MONROE - The Boy Scout oath includes honoring God and country, obeying the Scout law, helping people at all times, and keeping yourself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight.
Those words are what Monroe resident Art Whipple lives by, and has for the more than seven decades he's spent Scouting and mentoring so many boys and young men in the area.
And, just like he has each Monday for as long as he can remember, Whipple heads to Scouts year round. He might be getting a little tired of sleeping on the ground and doesn't go on every trip anymore, but Scouting is something he has no plans to let go of.
Whipple was born in Albany but didn't stay long before his family moved to Monroe when he was 2, and he's been here ever since.
He has fond memories of rollerskating with friends and Fourth of July parties with his father's co-workers. He enjoyed growing up in town and has early memories of the hospital being built in 1938.
But most of Whipple's memories revolve around the hundreds of stories he has while either being a part of or leading Boy Scout groups in town. He's been a part of each one in one way or another and says it's being around the children that makes him never want to leave the organization that promotes character, outdoor activities, good citizenship and service to others.
At age 9, Whipple decided he wanted to join Cub Scouts. He had several friends also involved, and the experience was one he'll never forget. He recalls the names of each of his den leaders and den mothers - saying that Scouts has kept him surrounded by wonderful groups of both children and adults. Eventually, his father became an assistant Scoutmaster as well to his original Troop 101, the oldest in town.
"It's an experience I think everyone should have," he said.
Scouting was much different when Whipple was a youngster, and he's truly enjoyed watching the changes over the years. During his time, he has awesome memories of the Klondike Derby, where Scouts would make their own sleds and race. He even kept one of the sleds. He recalls first aid meets and big pots of mulligan stew with some questionable ways of stirring it. His childhood memories include camping with Scouts at Beckman Lake, Lake Le-Aqua-Na and many other local spots in the area. They took big trips to Scout camps in New Mexico and Indiana, to name a couple, and have endless memories of things that happened along the away.
When Whipple got older, Scouting seemed to fit right into his life. After high school, he became an Explorer Scout and started to lead other younger Scout groups right away. He worked his way up the ladder, but never did become an Eagle Scout since the requirement then included swimming - Whipple laughs when he says he simply couldn't float on his back.
It wasn't long before he married his wife, Letha, and had children. His first son, Toby, was considered the Scout mascot. By the time he was old enough to join, Toby was thrilled after spending considerable time already camping and doing other Scout activities.
Whipple recalls a time when a group headed to Canada on a rented bus that broke down so the group of Scouts had to sleep at a fairgrounds in the hog pens. They were well taken care of by community members and have fun stories to tell about it.
The stories are endless and it's clear in Whipple's eyes how much they mean to him. He said he's seen some amazing projects from Eagle Scouts and is always impressed by the young men who come forward to take on community improvements.
"We just got a great bunch of people," he said.
Whipple is responsible for starting Scout Troop 180 in Monroe as a group for Methodist church members. He's mentored 35 Eagle Scouts just through that troop alone.
Today he keeps in touch with several of the Scouts he's mentored. "It's kind of nice that they think so much of you," he said.
Whipple has served as the organizational representative for several years. He has served in every branch a volunteer can possibly serve and was once the neighborhood and district commissioner. He currently serves on the Eagle Board of Review where he approves projects before Scouts can start them. He is also a merit badge counselor for several badges.
The couple has three children: Toby, Ranele and Randy. Both boys were very involved in Scouts and Randy earned his Eagle Scout. Toby's son Ryan also earned Eagle Scout. Whipple's daughter, Ranele, married an Eagle Scout, Jim Connors. All were very proud moments for him.
Whipple received the highest honor any volunteer can get back in 1972, the Silver Beaver Award. He's also received the Baden-Powell Scout Award, the highest youth award achievable in the Scout and Guide Movement in several countries, along with earning the Scouter of the Year Award. He still has his uniform and Scouting paraphernalia, and two years ago his Scouting items were featured at the historical society.
After Whipple's Monroe High School graduation in 1950, he worked at a body shop for a short time in Janesville and then accepted a position with the highway department. He then worked in Verona doing maintenance before coming back to Monroe to help set up Advance Transformer. He ended his career working at the Monroe Clinic Hospital in maintenance for 24 years before he retired.
"But I haven't retired from Scouts yet," he said with a laugh.
After retirement, Whipple said, he needed to stay busy. Along with his Scout involvement, he also serves as a docent at the Historical Cheesemaking Center, and every Monday he can be found stocking shelves or unloading a truck for the Green County Food Pantry. He also recently reached a milestone of donating 30 gallons of blood as a dedicated blood donor.
Whipple and his wife have been married 63 years and enjoy theater and are Monroe Arts Center and Monroe Theatre Guild charter members. They put in several hours when the remodeling of MTG took place. They also serve on the historical society board and the mission committee at the United Methodist Church.
They travel as well - favorite trips include Hawaii and Branson. They often do day trips with the senior center and they are big Packer and Badger fans and go to games whenever they can. The couple also enjoys spending time with their three children, five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Those words are what Monroe resident Art Whipple lives by, and has for the more than seven decades he's spent Scouting and mentoring so many boys and young men in the area.
And, just like he has each Monday for as long as he can remember, Whipple heads to Scouts year round. He might be getting a little tired of sleeping on the ground and doesn't go on every trip anymore, but Scouting is something he has no plans to let go of.
Whipple was born in Albany but didn't stay long before his family moved to Monroe when he was 2, and he's been here ever since.
He has fond memories of rollerskating with friends and Fourth of July parties with his father's co-workers. He enjoyed growing up in town and has early memories of the hospital being built in 1938.
But most of Whipple's memories revolve around the hundreds of stories he has while either being a part of or leading Boy Scout groups in town. He's been a part of each one in one way or another and says it's being around the children that makes him never want to leave the organization that promotes character, outdoor activities, good citizenship and service to others.
At age 9, Whipple decided he wanted to join Cub Scouts. He had several friends also involved, and the experience was one he'll never forget. He recalls the names of each of his den leaders and den mothers - saying that Scouts has kept him surrounded by wonderful groups of both children and adults. Eventually, his father became an assistant Scoutmaster as well to his original Troop 101, the oldest in town.
"It's an experience I think everyone should have," he said.
Scouting was much different when Whipple was a youngster, and he's truly enjoyed watching the changes over the years. During his time, he has awesome memories of the Klondike Derby, where Scouts would make their own sleds and race. He even kept one of the sleds. He recalls first aid meets and big pots of mulligan stew with some questionable ways of stirring it. His childhood memories include camping with Scouts at Beckman Lake, Lake Le-Aqua-Na and many other local spots in the area. They took big trips to Scout camps in New Mexico and Indiana, to name a couple, and have endless memories of things that happened along the away.
When Whipple got older, Scouting seemed to fit right into his life. After high school, he became an Explorer Scout and started to lead other younger Scout groups right away. He worked his way up the ladder, but never did become an Eagle Scout since the requirement then included swimming - Whipple laughs when he says he simply couldn't float on his back.
It wasn't long before he married his wife, Letha, and had children. His first son, Toby, was considered the Scout mascot. By the time he was old enough to join, Toby was thrilled after spending considerable time already camping and doing other Scout activities.
Whipple recalls a time when a group headed to Canada on a rented bus that broke down so the group of Scouts had to sleep at a fairgrounds in the hog pens. They were well taken care of by community members and have fun stories to tell about it.
The stories are endless and it's clear in Whipple's eyes how much they mean to him. He said he's seen some amazing projects from Eagle Scouts and is always impressed by the young men who come forward to take on community improvements.
"We just got a great bunch of people," he said.
Whipple is responsible for starting Scout Troop 180 in Monroe as a group for Methodist church members. He's mentored 35 Eagle Scouts just through that troop alone.
Today he keeps in touch with several of the Scouts he's mentored. "It's kind of nice that they think so much of you," he said.
Whipple has served as the organizational representative for several years. He has served in every branch a volunteer can possibly serve and was once the neighborhood and district commissioner. He currently serves on the Eagle Board of Review where he approves projects before Scouts can start them. He is also a merit badge counselor for several badges.
The couple has three children: Toby, Ranele and Randy. Both boys were very involved in Scouts and Randy earned his Eagle Scout. Toby's son Ryan also earned Eagle Scout. Whipple's daughter, Ranele, married an Eagle Scout, Jim Connors. All were very proud moments for him.
Whipple received the highest honor any volunteer can get back in 1972, the Silver Beaver Award. He's also received the Baden-Powell Scout Award, the highest youth award achievable in the Scout and Guide Movement in several countries, along with earning the Scouter of the Year Award. He still has his uniform and Scouting paraphernalia, and two years ago his Scouting items were featured at the historical society.
After Whipple's Monroe High School graduation in 1950, he worked at a body shop for a short time in Janesville and then accepted a position with the highway department. He then worked in Verona doing maintenance before coming back to Monroe to help set up Advance Transformer. He ended his career working at the Monroe Clinic Hospital in maintenance for 24 years before he retired.
"But I haven't retired from Scouts yet," he said with a laugh.
After retirement, Whipple said, he needed to stay busy. Along with his Scout involvement, he also serves as a docent at the Historical Cheesemaking Center, and every Monday he can be found stocking shelves or unloading a truck for the Green County Food Pantry. He also recently reached a milestone of donating 30 gallons of blood as a dedicated blood donor.
Whipple and his wife have been married 63 years and enjoy theater and are Monroe Arts Center and Monroe Theatre Guild charter members. They put in several hours when the remodeling of MTG took place. They also serve on the historical society board and the mission committee at the United Methodist Church.
They travel as well - favorite trips include Hawaii and Branson. They often do day trips with the senior center and they are big Packer and Badger fans and go to games whenever they can. The couple also enjoys spending time with their three children, five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.