Local Family’s Four Generations of Eagle Scouts Make Positive Difference in Lives of Young People

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From left: Graham Lenker, Dr. Bill Lenker, and Dr. Rob Lenker.

The Boy Scouts of America began serving the youth of this country more than 109 years ago.

The Chester County Council, Boy Scouts of America has successfully served the families of Chester County since Jan. 19, 1919, making it one of the oldest and one of the most successful councils in the nation.

“Our council has many assets, but topping the list has always been our dedicated volunteers who give so much of their time, talent, and resourcefulness,” said Jeff Spencer, the council’s Scout Executive/CEO.

There are several Chester County families who can trace their roots to Scouting back for more than 100 years. The Lenker family is one such family, marking its involvement back through four generations of active Scouters.

The family’s story begins with Forrest Lenker, who was born in 1899 and was a lifelong Scouter. Forrest spent his career as a teacher at Radnor High School, where he taught science. He took his knowledge and love of science to Camp Horseshoe, where he developed and ran the Nature Department for more than 20 years. Today, nature study is still offered to summer-campers at both Camp Horseshoe and also Camp John H. Ware III, the two properties that comprise Horseshoe Scout Reservation on the border of Pennsylvania and Maryland. They are owned and operated by the Chester County Council, BSA.

Forrest was also very involved with Devon Troop 50 in 1951, when he was instrumental in helping the troop to acquire the land now known as Camp Jarvis, and was involved with building the Browning Lodge on this site. Both of Forrest’s sons, William (Bill) and Robert (Bob), achieved their Eagle Rank at Devon Troop 50, and both worked at Camp Horseshoe as young Scouts.

Forrest’s youngest son, Dr. Bill Lenker, who practiced dentistry in the area for many years, also remained active in the Scouting program throughout his life. He served as an adult leader with Willistown Troop 78 when his son Rob joined the unit, marking the third generation of the Lenkers to become a Scout. While with the troop, Bill organized two European Trips, five Virgin Island advantages, and led or participated in at least 42 Algonquin Park canoe trips. As a tribute to Bill, a memorial has been placed in that park by his friends.

Dr. Lenker’s commitment to the positive development of the youth of the Chester County Council is reflected in the quality of the council’s First Aid Meet, which he developed, organized, and ran for more than 40 years. He also helped to raise the funds necessary to build two troop cabins, one for Willistown Troop 78 and another for Devon Troop 50. In 1994, Dr. Lenker was recognized by the Chester County Council, Board of Directors with the Silver Beaver Award, the highest award a local BSA council can bestow upon a Scouting volunteer, for his years of service.

Dr. Robert (Rob) Lenker, the third generation of active Scouters from the family, came back as an active unit volunteer as an Assistant Scoutmaster in 2004, when his son Graham joined Devon Troop 50. Rob has continued his involvement with Devon Troop 50, where he is currently an Assistant Scoutmaster and a Trustee. He began working with the council’s First Aid Meet in 2004 and took over running the event when his dad became ill and has continued to make this event one of the best held First Aid Meets in the country.

When Graham Lenker joined Devon Troop 50 in 2004, he became the fourth generation of Lenkers to wear the Scouting uniform and become an active Scouter. When he became the troop’s 290th Scout to earn the coveted Eagle Scout Award, he continued the tradition of having an Eagle Scout in each of the past four generations of Lenkers.

However, this family didn’t leave its commitment to making a positive difference in the lives of young people to the men in the family. Dr. Bill Lenker’s wife, Carol, was actively involved in the Girl Scouts of the USA, beginning as a Girl Scout and continuing as an adult volunteer. She has held several leadership positions within the council for more than 20 years.

Click here to learn more about the Chester County Council, Boy Scouts of America.

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