John Sanchez, Sr. was born on Tuesday August 15, 1928 in Chicago, IL to Alex Sanchez (1905-1970) who worked for Armour Packing House and Dolores (Lola) Verduzo (1910-2009) in the area outside of the Chinatown neighborhood of Chicago (25th and Princeton). He attended St. Mary’s Grammar School, graduated from Tilden Tech High School in 1946, and later attended Richard J. Daley College for continuing education classes.
After joining Troop 456 sponsored by the Bauer & Black Surgical Unit at age 12 in 1940, John had the good fortune of being led by Scoutmaster Arthur Stepens. Their troop meetings were held at Bauer & Black Surgical Company factory (later Kendall Company) at 25th & Dearborn. John rose to the rank of First Class Scout and attended Owasippe’s Camp Blackhawk in 1941, taking the train from Chicago to Whitehall and hiking the remainder of the way into camp. John grew up a few blocks away from another Owasippe Lodge #7 alumnus, the late Tony Escobedo. In their south-of-Chinatown neighborhood, Tony would gently accuse John of being the “rich Mexican” because he (John) was able to attend St. Mary’s Catholic grammar school where tuition was 25¢ per month, while he (Tony) had to go to the local public school, Haines Elementary.
Unfortunately, John’s Scouting career as a youth was curtailed due to the outbreak of World War II which saw his Scoutmaster inducted into military service. Their troop, just like many other at the time, disbanded soon thereafter due to lack of adult leadership.
John joined the U.S. Army at age 17, rising to the rank of Corporal and serving as a Gunner. He served for two years, 15 months of which were spent in the Pacific Theater of operations in the Philippines and Japan. Upon return home, John joined ARA Services as a Field Engineer – 25 years of which were at the University of Chicago. He retired in 1996 with 40 years of service.
John was inducted into the Kittakima Meechgalanne Chapter of Owasippe Lodge on 10/28/1967 at Camp Kiwanis, while a member of Mohawk District (formed from the merger of the Stockyards and Southtown Districts, and the Allowilek and Tomahawk Chapters, respectively). His activities up to that time and thereafter have been nothing short of herculean. John served for 25 years as the ASM of Troop 1650, as an Assistant District Commissioner, Assistant Explorer Adviser of Post 8821, District Commissioner for 10 years, as well as on the staff of the well-remembered Chicago Area Council’s – Kiwanis and Yorkville, IL Show & Do’s and Fun Fairs at the Chicago Stockyards’ Ampitheater. John worked at both Camp Wolverine and Camp Blackhawk at Owasippe and has logged hundreds of volunteer hours to make Scouting in Chicago work.
John attended the 1969 BSA National Jamboree in Idaho at the Farragut State Park. He and Mohawk District Chairman Bob Byer were selected to escort Lady Baden-Powell from the Spokane Airport to the Jamboree grounds. John also attended the 1974 Jamboree in Butler, PA as an observer. He completed his Woodbadge Training in 1968 at Camp West at Owasippe.
John has actively participated in a multitude of Chapter and Lodge Fellowships, usually finding himself working with the kitchen crew. He was instrumental in the formation of Troop 532 in Calumet Council and served as one of its Assistant Scoutmasters for over 25 years. While at Owasippe in 1971 with Troop 1650, he and ASM Lenny Wojciechowski led the Troop to construct the first rope bridge across the Wolverine Channel to Deuce’s Wild. Even now, he and his family are regular visitors to Owasippe Scout Reservation, proving that Scouting is timeless across the generations.
Outside of Scouting, John has been a member of both the American Legion Post 485, and the V.F.W. Post 5220 in Oak Lawn, IL for over 50 years and is currently a member of St. Michael’s Church in Schererville, IN. In October 2009 John was selected to participate in the Honor Flight Chicago Program which flies WWII veterans to Washington, DC to see the special memorial that was built to recognize their contributions to our country.
John met Elizabeth Jean Reid in at a Fall Dance at St. David’s Church in Bridgeport in 1949. They have now been married for 61 years! Their five children, Barbara “Chris”, John R., Michael A., Anita J., and Denise Elaine have followed in their footsteps with all being involved in the Scouting program. Both Chris and John R. are Vigil members of the O/A. After John’s two strokes in 2013, leaving him medically blind, he relies on his wife Jean to carry forth the paperwork of life so he can remain active in Scouting.
John received his Vigil Honor on August 09, 1974 – known as Tachpachaxu Machque or “Little Bear”. The night was damp but beautiful and John employed Seminole Indian technique of slowly advancing a large log into the fire to keep it burning rather than cutting wood all night long.
In reflecting on life and his activities, John believes that the fun of Scouting lies in discovery and companionship, and spreading the ideals of Scouting to the next generation. He tries to impart the importance of education to young people with the mantra of, “the more you read, the more you learn, the more you earn – both financially and spiritually – in life.”
John Sanchez, Sr. – Woodbadge photograph – circa 1968