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Under Construction
This page is an in-progress project. If you have any information about the history of Pack 131, please reach out to us and share.
Newspaper article from the Daily Chronicle from 1967 about the Pack 131 Pinewood Derby.
Jeff "T.J." Lewis - Local legend says that Jeff "T.J." Lewis was the first Boy Scout to pass away, right here in DeKalb(*). He was likely a member of Troop 1 in DeKalb, which eventually became Troop 33.
Every year Pack 131, other local Scout Units, and the American Legion celebrate Memorial Day weekend by honoring our past service members by decorating the graves at Fairview Cemetery with American Flags.
We finish the morning with a remembrance of T. J. Lewis by reciting the Scout Oath and Law and having a hotdog cookout near his grave. Below is the obituary of this moment in Scouting history from here in DeKalb.
(*) Jeff "T.J." Lewis was likely not the first Boy Scout in America to pass away, as local legends suggest, but he was certainly among the first. The BSA was founded in 1910, so Boy Scouts of America was still a young organization.
A History of Pack 131
A History of Pack 131
The Founding
The Founding
Pack 131 was founded in 1961 at Lincoln Elementary in DeKalb.
Past Cubmasters
Past Cubmasters
2015-present - George Jaros
2011-2014 - Matt Skeens
xxxx-2011 - Brian Allen
...
1967 - Orville Gifford
...
Other Notable Members
Other Notable Members
Cliff Golden - Webelos Den Leader 1986-87 - Cliff is a legend in local Scouting. He joined Troop 33 in 1965 and has been involved with local Scouts ever since. He has been the Scoutmaster for Troop 33 since 1976!
James Zarek - Den Leader 2008-2012 - James is an Eagle Scout and was Scoutmaster of Troop 4 (which celebrated 100 years in 2025) from 2019 to 2025.
Pack 131 Eagle Scouts
Pack 131 Eagle Scouts
The following Pack 131 alumni have gone on to earn their Eagle Scout rank:
2025
Bryan Chesser - Troop 33
2024
Michael Jaros - Troop 40
John Kafka - Troop 4
2023
Ryan Mays - Troop 4
2022
Payton Chesser - Troop 33
2021
Kevin Malone - Troop 4
...
2011
Steven Murphy - Troop 33
2007
Derick Peterson - Troop 33
...
Timeline of Events
Timeline of Events
1910 - Boy Scouts of America founded.
1930 - Cub Scout program started.
1961 - Cub Scout Pack 131 founded at Lincoln Elementary as part of Two Rivers Council
...
1992 - Two Rivers Council and DuPage Council merge to become Three Fires Council. Pack 131 is part of the Kishwaukee District.
...
xxxx - Charter membership moved to DeKalb Christian Church
2013 - Merger with Pack 133
2014 - Charter membership moved to DeKalb Elks Club
2017 - Became a Family Pack and welcomed girls to officially join for the first time.
2019 - Kishwaukee District and Maramech Hill District are merged to become Potawatomi District.
2022 - Charter membership moved to DeKalb Family Moose Center #586
2025 - Merger with Packs 104, 173, and 134. Meeting locations moved to First United Methodist Church of DeKalb. Boy Scouts of America becomes Scouting America.
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