Doug Edwards, Sr. is retiring as Scoutmaster of East McKeesport Boy Scout Troop 85, sponsored by St Robert Bellarmine Church after 33 years of service instilling the values of scouting to both young men and their parents. Doug’s scouts were able to partake in many scouting adventures including trips to Philadelphia, Gettysburg, Washington DC, Niagara Falls, Baltimore and Cleveland. They have back packed the Appalachian Trail, the Washington Trail, the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Rocky Mountains. They have canoed the Clarion River, the Allegheny River, the New River, and white water rafted the class 4 and 5 rapids of the New River Gorge
Doug always saw Scouting as an activity for the entire family. He organized family Scouting trips to Gettysburg, Virginia, Baltimore Washington D.C. and Philadelphia.
During his tenure, the number of scouts in the Troop fluctuated. At one point, when the troop was small, Doug and his family ran their own summer camp in Cook’s forest; camp Vickie Wickie. As the troop grew, so did the program. The troop traveled to Philmont Scout Reservation twice and Doug developed a rotating summer camp schedule in which the scouts would camp locally at the Heritage Scout Reservation in Fayette County, High Knoll in the Blue Ridge Mountains, and Spanish Peaks in Colorado.
Doug was born number 10 out of 13 children. His parent’s embraced the scouting values and the story evolved from there. His mother Carolyn became a Girl Scout leader and his father David “Coach” became the Scout Master of Troop 85. All seven of their sons became eagle scouts and all 6 of their daughters achieved the highest rank in Girl Scouts.
Doug’s scouting adventure began at the age of 7, when in 1970 he joined cub scouts as a bobcat. He earned his arrow of light and crossed over into scouting in 1974. In 1978 he earned the rank of Eagle Scout and joined the brotherhood of Troop 85 Eagle Scouts. When Doug turned 21, he became the Scoutmaster of Troop 85. In 1985, Doug married his wife Pam and they had 4 sons; Doug, Rob, Mike, and Tim.
In addition to Scoutmaster, Doug served as a Cub Scout den leader for 6 years while his wife also joined his scouting adventure as a Den Leader, Cub Master, then Assistant Scout Master.
Under Doug’s guidance, 60 boys advanced to the rank of Eagle Scout including his 4 sons and 8 nephews. He is extremely proud of the fact that 18% of the scouts who have joined Troop 85 become, Eagle Scouts. Since the new millennium, 50 % of this troop’s scouts have become Eagles. The national BSA average is 5%.
Doug has earned the Scouter’s Key and the District Award of Merit from the BSA. He was also recognized by the National Catholic Committee on Scouting and received the St. George Award and St Joan of Arc Award for contributing to the spiritual development of the scouts. Doug never thought much about receiving awards. He would always say, “It’s about the kids, not me”. Doug also always would say the troop could not have prospered without the help of amazing parents, brothers, sisters, family members, friends, Committee Chairmen, Assistant Scout Masters and Committee members. Through the years, all those who have helped the troop have become members of the troop 85 family and have become lifelong friends.
Doug has always believed in the scout oath and law and continues to live by the values of scouting in his everyday life as a father, grandfather, husband, brother, midget football, high school swim coach and paramedic.
Although Doug is retiring as scoutmaster, he plans to remain active with the troop as the committee member.