By: Mike Matzinger
In Oak Harbor, Ohio, one of the most cherished traditions is the Apple Festival and this year the festival will honor a truly remarkable figure behind Scouts BSA Troop 316. Roger Carpenter, who has served as the troop’s Scoutmaster for an astonishing 75 years, will be recognized during a ceremony on October 11, 2025.
Believed to be one of the longest-serving scoutmasters in the nation, Carpenter, now 97, remains actively involved, having recently repaired the log splitter used for making apple butter and participated in a campout.
During the ceremony, he was presented with a service award and a flag flown over the U.S. Capitol. Current and former scouts joined Carpenter in the Apple Festival Grand Parade and a ceremony on the main stage. The celebration included a pre-ceremony sing-along with traditional camp songs and remarks from area leaders, as well as a brief speech from Carpenter reflecting on his decades-long journey as a Scoutmaster.
Thank you, Scoutmaster Carpenter, for an astonishing commitment to bringing the promises of Scouting to the youth in your community.