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Tuesday, August 26, 2008
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Troop leader leaving Hoffmann of Baxter a Scouting mainstay Staff Writer Louie Hoffmann of Baxter didn't hesitate years ago to have his son Ross, now 26, join the Boy Scouts of America.
And it didn't take Hoffmann long to get involved as a troop leader. Hoffmann has been the leader of Troop No. 45 in Brainerd for nearly 20 years. He has decided to leave his post effective Sept. 1.
"It's time for me to step down and let other parents step up and lead the Boy Scouts," Hoffmann said last week during a break at his job as manager of the SuperAmerica in Brainerd. "We need fresh blood and new ideas.
"Even though I'm leaving, it doesn't mean I'm leaving the Boy Scouts. You never quit Scouting until you die."
Hoffmann, 57, said there are many good candidates to replace him, otherwise he wouldn't leave his leadership position. The next troop leader has not yet been chosen. Hoffmann said his assistant Scout leader, Russ Friebohle, who has helped him tremendously over the years, will continue his role with the Boy Scouts.
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Louie Hoffmann walked through the woods last week near his home in Baxter. Hoffmann, who has been the leader of Troop No. 45 in Brainerd for nearly 20 years, has decided to leave his post effective Sept. 1. Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls
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Hoffmann, who was a Boy Scout as a child, said he continued to be involved as a Boy Scout leader, even after his son graduated as an Eagle Scout at age 18, because of the "sense of fulfillment he felt seeing the boys achieve what they can achieve."
Hoffmann said his son, Ross, started out a Tiger Cub in first grade and all the parents helped lead the group because there wasn't a main leader. The next year, his son moved up to be a Cub Scout and another parent, Colleen Dehler, volunteered Hoffmann to lead the group and he agreed. Hoffmann said he was a den leader for four years and then he became a Scout leader.
Almost 20 years later, Hoffmann has guided about 150 boys between the ages of 11-18. Hoffmann said of those boys, 15 of them became Eagle Scouts, the top rank a Boy Scout may achieve before age 18.
"This is one of the highlights of my Scout leading career," said Hoffmann. "I'm proud of them. To become an Eagle Scout they have to do something that will better the community."
Hoffmann said it was about 15 years ago when he had his first student earn the Eagle Scout rank. He said this Scout didn't think he could do it, but he accomplished his project and earned the rank 10 days before his 18th birthday. Today, this Scout is a police officer in the Brainerd lakes area.
As a troop leader, Hoffmann said he's responsible for training the Scouts to become leaders. Hoffmann said he's there to support and encourage them through the process to make the right decisions. Hoffmann said in Boy Scouts, boys learn how to be comfortable in an outdoor environment.
Hoffmann said of all the skills the Scouts learned under his direction, the one lesson he hopes they learned was how to treat people.
Hoffmann said he continues to see many of the former Boy Scouts who he used to lead and he anticipates that this will not change. Hoffmann said many Scouts come to visit him to let him know about their lives, like stopping by to tell him that they're getting married or they're going to college. Hoffmann said three of his Boy Scouts were deployed to Iraq and have since returned home.
"The bond you make in Boy Scouts will never end," said Hoffmann. "I never lose track of the Scouts I've had."
JENNIFER STOCKINGER may be reached at jennifer.stockinger@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5851.
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