How one of the founders of BSA and Carrick resident was disprespected By a Local Council

John M. Phillips along with William Boyce both men from the Pittsburgh Pa. area where instrumental in starting the scouting program in the United states and both knew Baden Powell who started the Boy Scouts in the UK
and while the name Boyce is prominently remembered John M. Philips has been totally disrespected and forgotten. But why?

http://wiki.carrick-overbrook.org/John_M._Phillips

So who is John M. Phillips

He was a prominent Pittsburgh Industrialist involved in the manufacture of coal mining machinery and was one of the country's first recognized Conservationists who would go on to form the Pa. Game commission which has been the model of such programs and followed by almost all states in there managing of wildlife

He lived in Carrick Pa. which is now part of the City of Pittsburgh being its 29th ward.

Carrick always was a rough and tumble town your father either worked for the city of Pittsburgh as fire/police/garbage man etc. or they worked in one of the many Steel mills in Pittsburgh area or they where a local tradesman or business man.

Mr. Phillips very much loved the natural outdoors and became so concerned by it he looked to local youth to help save the states many natural resources including its trees, which Mr. Phillips spent many thousands of his own money having scouts plant trees all over Pa. including chestnut trees which where almost totally destroyed due to over use in wagon wheel axles.

He started the first scout troop in Carrick which at one time had several and now has none his original troop 1 was renumbered and still exists in neighboring Brentwood Pa. the original council name for the area Allegheny was changed in the 1950's to Allegheny trails council and after several mergers is now called Greater Pittsburgh Council and the local district which was part of his original troop was called " Silver Tip " his Indian name given to him by western Indians he made friends with while hunting out west. But it is my understanding silver Tip district is no more its name being changed.

I found out about Mr. Phillips thru the late Russel Beaver a Scoutmaster and silver tip committeeman and Silver Beaver recipient who lived by his home and knew him and he lead me on a life long journey of research on him as part of my Overall eagle scout Project on the history of Carrick a History I would find out some did not want known and written.

Mr. Beaver said to me there should be a Statue of Mr. Phillips for all he has done at Phillips park in Carrick which is named after him and though at the time of my Eagle scout Project I could not get any traction or help in doing so I did file to get him a state historical plaque in 1976 and finally thru the efforts of myself and a new group of residents who helped form the Carrick-Overbrook historical society in 2010 It was finally done and a stat historical plague sits where his home once did. But no thanks to the Boy Scouts of America and the Greater Pittsburgh council now known as Laurel highlands council   who would not help in any way or manner celebrate there founder. One of the few Silver Buffalo recipient

They where asked several times to help confirm research we had done so we could file for the state marker saying he was instrumental in starting the Boy Scouts they refused to help and even after the marker was approved refused to send a representative from council. or a Order of the Arrow dance team exhibit there dance skills as a tribute due to Mr. Phillips strong Indian ties and refused to help us find and locate his Indian outfit to display at the ceremony . I saw the outfit in 1977 at Camp Guyasuta and it has since disapeared on purpose.

Luckily we found out the Brentwood troop still existed and they came and did a flag ceremony and they helped fill in some of the holes in our research , but we never got any cooperation at all from council. But the state Game commission that was a whole different matter 2 local Game Wardens came and gave a state proclamation and gave a short speech on Mr. Phillips and answered the crowds questions about him and the commission . There are several state plaques on game commission lands in honor of Mr. Philips . But not one mention of him in history of scouting and his part. But why?

This I will explore in part 2 and it will shock you.