Gale Schmig

Gale Schmig was Scoutmaster of Troop 125, Belvidere, for 11 years, which had 24 Eagle Scouts during that time. A Vigil Honor member of the Order of the Arrow, Mr. Schmig was part of the first Wood Badge group from our council. He was in the army during World War II and later a machinist at Sundstrand in Rockford for 20 years. He received the Silver Beaver Award in May 1975.

His wife Patricia was a den leader for 12 years, and later a commissioner and also served for 20 years as an Explorer post advisor. She helped organize the post through St. Joseph Hospital where she worked, and went to Philmont with them. She is a recipient of the Silver Fawn Award...one of the few recipients before it was integrated with the Silver Beaver Award. Mr. and Mrs. Schmig had three sons (all Eagle Scouts) and two daughters. One son, Paul, served as a camp staff member at Lowden in 1968.

On June 14, 1975, Father’s Day weekend, Gale Schmig had a heart attack and died during the troop’s annual father-son campout. He was 48 years old.

Many people gave memorial money to the troop in Gale’s memory. In discussion with other leaders it was decided that a proper memorial should be "a light on a hill." Several came up with the idea of the covered bulletin board information center near the main lodge, which would be lighted at night. This was built mostly by Scout leaders from the area.

The G.A. Schmig Memorial is the walkway information center located between the parking lot and the main lodge. It is a popular meeting place for groups. Here you will find the camp map, schedules, and other important information.

The memorial was dedicated at a special ceremony during family night in June of 1976. Ev Worrell was the master of ceremonies. Many members of the Schmig family and many friends and Scouts attended. Mrs. Schmig relates that earlier the family had a private dedication where they poured water at each corner, "because it always rained when Mr. Schmig took the boys to Lowden."