McGee: Scoutmaster Phil has gone 'on to Glory'

Father's Day is tomorrow. I'm thinking of my dad who "went on to Glory" almost 30 years ago. He was a busy guy, always working, that was his contribution to the family. He worked, mom took care of the family. Knowing I needed much more he shipped me off to the Boy Scouts.

And with that I want to remember Scoutmaster Phil from the rogue Boy Scout troop I belonged to as a kid.

What's a rogue troop?

An example: One time our troop was on a backpacking adventure when we were caught in an Appalachian spring squall of cold winds, rain and snow. When camp was set up for the night Scoutmaster Phil made us hot toddies of whiskey and grape Kool-Aid.

"That man would face charges these days," gasped a High Plains scouter when I told him that tale.

I suppose here in the future Scoutmaster Phil might've found himself in all kinds of trouble for various things. It doesn't matter though; I learned recently that Scoutmaster Phil too, has gone "on to Glory."

I learned a lot from Scoutmaster Phil, above and beyond the usual Boy Scout stuff. I learned an appreciation for old cars, "Drive 'em til they drop," he'd say.

Scoutmaster Phil told me about girls. "Don't get so worked up about 'em," he said. "When the right one comes along everything will click into place."

I wish I'd learned that lesson better.

There are so many more things I want to say about Scoutmaster Phil, but there's only so much space here.

So I salute dads who thought burying themselves in their career was the most important way they could serve their families. But it's OK, it's all they knew.

And on this Father's Day I salute guys like Scoutmaster Phil who took time from their lives to help kids.

I wish I could've thanked him while he was still around.

Grant McGee is a long-time broadcaster and former truck driver who rides bicycles and likes to talk about his many adventures on the road of life.

Contact him at: [email protected].