Robert H. Krejci (left) being recognized as the Owasippe Lodge #7 – 2011 Vigil Dinner Honoree by Francis J. Podbielski, MD (right) – 10/08/2011
Presentation of Robert H. Krejci – 10-08-2011 (Click to view video of actual presentation)
Robert H. Krejci was born at home on Chicago’s Westside (2116 S. Trumbull Av.) on June 4, 1913 to John Krejci (08/03/1886 – ?) and Johanna Tischer (03/03/1887 – 06/14/1971). Bob attended the Herbert Spencer Grammar School, graduating from 8th grade in 1927. He then went on to attend and graduate from Austin High School in 1931. He completed his course of study at Michigan State College (where he met his wife), graduating with Honors in 1941. Bob was exempted from military service in early 1942 by the State of Illinois. Instead of serving in the military, Bob was assigned by the state to organize and run farm labor camps for older boys (mostly Scouts) to support the war effort in Cook County. Two of Bob’s protégés went on to operate another farm camp in 1943, this one for World War II prisoners of war.
Bob joined Boy Scout Troop 390 in the Westside District in 1925 at age 12. The troop was sponsored by Trinity Presbyterian Church and was originally organized in 1916. Bob remembers well his Scoutmaster Louis Adamson who welcomed him warmly and held troop meetings in the church basement at Laramie and Fulton. Because of his absentee father, Bob’s mother had all she could do to make ends meet for the family, thus Bob was not able to attend Owasippe until 1928. Of the five years at Owasippe as a Scout, Bob received camper scholarships from the Chicago Council for three of those years.
Bob however seized the opportunity for individual leadership and climbed the trail to Eagle Scout, receiving his badge in November 1930 and being named Chicago Council’s “Eagle Scout of the Year”. Given his leadership skills, Bob was assigned the task of taking his troop to Camp Stuart while still only a Junior Assistant Scoutmaster. Bob became Scoutmaster of Troop 390 as a young adult and was assisted by John Picchetti and Ken Richter who held the positions of Assistant Scoutmasters during his tenure. He also held the post of Cubmaster and Neighborhood Commissioner. Bob’s first year at Owasippe was 1928. He had to earn the cost of $13.00 to attend camp for two weeks. He can wistfully recount working as a water boy for the construction laborers who were building the Merchandise Mart to earn his money for camp. Train passage on the Pere Marquette rail line was included in this $13.00 fee. The Marquette was a special train that took Scouts from Chicago to Whitehall, departing the Grand Central Station at Wells and Harrison Street each Monday morning at 9:15 AM. The train left the main track, pulling off on a spur not far from the camps. From here the Scouts hiked two miles to the Crystal Lake camps and were trucked overland the greater distance to Big Blue Lake – all of it Owasippe! During his first summer at Owasippe, Bob was selected in September 1928 by the staff of Camp Blackhawk for membership in the Order of the Arrow – quite an honor for a novice camper! He was inducted to Ordeal membership along the White River at the Twin Rollaways log cabin site and became an active member of Blackhawk Chapter. Bob remembers serving as the Chapter Secretary in 1935 along with Dwaine Filkins (Meteu), Bill Metz (Treasurer), Lawrence F. Hubbell (Chief), and Marvin Weiss (Vice-Chief). This team ran a successful Chapter Dance on January 18, 1935 at the Graemere Hotel at Homan Av. and Washington Blvd.
Bob went on to work at Owasippe in 1935 and 1936, serving as the Hikemaster at Camp Stuart. Chief Camp Director Alfred C. Nichols recognized Bob as the best Hikemaster Owasippe ever had. These words of encouragement inspired Bob to pursue Scouting as a profession to give back to youth of America the rewards he had richly received from the movement. As a professional, Bob served Chicago Council as a District Executive from 1940-1949. Bob remembers that the Big Blue Lake camp was closed during the Great Depression due to reduced summer camp attendance and lack of adult leadership. Camp Blackhawk was reopened later in the 1940’s and Bob served as the Camp Director of the first racially integrated staff. He then became the Scout Executive of Egyptian Council in Southern Illinois, raising the necessary funds to build that Council’s first summer camp in 1953. He continued serving Egyptian Council until 1958 when he became the Scout Executive of Tri-State Area Council in Huntington, WV. Bob considers his finest accomplishments with both Councils to be his ability to inspire a group of volunteers to run a top quality program, while raising funds and balancing the budget.
Bob retired from Scouting in 1965 and joined the Cumerford Corporation as professional fund-raiser and public relations consultant for not-for-profit groups which included major colleges and universities. He published his life’s observations on the profession in a book entitled “How to Succeed in Fund Raising for your Non-Profit Organization”. The manuscript was published in 1989 and bears a Library of Congress Card Catalogue number. He was recognized for his life’s accomplishments by being listed in Marquis’ Who’s Who in America. In terms of his personal life, Bob married Marian Hallock on March 29, 1941. They met while he was student at Michigan State. As dormitory space was inadequate for the growing enrollment, Bob rented a room at the Hallock home and the rest was history. They have one daughter Susan (Stevens) and three grandsons, and currently three great-grandchildren. Marian died in 1986 after 45 wonderful years of marriage. Bob resided north of San Diego in a home he and Marian built in 1969. Bob passed away on December 12, 2011, his grandson and caregiver were at his side. He is buried in the Dearborn Cemetery in Poway, CA with his wife Marian.
When reflecting on life, Bob often considers the first line of the Boy Scout Oath, “On my honor, I will do my best…” What a great guide in life for everyone.