Home Contact Us Site Map

About Troop 116

Welcome Operations Scoutmaster History Senior Patrol Leader History

Adult Leaders Patrol Roster

Troop Booklet

Troop 116 Scout Horse Show

From 1966 to 2001, Troop 116 sponsored an Annual Scout Horse Show which originated as a community service and fund-raising project and grew to an event of major proportions. This Show began with a few local youngsters entering their horses and ponies in a "backyard" atmosphere at the grounds adjacent to St. John's Episcopal Church on Carmel Road.

Each year the number of entries and classes increased as the Show became better known, and the horses and riders from the entire Metrolina area participated. For this reason, in 1973 the Show moved to the grounds of the Mecklenburg Hounds on Tom short Road. From 1985 to 1999 it was held at Latta Plantation Park, and in 2000 it moved to Why Not an American Ark Equestrian Park near Monroe where the finest show grounds in the area could be enjoyed.

In the past, proceeds from the Show have made it possible for Troop 116 to support its own activities as well as contribute to a number of Scout-related and community programs. Show proceeds have been used to supply other troops with needed equipment, sponsor summer programs for inner-city troops, send under-privileged Scouts to Camp Steer on summer outings, and provide Scout Handbooks in Braille to a group in Raleigh. Another worthwhile project one year was to make Christmas a little merrier at Thompson Orphanage.

In 1973, some of the Show proceeds were used to replace camping equipment and to take the Troop to the National Scout Jamboree in Moraine State Park, Pennsylvania. Also in the 1970's, Troop 116 was able to donate $1,000 to the Scout Camp Development Fund, give $200 to the North Carolina Society for Autistic Children, and contribute $500 to purchase an animal for the new North Carolina Zoo near Asheboro.

In October 1975, a Scout Hut was dedicated on the church grounds. This building was made possible through donations to the Frank Mayhew, Jr. Memorial Fund and with some proceeds from the first nine Horse Shows.Other projects in later years included contributions to the Mecklenburg County 4-H Clubs, to the Scout Camp Development Fund, and to the Charlotte Rehabilitation Hospital for the purchase of needed orthopedic equipment. For several years during the 1980's, donations were made to a Memorial Fund in memory of William Douglas Cofield, a past Mecklenburg County Council Scout Executive. This Memorial Fund was used to complete a much needed Chapel at Camp Grimes, the Mecklenburg Scout Reservation near Marion, N.C. The Troop has also made contributions to the Camp Grimes Horsemanship Program which teaches Scouts during summer camp how to ride and care for horses while earning the Horsemanship Merit Badge.

Horse Show proceeds have also provided contributions to St. John's Episcopal Church, our sponsoring organization. These include beautification of the church grounds, the preservation and protection of the historic old trees in the garden, donations toward an activity bus, and substantial maintenance and improvements to the Mayhew Scout Hut.

In 1997, a contribution was made in memory of Robert M. Prokay to the St. John's Endowment Fund for Education. Bob Prokay was a member of the Troop Committee, an enthusiastic Scout parent and strong supporter of Troop 116, and served tirelessly as a leader on the Horse Show Committee for several years. The 1998 Horse Show Program was dedicated to his memory.

The 1998 Horse Show Program was also dedicated to the memory of Kenneth J. Swayney, an employee of Ernst & Young and friend of Troop 116. The troop will be forever grateful to Kenny for the personal time and effort he contributed for many, many years to the printing of the Horse Show Program books.

The 2001, a memorial contribution on behalf of Reginald G. Hargrove was made to the Mecklenburg County Council Endowment Fund to initiate a drive to secure a James E. West Fellowship Award in his memory. Reg Hargrove served as a Committee Member in a number of capacities for several years, most recently as the Eagle Scout Coordinator, and was greatly admired for his many contributions to the troop and to Scouting.

We are grateful to the Troop Committee and the many Scout parents who have helped to make the horse show a success each year. It provided substantial support to the outdoor program and other projects over the years. Listed below are the past chairmen of the Scout Horse Show.

Top

1966	Vestal Taylor 1st Horse Show St. John's Episcopal Church
1967	Vestal Taylor 2nd Horse Show St. John's Episcopal Church
Saturday April 27 1968	Colin L. Brown 3rd Horse Show St. John's Episcopal Church
Saturday April 26 1969	Colin L. Brown 4th Horse Show St. John's Episcopal Church
Saturday April 25 1970	Harold B. Bursley 5th Horse Show St. John's Episcopal Church
Saturday April 24 1971	Sam E. Chestnutt 6th Horse Show St. John's Episcopal Church
Saturday April 29 1972	Sam E. Chestnutt 7th Horse Show St. John's Episcopal Church
Saturday April 28 1973	J. T. Cother 8th Horse Show Mecklenburg Hounds Show Grounds
Saturday April 27 1974	Tom M. Chisholm 9th Horse Show Mecklenburg Hounds Show Grounds
Saturday April 19 1975	George McAleese 10th Horse Show Mecklenburg Hounds Show Grounds Art Work by B. Allen Hooker
Saturday April 24 1976	Don E. Irwin 11th Horse Show Mecklenburg Hounds Show Grounds Art Work by B. Allen Hooker
Saturday April 16 1977	Rich McClerin 12th Horse Show Mecklenburg Hounds Show Grounds
Saturday April 29 1978	Mike Barnette 13th Horse Show Mecklenburg Hounds Show Grounds
Saturday May 12 1979	Mercer Wilson 14th Horse Show Mecklenburg Hounds Show Grounds
Saturday May 10 1980	Howard White 15th Horse Show Mecklenburg Hounds Show Grounds
1981	Ron Hawkins 16th Horse Show
1982	Jerry Winte 17th Horse Show
Monday April 4 1983	Randy Riley 18th Horse Show Knights of Columbus Show Grounds
Monday April 23 1984	Jerry Winte & Randy Riley 19th Horse Show Rockin K Ranch
Monday April 8 1985	Ron Preston 20th Horse Show Latta Plantation Park
Monday March 31 1986	John C. Donaldson 21st Horse Show Latta Plantation Park
Monday April 20 1987	Jim Wynn 22nd Horse Show Latta Plantation Park
Saturday April 2 1988	Rick Parker 23rd Horse Show Latta Plantation Park
Saturday April 1 1989	Jim Wynn 24th Horse Show Latta Plantation Park
Saturday April 7 1990	Don & Bunny Knebusch 25th Horse Show Latta Plantation Park
Saturday April 6 1991	Don & Bunny Knebusch 26th Horse Show Latta Plantation Park Art Work by Jake Gehron
Saturday April 4 1992	Don & Bunny Knebusch 27thHorse Show Latta Plantation Park
Saturday April 17 1993	Don & Bunny Knebusch 28th Horse Show Latta Plantation Park Art Work by Alex McLawhorn
Saturday April 9 1994	Ed & Betty Saleeba 29th Horse Show Latta Plantation Park Art Work by Alex McLawhorn
Saturday April 8 1995	Ed & Betty Saleeba 30th Horse Show Latta Plantation Park Art Work by Alex McLawhorn
Saturday April 13 1996	Ed & Betty Saleeba 31st Horse Show Latta Plantation Park Art Work by Zeke Johnston
Saturday April 12 1997	Louis & Cathy Boyd 32nd Horse Show Latta Plantation Park Art Work by Ben Treece
Saturday April 11 1998	Louis & Cathy Boyd 33rd Horse Show Latta Plantation Park Art Work by Eric Schlenker
Saturday April 24 1999	Davis Trotter 34th Horse Show Latta Plantation Park Art Work by Alex McLawhorn
Saturday April 1 2000	Don & Frances Schonder 35th Horse Show Why Not an American Ark Equestrian Park
Saturday April 7 2001	Don & Frances Schonder 36th Horse Show Why Not an American Ark Equestrian Park Art Work by Ethan Treanor