Troop 861's First Scoutmaster.
Louis Milsted
Louis Milsted at Brownsea Island camp, site of Lord Baden-Powell's first Boy Scout camp.
Troop 861 was founded by Louis Milsted in spring of 1961. "When we started, I remember asking Bill Genszler [the pastor at First United Lutheran Church at the time]; 'is it okay if we have a troop', he said; 'yeah, as long as it's a good one.' Dick Linde and I said 'we're going to do it by the book." That they did, and it has been a good one. Mr. Milsted has been a mentor and an inspiration to many Scouts.
Louis Milsted has been involved in Scouting for over 70 years. He began his Scouting path, in Madison, WI. He was a Boy Scout in Troop 31. In 1952, he earned the Eagle Scout award. He was Lodge Chief for the Tichora Lodge of the Order of the Arrow in 1953. Louis served on camp staff at Camp Tichora on Green Lake.
Mr. Milsted served as Troop 861's Scoutmaster for 26 years, 1961-1987. As Scoutmaster, he saw an impressive 150 Scouts earn Eagle Scout. He served on staff for 10 National Jamborees, from 1964 to 2010. In 1971, he participated in Scouting's premier leadership course for Scout leaders, Wood Badge, at Region Seven Canoe Base. He immediately became a member of the following year's staff, and has provided leadership in a total of 11 Wood Badge courses. He twice served at course director and course adviser. Louis was a member of the Regional Camp Visitation team from 2002-2008. He has served in numerous capacities for the Bay Lakes Council. Louis has been honored for his service to Scouting with the District Award of Merit, Lamb Award, the Distinguished Scoutmaster Award, Order of the Arrow Vigil Honor, the Silver Beaver for distinguished service to the council, and most recently with the Silver Antelope, the BSA's highest award for service on the Region level. Of this latest award he stated; "This is a thrilling development and I find that I have a case of terminal goose pimples when I think about it."
Mr. Milsted in his 1964 National Jamboree uniform. Green Bar Bill with Louis Milsted at the Bay Lakes Council 10th Anniversary Encampment at Road America in 1983.
The Vision.
As told by Louis Milsted, June 1986.
"It was an 11 year old , 12 year old Scout named Louis Milsted, at his first camporee in Stoughton, Wisconsin. He stood at the banks of the Yahara River, and waited. And sooner or later came two canoes with the Eagle Scouts of his troop, and it was at that moment the goose pimples that I had on my arms and legs, that I have right now, that I knew that thing in Scouting that was in that handbook, the message that was there, and pictures that Norman Rockwell made were real for me. And some where back inside here (his head), I said to myself; 'you're going to do Scouting, Milsted.' That wasn't exactly the way I said it to myself but that was the intent. And that's what I've tried to do in Scouting. That's where the vision came from, on the banks of the Yahara River watching some Eagle Scouts canoe from Madison to Stoughton to attend a camporee."
"Why do I Scoutmaster? The answer is simple, it's a calling of Christian stewardship. That's what it is, in a program that helps build citizenship, character, and fitness."
Milsted with his sons (Dirk on the left and Lance on the right ) Milsted with Green Bar Bill at the Bay Lakes at the Troop 861 Fall Court of Honor in 1987, both are Eagle Scouts. Council's 15th Anniversary Encampment in 1988.