Dale Emerick

Dale Emerick was a longtime Scouter from Winnebago who gave incredible amounts of time, wise advice, and hard work. He served as Cubmaster, troop committee chairman, district chairman, and on various training committees. At the council level he served as vice president for program, and then as vice president for operations. Dale was a Vigil Honor member of the Order of the Arrow and served for many years as a chapter advisor.

Dale focused on providing the best programs for the Scouts, and how the Scouting programs benefited them. He was a recipient of the District Award of Merit, Scouters Training Award, and the Silver Beaver Award. He was also an award-winning business leader, serving as president of E Z Machines in Rockford.

Wayne Brooks recalls,

Dale had a tremendous ability to calm most tense moments. He was slow to rush into most things which usually proved to be the right action for that particular moment.

Bud Schroeder recalls,

Dale was, without doubt, a dedicated Scouter, always willing to help, always there when he was needed. A good Scouter, a good man, a good friend.

Steve Sarver recalls,

I knew Dale very well through district activities as well as the Order of the Arrow. He felt - as many of us do - that Camp Lowden is a wonderful place for boys. He believed in the Scouting program and was a great role model for what a good Scout leader should be. I was proud to have him serve as master of ceremonies for my Eagle Scout ceremony in 1987.

From an article in the Blackhawk Courier (the newsletter of Blackhawk Area Council):

Not everyone knows all the time and energy he has given to our district, or all the hours he has spent working through "problems" and putting out "fires." If day camp was not coming together on the time scale of countdown, there was Dale - "Can I help?" When volunteer recognition mugs for Pow Wow were not ordered on time, Dale just said, "It will get done." The day of Pow Wow, here he came carrying a box of mugs.

When we needed a place to hold training, Dale said, "I can do that." Sure enough, when the church was called, they knew the church was needed. It was already on the calendar.

Whenever one of us had a problem, we could count on Dale.

Dale Emerick tragically lost his life as the result of an automobile accident on April 15, 2002. After his death, his family helped fund renovations to the Trading Post at Camp Lowden as well as other initiatives in Scouting.