Yustaga Lodge #385 History

THE HISTORY OF YUSTAGA LODGE 385

Due to the foresight and efforts of Ted Childress and Norman Savelle, Field Scout Executives of the Gulf Coast Council, a chief and eleven braves from the Alibamu Lodge #179, Tukabatchee Area Council of Montgomery, Alabama came to the Gulf Coast Council's Camp Big Heart on May 21-22, 1948 to organize a local Order of the Arrow lodge. While here, they bestowed upon 24 Scouts and Scouters the title of Honor Camper and member of the Order of the Arrow. The charter members of Yustaga Lodge were: Thurston A. Shell, Jack Shreve, Fred Polhemus, Glen Ivey, Ray Kelly, Wallace King, Bo Sharpless, Bill Stewart, Oswald Geiger, Cecil Sewell, Ed Nowak, DeWitt Thompson, Albert Pledger, Lamar Henderson, Tiller Phillips, Charles Dial, Captain Wayne Sage, Robert Smith, Ed Crowe, Melvin Hatcher, Harry Sampley, Cdr. H.M. McDowell, Norman Savelle, and Ted Childress.

At a lodge meeting on May 22, 1948 the first lodge officers were elected. They were: Chief: Thurston A. Shell, Scribe: Bo Sharpless, and Treasurer: Albert Pledger.

The first Order of the Arrow business meeting was called to order by Netami Sakima (Chief) T.A. Shell at Camp Big Heart on September 11, 1948. The first item of business was to select a lodge name. The name, Yustaga, was chosen and was unanimously accepted by the lodge. The Osprey (fish hawk) was selected as lodge totem, and green and white as the lodge colors (this was later changed to gold and white). The name Yustaga comes from a small Florida tribe that was a part of the Creek nation. Translated, the words mean "Drinkers of the Fire Water."

The first area conference was held in 1952. Yustaga hosted the V-A conference in 1953 at the Naval Air Station in Pensacola. The lodge's first Vigil Honor member was inducted there: Richard Ploss was named, "HUN DA YE'LI" (White Quiver). The same year Yustaga held its Fellowship at Camp Big Heart on December 4.

The lodge bulletin, the "Osprey", was first published in 1957 as a quarterly newsletter. The first lodge banquet was hosted by Perdido Bay chapter on May 16, 1957.

The first Spring Fellowship was held at Camp Robbins, April 11-12, 1958. In 1959, Yustaga donated a chrome plated engraved axe to the area to originate the "Mr. Friendly Axe" award.

Fred Nowak of Yustaga became V-A's area chief for 1960. Yustaga hosted the 1962 V-A Conference for the first time at the newly opened Camp Euchee. Since 1964, the area has been changed from V-A to V-E. The area was composed of six lodges covering most of Alabama and Northwest Florida. Conferences are held yearly, usually in April, and are hosted by different lodges on a rotation basis. Yustaga has a reputation for exceptionally good conferences.

In 1963, Yustaga Lodge won first place at the Campfire Fair at the National OA Conference with "Survival in Nylon." In 1968, the lodge again hosted the V-E Conference at Camp Euchee and won the award for being the outstanding lodge of the area. This award was again won in 1969.

On May 23, 1970, the lodge building "Henson Hall" was dedicated in memory of Herb Henson, Jr., who had lost his life in a tragic car wreck.

In 1971, Yustaga won the Outstanding Lodge in the area and was named as a National Standard Lodge for the first time. In 1972, Yustaga left the old V-E section to become a part of the new Section 6 and won the Outstanding Lodge award again. The lodge continued to earn Standard Lodge Recognition through 1978. In 1974 and 1975,

Yustaga was awarded the E. Urner Goodman Camping Award, one of two in the Southeast region and one of twelve nationally. Yustaga hosted the 1976 Section 6 Conference at Camp Euchee that was noted as exceptionally outstanding.

In 1982, Yustaga Lodge was transferred back to SE-3 and won the "Mr. Friendly Axe" award at the Sectional Conference.

In 1983, our past Lodge Chief, Kit Outlaw, became the first Yustaga Lodge member to become an officer of our new section. He was elected as the Vice-Chief of SE-3. The 1983 Section Conference was held at Camp Euchee.

In 1984, a new chapter, Osceola, was brought into our lodge. The reason for the new chapter was the splitting of the old Esca-Rosa district, which created the new Five Flags and Blackwater districts.

In 1989, Scott Broughton was elected SE-3 Section Chief.

In 1991, Yustaga Lodge hosted the Section Conclave at Camp Euchee. Lodge Chief Chad Hartley was elected Section Secretary.

In 1993, the first SR-8 Conclave was held at Camp Alaflo in Enterprise, Alabama. Yustaga was named Best All-Around Lodge@ at the Conclave.

In 1996, Yustaga's NOAC contingent was awarded First Place for Authenticity, Third Place Overall in Dance, and National Honor Recognition in Ceremony. Awarded at conclave: 1996 Section Dance Champions, Section 1st Place Allowat Sakima, 1st Place Kichkinet.

History 2

Yustaga Lodge #385
Chartered to Gulf Coast Council #773, Pensacola, FL

Yustaga Lodge #385 of the Gulf Coast Council held its first Ordeal May 21-22, 1948 at Camp Big Heart in Pensacola, Florida.
Twenty-four Scouts and Scouters received their Ordeal, they were:

Ted Childers
Wallace King
Norman Savelle
Ed Crowe
H. M. McDowell
Cecil Savelle
Charles Dial
Ed Nowak
Bo Sharpless
Oswald Geiger
Tiller Phillips
Thurston A. Shell
Melvin Hatcher
Albert Pledger
Jack Shreve
Lamar Henderson
Fred Polhemus
Robert Smith
Glen Ivey
Wayne Sage
Bill Stewart
Ray Kelly
Harry Sampley
DeWitt Thompson

Thurston A. Shell was elected Chief; Bo Sharpless, scribe; and Albert Pledger, treasurer. Eleven members from Alibamu Lodge # 179 conducted the Ordeal. The name Yustaga, meaning "Drinkers of the Fire Water", comes from a small tribe of Creek Indians which lived in the area. The Lodge totem, the Osprey, was selected because of the large number of these birds which inhabit the area. The colors green and white were chosen as Lodge colors, but were later changed to gold and white.

Yustaga has attended every Area Conference since the beginning in 1952. Twenty-four members of Yustaga Lodge attended the 1952 Conference where Richard Plass became Yustaga's first Vigil Honor.

Yustaga has hosted the Area Conference four times; in 1953 at Pensacola Naval Air Station, and 1962, 1968, and 1983 at Camp Euchee.

The following members of Yustaga Lodge have served the Section by becoming Section officers:

1953 Jack Haskins - Vice Chief
1959 Bill Kennedy - Vice Chief
1960 Fred Kowak - Vice Chief
1961 Fred Nowak - Chief
1964 Larry Cravy - Vice Chief
1968 Gerald Smith - Chief
1970 Jack Leahey - Vice Chief
1984 Kit Outlaw - Vice Chief
1989 Scott Broughton - Chief

In 1954 six members of Yustaga attended the National O.A. Conference in Laramie, Wyoming.

During the Weekend of April 11-12, 1956, Yustaga held its first annual Spring Fellowship at Camp Robbins.

In 1957 Yustaga held its first Lodge banquet, also the "Osprey", the Lodge newsletter was initiated,
being published quarterly. During the summer, 77 Ordeal members were inducted into the Lodge

On May 2-4, 1958, 71 members of the Lodge attended the Area Conference at Camp Zinn, near
Anniston, Alabama. In 1958 Yustaga inducted 113 Ordeal members into the Lodge.

At the 1959 V-A Conference, Yustaga Lodge donated a chrome plated axe, establishing the "Mr Axe" Award.
The "Mr Axe " Award would be given to the "Most Friendly Lodge" each year at the Area Conference.

During the year of 1959 Yustaga Lodge inducted 140 Ordeal and 50 Brotherhood members into the Order.

In 1960, 73 members of the Lodge attended the Area Conference at Camp Indlan Valley, and 11 members of
the Lodge attended the National O. A. Conference held at the University of Indiana, in Bloomington.

At the 1963 NOAC, Yustaga won first place in the Campfire Fair, with "Survival in Nylon".
The seven members of the Lodge which attended were: Bruce Brown, Bob Chellburg, Roland Deaton,
Roland Deaton Jr., Jeff Meeker, Chris Meyer, and Ferris Powell.

In 1964, 160 Ordeal, 85 Brotherhood, and eight Vigil Honor members were inducted into the Lodge. Lodge
membership reached 454 members.

In 1965, 50 members of Yustaga attended the Area Conference at Maubila Scout Reservation, near
Jackson, Alabama. In 1965, 204 Ordeal and 77 Brotherhood members were inducted into the Lodge.

On April 30, May 1-2, 1966, 47 members of Yustaga Lodge attended the Area Conference held at Comer
Scout Reservation in Mentone, Alabama. During the summer of 1966 Yustaga inducted 173 Ordeal,
49 Brotherhood, and six Vigil Honor members into the Lodge.

The year 1967 will be remembered as the year of the great "Buffalo Barbeque". Mr. Clive Jenkins
arranged to have Buffalo meat shipped from Wyoming for this gourmet feast.

From 1968 through 1972 Yustaga Lodge was awarded the E. Urner Goodman Award for being the
Outstanding Lodge in the Area.

In 1970, 50 members of the Lodge attended the Area Conference at Comer Scout Reservation in
Mentone, Alabama. In May 1970, Yustaga named their OA Lodge "Henson Hall", in memory of
Mr. Herb Henson, Jr., who died in an automobile accident.

ln 1972 Yustaga received the rating of National Standard Lodge for the first time. Yustaga continued
to earn this rating until 1978.

In 1974 and 1975 Yustaga received the E. Urner Goodman Camping Award.

From 1973 to 1982 Yustaga was shifted out of Alabama V-E Section to the new Section Six. In 1982 Yustaga
returned yo the Alabama SE-3 where they remain today.

The Gulf Coast Council includes Conecuh, Escambia, and Monroe counties in Alabama, and Calhoun,
Escambia, Holmes, Jackson, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Walton, and Washington counties in Florida.

Our Lodge Totem, the majestic OSPREY