Farmington Hills Scout Troop Celebrates 50 Years

Tim Schafer became a Boy Scout in 1961 and only by chance became a member of Troop 263. 

On Saturday, he and other Scouts, parents and leaders celebrated the troop's 50th anniversary with a dinner and program at . The troop is sponsored by .

Schafer said the troop came into being when another formed in the area got too big. "Because of geography, I wound up going with 263, and I'm glad I did," Schafer said. 

He and others who spoke during Saturday's anniversary party attribute the troop's longevity and success to Scouts, leaders and parents working together. Scoutmaster Rick Medlen, who started in Scouting more than 40 years ago, has led the troop for 17 years. 

"It's something I've always enjoyed, is being around good people," he said. Medlen became an Eagle Scout in 1971; his sons Jason and Jeffrey are among more than 100 Troop 263 Eagle Scouts.

The high honor, earned in part through completing a community service project, can pay off in a number of ways, even in the business world, Medlen said. One of his sons had that experience when he applied for a job and discovered two of the company's board members were Eagle Scouts.

"When people see on an application that you're an Eagle Scout, they tend to give you a second look," Medlen said.

Schafer was among the troop's first Eagle Scouts, having achieved the rank in 1968. He said the skills, morals and character building he picked up through scouting "had a bigger affect on me as life went on." Now a retired engineer, Schafer volunteers at the University of Michigan botanical gardens and arboretum. 

Medlen said the troop has 35 active members, and he tries to keep things interesting with lots of exciting activities, from winter camping to whitewater rafting. In fact, Troop 263 is known as "The Action Troop". 

The Saturday evening festivities included the presentation of a proclamation from Farmington Hills city council member Ken Massey, also an Eagle Scout. Parent Lynn Aleman presented Medlen with a hand-made quilt commemorating his years of service.