In the year 1915 an organization was established, by the Boy Scouts of America, that was intended to offer an opportunity to honor those who have best exemplified the ideals of scouting. This is a secret organization known as the Order of the Arrow and was first organized in Chisholm Trail Council at Camp Tonkawa in July, 1945, by Claude Willis. After the initial organization, the first two Scouts elected as candidates were Bob Haynie and Earl Gultar, Jr., both of Abilene. The Camp Tonkawa group is known as the Kotso Lodge Chapter of the Order of the Arrow. Its purpose is to recognize those campers, who best exemplify the Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives, and by such recognition cause others to conduct themselves in such a manner as to warrant recognition. The order of the Arrow further strives to promote a feeling of brotherhood and friendship among members of the lodge, thereby promoting unity within the Chisholm Trail Council.

The service crew, serving Camp Tonkawa summer camp in 1945, made up the first Order of the Arrow group. An organization was started with George Foster, Jr., acting as lodge chief and Claude Willis serving as advisor. The first two boys chosen for the new organization were Bob Eaynie and Earl Ouitar, Jr., both of Abilene. The only time the Order of the Arrow accepts new members is in summer camp. A boy can not join without invitation, but must be chosen by his fellow campers to be honored by membership. From the humble beginning in 1945, the Order of the Arrow began to expand. The editor of the Coleman Democrat Voice in 1945 stated in headlines that eight Coleman County Boy Scouts had been chosen for membership in the Order of the Arrow.

The Order of the Arrow is the honor camper’s society at Camp Tonkawa. A small percent of the campers are selected each season for membership. Each member has proven himself to be an outstanding camper. The new members are Billy Stephenson, Walter Gordon, Danny Howell, Don Day, Dan Brown, Orin Newman, Bennie Bass, and Duane Boredook. Other members are Jerry Howell, Tony Willeke, Leonard Ehrler, Joe Cervanka, and Carl Fleming, Jr.

George Foster, Jr., made a successful lodge chief and under his direction, the Kotso Lodge rapidly justified the recognition and praise that the Order of the Arrow was receiving. In 1947, Caldwell Beckham was elected as the new lodge chief, but Paul Ielan immediately declared himself as lodge chief and gave Beckham a new title. This action, by the scout executive, was not legal and the Order of the Arrow became a political springboard for the scout executive until 1948. When Robert C. Claw became scout executive in August ,1948, one of his first actions was to turn the Order of the Arrow program back to the boys.

McDaniel (Smokey) Ward was elected lodge chief to follow Caldwell Beckham. Ward was an excellent chief, however, part of his administration was under the handicapped conditions forced upon the lodge by Paul Ireland. Troy Boone, the present lodge chief was elected to succeed McDaniel Ward. Troy has worked with a free hand in promoting the Order of the Arrow, and has received help and encouragement form the council office. Camp Tonkawa is now and Order of the Arrow operated camp.

A function of the Order of the Arrow is to develop and maintain camp tradition and spirit, and to promote year-round scout camping. The members of the Order of the Arrow have established many traditions and made man improvements at Camp Tonkawa. The original council fire ring was located on the hill, near the present flagpole. In 1946, members of the Order of the Arrow cleared a place south of the mess hall near the old dirt swimming pool, for a council fire ring. During the last two weeks of the 1952 summer camp, the members of the Order of the Arrow moved the council fire ring back to the hill, and a short distance west of the flagpole. Members of the Order of the Arrow built the large observation tower near the swimming pool. The highlight of any week’s, in summer camp, is the program for Thursday night, This night is set aside for the Order of the Arrow “calling out” ceremony. The Boy Scouts do not know who is to be honored that night, therefore, they are in a state of surprise. The members, of the Order of the Arrow, dressed in their Indian outfits*, stage a colorful induction ceremony. The “Indians” come from the hills from four directions, representing the spirits of the north, south, east, and west. A number of dances are performed around campfires back in the hills. Three or four hundred visitors attend these ceremonies on Thursday night. Many people take their smaller children to camp on Thursday night, in order o them to see the “Indians” in their outfits*

The members of the Order of the Arrow study Indian traditions. The organization follows a pattern copied from the Indians. The lodge has a traveling library of books dealing with Indian dancing an traditions. Each lodge member makes and Indian outfit of his own design. He learns the Indian dance steps and through the year he enjoys meeting the other fellows, around a camp fire, and practicing the Indian dances. Each new member selects, for himself, an Indian name chosen because of some outstanding event that happened while he was in camp.

*the original book said “costumes” but our lodge deems in politically incorrect therefore the term "outfit" has been used.

Mike Bonine, Jon King, and Dow Patterson, while over at Mike's upstairs (over-the-garage) bedroom designed the first Kotso patch.  Here is his story:

"In the summer of 1956, we formed up a small contingent to attend the Area Conclave at Camp Karankawa just outside of Corpus Christi.  Mr. Jack Lanier, now deceased but a longtime Scouter (I served as Allow at his Vigil Honor ceremony), drove a borrowed school bus (yellow with Wylie School District painted on the side) loaded with some fifteen of us Kotso Lodge Arrowmen.  One of the many things we were impressed with at that conclave - the first such event that Kotso Lodge had ever attended in Area 9-D - was the various lodges and their flap-patches.  Karankawa, Aina Topa Hutsi, several lodges there had more than just the (our) usual fare: the OA button ribbon medallion, and while a lot simpler than what we have today, those flap 'things' were just so beautiful!

"We just had to have one for Kotso!

"So, the three of got to work after we got back home from the trip.

"Yes, the design was literally formed by a committee of three.  The buffalo (Mike like to call it a Bison) superimposed over the red arrow element (several comments about which direction it should point) and the background material of the patch itself (we wanted it to match our regular Camp Tonkawa summer camp patch except instead of the black thread embroidered edge like the camp patch, we wanted it to be red for the flap-patch) with the WWW's inserted along with Chisholm Trail Council and "Kotso," we had our patch!  The second year we found out that we need to add the lodge number which we simply overlaid on Mike's Bison."

The 30th Anniversary pocket flap and jacket patches were designed by Charles R. Moon (Vigil '91) and Mr. Swinson.

Kotso Lodge annually  presents the Lanier Trophy to an outstanding member of the Kotso Dance Team.  This trophy is named for John H. and Mike Lanier who were instrumental to beginning and building the dance team.  John H. Lanier was Scoutmaster of Troop 13 and had organized an Indian Dance Team.  this troop team put on early dances at the Thursday evening campfires to assist the Lodge with its "calling out" ceremony until such time as the Lodge developed its own dancers under the direction of John H. Lanier.

Because of the requirement that the Lodge have a Vigil Arrowman to conduct its first Vigil Ceremony, it was October 20, 1956, before the first Vigil Honor candidates were inducted.  This was made possible by the arrival of James H. Culwell as a District Executive in Chisholm Trail Council.  Jim had received his Vigil Honor in another Lodge before his arrival in Abilene.

The first candidates were Joe Ed Burnam, Coleman, youth, and adults, Henry H. McGinty, Abilene; H. D. Norris, Sweetwater; and J. Ben Sellers, Camp Ranger, Camp Tonkawa. (Note:  There is some disagreement as to who exactly received the Vigil Honor first.  One letter from Wallar Overton in 1995, stated that Ed Burnam and Ben Sellers went to another lodge and received their Vigil, and that these two were actually responsible for bringing the Vigil Honor to the Kotso Lodge.)

The second Vigil induction was held October 27, 1957, and honored Edwin Burnam, Coleman, Camp Director of summer camp for several years; Claude "Skipper" Willis, Abilene, Waterfront Director of summer camps for several years; and one youth, name unknown.

Ken Baker - 1963 Area 9-D Vice Chief
Dr. Joe Bob Alexander -
    1968-69 Area 9-D Chief
    1969 National OA Conference Vice-Chief
    1977-85 National OA Committee
    1975 OA Distinguished Service Award
Dr. Joe Paul Alexander -
    1970-80 Area 9-D Adviser
    1980-85 SC4A Section Adviser
    1977 OA Distinguished Service Award
Alan Reed - 1973 Area 9-D Chief
Brad Wade - 1979-80 Section 4 Chief
Cary Roberts -
    1983-84 Section 4 Secretary
    1984-85 Section 4 Vice Chief
    April, 1985 - December 1985 Section 4 Chief
    December 1985 - December 1987 National Vice Chief
    1988 OA Distinguished Servie Award
Brad Hood - 1989-90 Section 4 Chief
Craig Conover - 1994-95 Section 2 Chief
John Vann - 1998-1999 Section 2 Chief

The most important youth leader of a lodge is the Lodge Chief.  They are responsible foring seeing that the Lodge runs
smoothly and, with a group of officers, carries out the various projects, ceremonies and activities of the lodge during their term
of office.

1945 - George Foster, Jr. (7/45-12/45)
1946 - George Foster, Jr.
1947 - Caldwell Beckham
1948 - McDaniel  "Smokey" Ward
1949 - Troy Boone
1950 - Troy Boone
1951
1952
1953
1954
1955 - Joe Ed Burnam
1956 - Joe Ed Burnam
1957 - Dow Patterson
1958 - Dow Patterson
1959
1960 - Will Cannon?
1961 - Danny Sample?
1962
1963 - Geraold Franklin
1964 - David Balley
1965 - Russell Dressen
1966 - Robert H. "Bob" Roeder
1967 - Joe Bob Alenander (1/67-9/67)
1967-68 - Woddy Pyeatt, Jr.
1968-69 - Alan Reed
1969-70
1970-71 - Carl Ray Childers
1971-72 - Ralph Malone
1972-73 - Dan Alexander
1973-74 - Bruce Cain
1975-76 - Sam S. Allen
1976-77 - Jerry McLoughlin
1977-78 - Brent Dixon
1978-79 - Brad Wade
1979-80 - Bruce A. McCullough
1980-81 James Pelton
1981-82 - Russell Johnson
1982-83 - Kyle Wolfe
1983-84 - Cary Roberts
1984-85 - Cary Roberts
1985-86 - Joe D. Hulett
1987-88 - David Roberts
1988-89 - Brad Hood
1989-90 - Greg Keeney
1990-91 - Randall Presley
1991-92 - Kolby Davidson
1992-93 - Charles W. Moon
1993-94 - Phillip Lewis (and Craig Condvor)
1994-95 - Jeremy Moon
1995-96 - Nathan Moore
1996-97 - John Vann
1997-98 - John Vann and Robert (Bobby) Schoen
1998-99 - Robert (Bobby) Schoen
1999-00 - Ryan Byrd
2000-01 - Judson (Jud) Cole
2001-02 - Bill McAnally
2002-03 - Michael Truelove

Over the years many great Scouters served as Adviser for Kotso Lodge. They have given of their time, their talents and their
knowledge to guide the officers of the Lodge to insure that the very best program of cheerful service was rendered to others.
A list of known advisers and when they served includes:

First Adviser - Claude "Skipper" Willis
Unknown - Ed Burnam
1956-58 - Jim Culwell
Unknown - John H. "Jack" Lanier
1966-68 - Hugh Colbert
1969-73 - Dr. Joe Paul Alexander
1974-75 - Carl Childers
1975-76 - Wayne Barnett
1977-80 - Joe Knupple
1980-81 - William H. Adams, Sr.
1981-84 - Bill J. Dulin
1984-65 - Ron Davis
1985-86 - Donn Noland
1987-89 - Billy M. Hood
1989-90 - Mike V. Lanier
1990-91 - Jay Davidson
1991-93 - Charles R. Moon
1993-96 - S. Kent Phillips
1997-98 - James "Skip" Dothrow
1999-00 - Donn Noland
2000-01 - S. Kent Phillips
2001-02 - Dr. Joe B. Alenander
2002-03 - Aivars Jurkis

The lodge has hosted four OA Section Conclaves over the years  They are:

1960 - Area 9-D, Camp Tonkawa
1967 - Area 9-D, Camp Tonkawa
1980 - Area 4A Conclave, Abilene Christian University
2001 - SR2 Conclave, April, Camp Tonkawa

We want to thank Matthew Fenner, Vice-Chief of Service, and Dr. Joe B. Alexander, Adviser, Kotso Lodge, for providing us with this information on the Lodge.  We know there might be some errors but this is the best information we have at this time.

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Current as of 01/02/2005