Newspaper Page Text
Scout leader
honored for 65
years of service
By Hanis Biackwood
Forsyth County News
There wasn’t a Boy Scout
program in Gene Bobo’s
hometown of Graycourt, S.C.
But when he came to
Gainesville in 1938, he began
a relationship with scouting
that has continued for 65
years.
Bobo was scoutmaster of
Troop 26 at First Baptist
Church of Gainesville from
1939 to 1958. On a recent
Saturday, more than three
dozen of his former scouts
gathered at the church for a
surprise event to honor the
longtime scout leader.
The “boys” who learned
the fundamentals of scouting
under Bobo’s leadership are
now men in their 50s and 60s.
The group includes physi
cians. attorneys, business
executives, and at least two
who spent their career as mili
tary officers.
Bobo. 86, moved here after
graduating from what was
then known as Clemson
College. He joined the staff of
Best Manufacturing, a compa
ny which processed raw silk
into ladies’ hosiery. A year
after moving to Gainesville, he
was approached about becom
ing scoutmaster of the First
Baptist troop.
In 1942, he left for three
years of wartime service in the
military. Upon his return, he
was asked to resume his duties
as scoutmaster. He accepted
and was joined by longtime
Gainesville banker James
Mathis Sr.
During his tenure, the troop
produced a record 10 Eagle
Scouts in a single year. Since
its formation, there have been
more than 200 Eagle Scouts
from Troop 26.
Garland Reynolds, a
Gainesville architect, was a
member of the post war group.
“The thing I remember
most is that he did not discrim
inate or have favorites among
the troop,” said Reynolds.
"This was in an era when it
was a big deal who your daddy
was and what your family did.”
He said the veteran scout
master was a surrogate father
for some.
“I was one of those guys
whose father paid little atten
tion to him, and he was a
father figure to me and several
others.”
The list of alumni from
troop 26 includes a number of
men who have achieved suc
cess in their profession. The
group includes Dr. Jim Lilly, a
Gainesville psychologist, who
was also a colonel in the Air
Force; Leonard Parks, a
retired Navy captain; Carl
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In 1957-
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Bobo
58, Bobo served as president
of the Northeast Georgia Boy
Scout Council. Following his
term, he accepted a position in
Charlotte, N.C., where he lived
until 1973. While in Charlotte,
he served on the executive
board for the Mecklenberg
County Boy Scout Council,
including a term as president.
Since returning to
Gainesville, he has served on
the Northeast Georgia Council
and presently serves as treasur
er. The Northeast Georgia
Council includes the Scout
troops in Forsyth County.
The tribute program was a
shock to Bobo, who thought he
was going to lunch with his
family. The longtime scout
leader fought back tears as he
walked into the room filled
with his former scouts, who
still referred to him as “Mr.
Bobo."
"To use the words of
today’s generation, this was
awesome," said Bobo. "This is
one of the most meaningful
events in my life. I have
received awards from
Scouting, but this was the most
personal expression I’ve ever
had."
He was presented with a
book of letters from many of
the Scouts who participated in
his troop during his tenure as
Scoutmaster.
Several of the scouts
learned a skill that was not
covered in the Scout handbook
babysitting. Bobo's son,
Ron, now a real estate investor,
was born during his father’s
service as Scoutmaster. In
addition to packing camping
gear, the trip to scout events
also included a crib for the
baby. His wife. Reba, who
passed away in 2001, served as
a mother to the troop, as well.
Bobo's other lifelong pur
suit. his career in the textile
industry, continues at a time
when most men his age are
retired.
“I go in to work every
morning,” he said. His compa
ny, Mallen Industries, main
tains a headquarters in
Norcross.
He also commutes weekly
to Pendergrass to the regional
scout headquarters to sign
checks and review the coun
cil’s finances.
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FORSYTH COUNTY NEWS Sunday, March 14,2004
PAGE 3B