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I WtS^ PEMBROKE, NC In A^ri-Racial Setting"0 j ROBESON COUN I
VOLUME 16 NUMBER 8 > 25$ VURSDAY, FEBRUARY 85, 1988
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TROOR 327 NOW TROOR 27
On Sunday afternoon, Feb. 21, the Native American
Resource Center at PSU held a fiftieth anniversary celebration
and scout exhibit in honor of Boy Scout 327. The program was
hosted by Mr. Henry Smith, one of the four original Eagle
Scouts to come out of the troop.
Troop 327 began on January 31, 1938 with sixteen boys and
two adult leaders. Scoutmaster Gaston Revels and Assistant
Scoutmaster Walter Pinchbeck. Pinchbeck became Scoutmas
ter in 1940 and remained so until the 1970's. Today the Troop
will be renumbered 27 in honor of reaching it's fiftieth year. It
is the oldest Troop in the district and the scond oldest Native
American Troop in the Nation. On display in the scout exhibit
were historical documents, artifacts and photographs.
"Let's get this doggone meeting going!" That's what
Walter Pinchbeck would always say. He loved that word,
"doggone." With those words Mr. Smith opened the
celebration. After a moment of silence in memory of four
deceased Eagle Scouts, the Pledge of Allegiance and the
Scouts pledge, Dr. Stanley Knick welcomed the community,
saying that the hardest part of mounting the exhibition was
having to choose between literally hundreds of fascinating
pictures and documents.
Greetings were extended by the Mayor of Pembroke, Mr.
Milton Hunt, who declared Feb. 21, 1988 "Boy Scout Troop
327 Day." Greetings were also received from Mrs. Mary
Pinchbeck Teets and Mr. Tommy Dickson of the Central
District Boy Scouts office in Lumberton. These were followed
by special recognitions to community members and
organizations, scoutmasters. Eagle Scouts, and recipients of
the Silver Beaver award over the years.
These ceremonies were followed by humorous accounts of
scouting over the years in ten year segments. Former scouts
told of carrying their live chickens with them on camping trips
before there were coolers, or visits from parents and
supporters when they had to give up their precious chicken
dinner, of camping activities, and tales told around the
campfire, and of Walter Pinchbeck's loving concern for his
charges. The former scouts all remembered Mr. Pinchbeck as
a stern disciplinarian as well as a fatherly man. He wanted his
boys to think about what they would do with their lives. Mr.
Pinchbeck's son, a life Scout himself, told of his early
resentment of the boys who got to go camping with his father,
and his 'growing underMtanding of what the Boy Scouts was
doing for the boys of the Pembroke community.
After this brief history, an announcement was made of the
Walter Pinchbeck Memorial Fund to raise $10,000. When
these funds are raised a marble stone will be inscribed with his
name at the Bowers Boy Scout Camp.
From the Resource Center the commemoration moved
across the street for the re-dedication of the recently restored
Scout Troop Hut. Funds were also requested for further
improvements and transportation for the Boy Scouts. Thanks
were given to all those who helped to restore the hut and
refreshments were shared. The event was closed with the
lowering of the flag by the Boy Scouts of Troop 327.
Throughout this event it was clear that this Troop has meant a
great deal to the development of citizenship and leadership in
the Pembroke community. Congratulations, Troop 27.
Scout insignia painted by Walter Pinchbeck that hangs in the
Scout Hut.
HRI*/"
Ira Pate Lowry, center, it the only living original troop
committeeman. He it shown with Mrs. Zelta Sampson [for
James Albert Sampsoti] and Dorsey Lowry.
Scontmaetere of 1?oop St7-Kenan LockUar, prw*?*f Scout
matter; Or. David Brookt; Dong Hunt; Joan Lawry for
Stanford Lawry; WHkam Pinchbeck for Waiter Pinchbeck.
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Mayor Milton Hunt is shoum proclaiming February 21, 1988
"Boy Scout Bay in Pembroke, NC."
Chuck Jacobs is shown being presented Certificate by Henry
Smith for his work in restoring the Scout Hut as part of his
Eagle requirements.
Mary Pinchbeck Teets
JACKSON
m
TO
APREAR
I
i rsi
ROBESON
The Rev. Jesse Jackson
will be in Robeson County or.
Monday, February 29. He will
arrive at the Lumberton Air
port at 12 noon. A fundraiser
will be held at the Old
Foundry Restaurant in Lum
berton at 1 p.m. The coat for
this event will be 125 per
person.
A rally is plantMKhst 9 p.m.
? in Pembroke at the Psifenn
Ing Arts Center on the PSU
campus.
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WHATEVER HAPPENED TO...
BURLIN ROGERS
EDITOR'S NOTE: We are rerunning last week's article
"Whatever Happened to Burlin Rogers" by Barbara Brayboy
Locklear because of errors at the press rendering the copy to
be unreadable. Our apologies to both Ms. Locklear and Mr.
Rogers.
Burtin Rogers enjoys a suing in his backyard.
By Barbam Brayboy Locklear
Si)eciat Tb The Carolina Indian Voice
"Don'tdare me to do anything! If you do. Til try hard to do
it," says daredevil Burlin Rogers.
The 68-year-old's curious mind has taken him on many an
adventure throughout his life. Growing up on a farm in the
Hopewell community of Robeson County lent little social
excitement for the Ijumbee Indian. In between farm chores
and attending classes at Hopewell and Cross Roads schools,
he worked as a carpenter's helper with a construction
company building homes under the Government's Resettle
ment project in 1936.
Itching for a better paying job and a little excitement, the
18-year-old moved to New Bern to live with relatives. There he
found a job, but something else came along which he liked
better-a circus.
"The circus was based in New Bern and was leaving for a
tour of several states. I got a chance to join it and signed on as
a partner in one of the 'cook' tents," he laughs. He says the
German owner needed an assistant cook, and he was willing to
learn. The tourwas to take the farm boy through Virginia,
West Virginia, and Pennsylvania. The traveling and having to
put up with hard-to-please circus patrons took its toll on
Rogers, and a year later he left the circus behind.
He says he hooked up with a buddy and hitch-hiked to
Florida. "I didn't mind doing it, 'cause I'd never been to Fla.
and always wanted to go." he recalls. Once there he took a
short course in tractor trailer driving. The stay lasted a little
over a month. He figured he didn't like the assignment and
returned to Robeson County.
It never bothered the adventurer to come home. "My
mother was always glad to see me," he smiles. He was one of
nine children born to Willie French and Mandy Jane Rogers.
N . C . I ndian Unity
Conference T o Be
March 17-19
I n Raleigh
Hie Thirteenth Annual North Carolina Indian Unity
Conference will be held March 17-19 at the North Raleigh
Hilton in Raleigh, NC. The yearly gathering of North Carolina
Indians is sponsored by United Tribes of North Carolina, a
statewide organization.
This year's conference highlights include a forum of
workshops, awards banquet, and~a pow wow. Issues to be
presented include education, employment, economic devel
opment, and other vital concerns of Indian people in North
Carolina. The theme\of the conference is "Planning Our Paths
for the Future." ' '
Special conference speakers include: the Honorable James
Martin, Governor of North Carolina; John Sam, Director,
Office of Indian Education, Washington, DC; and a panel of
the 1968 candidates for Governor of North Carolina.
The intertribal pow wow will be held on Thursday, March
17, at 8 p.m. The awards banquet will be held on Friday,
March 18 at 7 p.m.
Registration forms are available from the North Caroline
Commission of Indian Affairs, P?st Office Bo* 27228, Raleigh,
NC 27611-7228; Telephone (919) 739-6996. Registration is
646.00 per person; 690.00 for senior dtiaens and students.
Danee tickets are being sold separately for 66.00.
Pre-registration forms must he postmarked by March 7,1966.
The public is Invited to attend.
r
In 1940, Rogers and a "bunch" of local boys volunteered for
military service in the U.S. Army. During a furlough to his
native county, he gathered addresses of girls and returned to
camp to share them with his buddies. Among the addresses
was that of Martha Jacobs, a Ijumbee Indian. When Jacobs
received a letter from a complete stranger, a soldier buddy of
Rogers's, she ignored it. Curious minded Rogers learned of
the incident and became determined to write one to her. "I*ve
never seen a girl yet that I could write to and not get an
answer," he boasts.
He got an answer in the mail shortly thereafter. A few
furloughs later, Rogers married the dark-haired girl he
couldn't get out of his mind.
After service, the couple settled on a farm outside Rowland,
N.C. The farm could not support the growing family, and the
war veteran took on construction work. He joined a union and
followed various assignments for several years before being
lured to Norfolk, Va. by a brother in construction.
In 1959, the father of five founded Rogers Construction
Company in Virginia Beach and began his own general
contracting business. Twenty-eight years later, the business
man went into semi-retirement He outright denies- being
retired. He still draws on his carpentry skills and does
occasional small jobs for old friends.
His 12-acre tract of land in Suffolk, Va. where he lives keeps
him busy in the flower and vegetable gardens. The widower
takes care of all household duties. He lost his wife of 38 years
in a fatal auto accident in 1982. Much time is donated to his
eight grandchildren who live in the area.
Travel consumes much of the grandfather's time. Attending
Native American pow wows has become a favorite past-time.
And every chance he gets, he motors to his native county for
some foot-tapping, hand clapping gospel sings.
The energetic Rogers says he enjoys good health and feels it
his duty to stay physically fit A night's dancing once a week
helps. "I love to dance," he comments. He says he learned to
dance when he was jn the military.
"When I joined the service, I was a farmer. I didn't drink.
And there was nothing else to do but sit in the bars and watch
other guys drink." He says he knew Lhere%as a better life
than drinking. Sjo one day he "moseyed" into a d'.ne* -iaS'o t
and announced, "I'm a farm boy. Can you teach .Vie how ?o
dance?" He says while the fox trot i# his favor.*#- style of
dancing, he can do any of it when it comes to dancing.
The self-"professed adventurer says, "Don't give me the city
with its bricks and concrete. Give me the countryside with its
woods and beautiful lakes." Then with a sly grin, he adds,
"Give me God's nature and throw in a little adventure."
Assembly On Dxruicf
Pre\SGT~itz ?oin PI anned
Foobie D. Robot will host a March 1 assembly on drug
prevention for parents.
The war against drugs is getting a big boost from a
nationally known Robot TV star.
On March 1 at 7:30 p.m. Foobie D. Robot will conduct a
drug prevention assembly called "The Million Dollar
Machine" in Pembroke.
The assembly will be held in Moore Hall at PSU to educate
parents and other interested persons in the community about
drug prevention awareness.
The program is hosted by Foobie D. Robot, recognized by
most school children for his role in the hit television show
"Silver Spoons."
Since Feb. 2 Foobie has been guiding students in Robeson
County elementary schools in self awareness, inter personal
skills, decision- Making, substance abuse, refusal skills and
human potential.
In addition to delivering an anti drug message. Foobie will
demonstrate how to make good decisions and also examine th?
ways to avoid the influence of peer pressure.
Foobie also teljs children that each of them own a "Million
Dollar Machine," the human body.
The session will be sponsored by the N.C. Commission c
Indian Affairs in the Dept. of Administration and Southeaster)
General Hospital in Lumberton.
PAV6RING MERGER
Speaking before-the Kiwanis Club at their Tuesday night
meeting Superintendent of Robeson County Schools Fernet]
Swett said the Board and he both favor merger. Principally for
the children's better opportunity for an equal education. The
proa and cons will be presented by Dr. Darrel Spencer on
February 29th at 7:00 p. m. at the Board of Education Building.
All are invited to attend. Program Chairman Albert Hunt
presented the speaker. Facts without emotion will be
presented, bearing in mind a whole new accreditation process,
a new taxbase evaluation is taking place in terms of the
number of students whose family income is second from the
bottom in the state, the average Income being very low thus
tying education in with solving the economic problems of the
area's industry, farming and jobs, with new mar Mass
replacing workers. We've got nice new schools fa the.,
Pembroke area and have made progress, but the iniaisek
factor is the main concern, merging will help this condMsm.
and should be seriously thought out, thus giving our children
letter opportunities for an equal education.
Henry Ward Owndine presented new members and their
wivee-Lany R and Leleta C ha via ef the Lumbee Bank sad
Mitchell and Rosalind Lowiy of Pembroke. ,v h
Klwaniaas Marshall locldear and Pbte Jacobs mm A*
Marshall is in Duhe and Pete is mating at home. Oiw.pmyetw'
ire with them and also with Zen Oaendine who juet pa said
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