Epsilon Tau Lambda Chapter Charters Boy Scout Troop 1906

The “Boy’s are back in Town” was the rallying call for the newest members of the Boy Scouts of America in Prairie View recently inducted into Boy Scout Troop 1906 on May 20 in the City Hall Chambers. After a ten-year hiatus the members of the Epsilon Tau Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., accepted the challenge to bring scouting back to Prairie View.

The organizing committee chairman is Brother Bobby Ray Williams with Prairie View Police Chief Jeron Barnett as the scoutmaster and Brother Brian Rowland and Mr. Harold Barthe as assistant scoutmasters. Part of the chartering ceremony involved the crossing over of 5 young men - Cheikh Jackson, Tyrese Skeene and Kevin Walker, Arrow of Light Awardees, Cub Scouting’s highest award, and Adrian Avalos and Shawn Robeson.

Other Brothers providing leadership and support for the troop are Rodney Bell, R. Cameron Estwick, Ralph Johnson, Henry Moseley and Simeon L. Queen.

Brother Williams, committee chair, Mr. Jerome Barnett, scoutmaster and Brother Frederick V. Roberts, Epsilon Tau Lambda chapter, president accepted the charter on behalf of the community. Several members of the Sam Houston Area Council of the Boy Scouts and Order of the Arrow Colonneh Lodge, David Crockett Chapter, commended the members on the milestone achievement. Brother and Mayor Frank D. Jackson along with former community scout leaders, Dr. Seab Smith and Mr. Marshall Brown joined in the ceremony to welcome and congratulate the young men. Judge Marianne Jackson, Cubmaster presented several awards and badges for the boys moving up in the ranks of scouting.


With service being one of hallmarks of both the fraternity and the scouts, the young men accepted the challenge to this creed immediately. To commemorate Memorial Day, the scouts of Troop 1906 and Cub Scout Pack 338, placed some 60 American Flags on the graves of fallen soldiers in the Prairie View Cemetery. They were joined by parents and scout leaders Marian Jackson, Harold Barthe, Bobby R. Williams, Cephas Riggins, Justyn Barthe, Frank D. Jackson and Frederick V. Roberts.


The troop meets the first and third Wednesdays of the month during the summer and welcome fellow scouts and brothers at the meetings and who may be interested in helping them earn merit badges.

Incidentally, Brother Williams is one of the recipients of the newly created Friends of Scouts Award to be presented at the Fraternity’s national convention in Chicago in June.