organization was “to teach [boys] patriotism, courage, self-reliance and kindred values.” Harris soon found himself one of the founding members of the national organization, and in 1917, he moved to work at the national headquarters of Boy Scouts of America, located in New York City.
Harris was a field representative for the Scouts and traveled all over the United States, helping organize new troops and encouraging the growth of existing troops. The local newspapers place Harris in Charlotte and Tampa, Fla., in 1918; Winston Salem and Columbia, S.C., in 1919, Macon, Ga., in 1920; New Orleans in 1924; Riverside, Calif., in 1930; Canton, Ohio, in 1934; Dallas, Texas, in 1939; and Trenton, N.J., in 1943.
The work that Harris did in Winston-Salem led directly to the formation of the Winston-Salem Council, which is now known as the Old Hickory Council.
One area about which Harris was passionate was involving boys from diverse racial backgrounds in Scouting. In 1916, he organized the first all-black scouting troop in Louisville,, Ky. By the next year, there were four official African-American troops in the area. Ten years after the founding of the first troops, there were 248 all-black troops with 4,923 scouts. That same year, 1926, the Boy Scout's Interracial Service was created, as a program to boost racial diversity. Harris was named the director. He also oversaw the creation of the first all-Native American Boy Scout Troop. In 1927, Boy's Life credited Harris with starting the first scout troop for Mexican-American boys. Harris worked diligently to raise funds to employ African-American staff members and the purchase of camping facilities for African American scouts.
In recognition of his work, Tuskegee Institute awarded Harris an honorary doctorate in 1942, the first ever given by the school to a caucasian. In 1955, the scout camp in Greenville, Tenn., was named in his honor: Camp Stanley Harris.
Harris retired from Scouting in 1947 and returned to the mountain. His wife and children had maintained a permanent residence in Boone since the 1920s. However, he remained active, volunteering with different nonprofit groups, including the chamber of commerce, Rotary, Watauga County United Fund, Watauga Hospital and Southern Appalachian Historical Association.
In 1975, Harris celebrated his 92nd birthday. He considered himself the “world's oldest living Boy Scout.” Boone declared a “Stanley Harris Day” and honored him with a birthday party at the National Guard Armory. Newspapers across the country, as far away as California, ran articles on Harris, and many sent letters of appreciation, including President Gerald Ford, who wrote, “My own special commendation for many hours you unselfishly devoted to the young people of your country.” Soon thereafter, Harris moved to a retirement center in Greensboro, where he passed away on Aug. 13, 1976. He is interred in Boone.
Harris's legacy lives on, and he was recently the recipient of additional accolades. Family, friends and Scouts from the area gathered in Boone on Saturday, Nov. 20, 2010, to dedicate a North Carolina Highway Historical Marker near the site where Harris once lived. Many individuals spoke during the program, including scouts, former scouts and even Harris's son-in-law, Glenn Farthing. Though the marker is appropriate for Boone, it might as easily have been placed in Montezuma in Avery County.
Avery County is blessed with numerous and active Scouting organizations. The next time some of our local scouts are marching at a parade or volunteering at some community event, take a moment to reflect on Stanley Harris, one of the founders of Boy Scouts of America, who once called Avery County home.