Photo courtesy.
By Susan Swagler
Scout leader Steve Lloyd, who guided and influenced a generation of young men, has stepped down from his leadership role of Boy Scouts of America Boy Scout Troop 97 at Trinity United Methodist Church in Homewood after 22 years of service.
Long after his own boys, Adam, Russell and Michael, earned their Eagle Scout badges in 2006, 2009 and 2016, respectively, Lloyd remained devoted to Troop 97. He has served as an adult Boy Scout leader since 2000, and he was scoutmaster for 14 years at Troop 97 – making him the longest-tenured scoutmaster of all 15 scoutmasters at the troop since it was established in 1950.
Under Lloyd’s leadership, more than 110 Scouts have earned the rank of Eagle Scout.
Dave Goode, who worked with Lloyd for seven years as an assistant scoutmaster, said: “Steve’s dedication to Scouting is evident by how long he continued as scoutmaster after his sons became Eagle Scouts. That is a testament to his unselfishness, dedication and leadership.”
Dean Burgess – who served as troop committee chair from 2012 to 2018 and is a current board member of the BSA’s Greater Alabama Council, which serves youth and adult volunteers in 20 counties in north and central Alabama – has known Lloyd since their boys played T-ball together in the 1990s.
“You can’t help but follow Steve Lloyd, learn from him and have fun all at the same time,” Burgess said. “His enthusiasm for Scouting, friendship and the outdoors is infectious. His passion for improving the lives of others is exemplary. … He has been a role model for a generation of boys – some of whom are now doctors, accountants, truck drivers, businessmen, Army tank battalion commanders and Navy submarine officers – and he has developed leadership skills in adults who might not have known they had it in them.”
Dean Snow, who was scoutmaster of Troop 97 from 2000 to 2008, said Lloyd was instrumental in growing and sustaining the troop.
“I remember the call like it was yesterday,” Snow said. “It was early 2000, and I had just taken over as scoutmaster for Troop 97. The troop’s member numbers were way down, and we needed new Scouts fast. I made an urgent call to Steve Lloyd, who was serving as den leader for his son Adam’s Webelos den at Pack 397.
“After talking with Steve, telling him of my goals and vision for the troop, he told me he would bring his boys over for a visit and let them make their own decisions. They all joined, and Troop 97 started the comeback that is still in place today.”
Lloyd, he said, knew the importance of trust – especially trusting his own Scouts in their abilities to make sound decisions and be effective leaders.
“As we began a new chapter in the troop’s history,” Snow said, “we strictly followed the Boy Scout model for troop leadership. This model emphasizes allowing the youth to actually run the troop. Steve took this model, strengthened it and put major emphasis on the development of each and every Scout to become his best. He believed in his heart that every Scout can become a winner with proper leadership.”
It was for that and other reasons that Lloyd was the person Snow wanted to lead the troop after he was done.
“When my youngest son attained Eagle in 2008, it was time for me to pass the torch to Steve. I have never looked back on that decision because I knew the troop would be in very capable hands. Our membership was over 90 boys, and Steve had developed a cadre of adult leaders that made running the troop effortless.
“Of the 14 Cubs that Steve brought to the troop, one dropped out, one moved away and the remaining 12 attained the rank of Eagle. Many, many other boys have passed through this wonderful troop during Steve’s tenure, led by a bevy of adult helpers all following Steve’s talented leadership.”
Now Lloyd has stepped aside, and Grant Mullins is the new scoutmaster at Troop 97. He’s there because of Lloyd.
“When he first approached me to gauge my interest in being his successor, I turned him down immediately,” Mullins said. “I went on to explain my fear of the daunting task of stepping into such a large pair of boots and not being able to continue at his level of excellence. In classic ‘Mr. Lloyd’ fashion, he listened to my concerns, talked me through the job as he saw it and offered a great deal of kind words and guidance. In that moment, I had the opportunity to experience firsthand the kind of guidance that our boys were privy to as members of Troop 97.”
Holding Up Traditions
Troop 97 has a storied history spanning more than 50 years and 15 Scoutmasters, Mullins said.
“My hope for our troop is that we continue to carry on the tradition that has been set before us by such a long line of great leaders and that we continue to mold and shape our young men into the best version of themselves they can be. I’m … forever indebted to my mentor and friend Steve Lloyd for his persistence in extracting the best out of boys – even 46-year-old ones.”
Under Lloyd’s leadership, hundreds of boys in his own troop as well as others he interacted with had a rich and rewarding Scouting experience. So did the other adult leaders who worked alongside Lloyd.
Dan Strunk, scoutmaster at Troop 21 in Bluff Park, said Lloyd’s steadfastness and wisdom set him apart.
“You can count on him under any circumstance for personal and professional assistance, advice or problem-solving.”
Walter Rush, retired Scoutmaster at Troop 320 at Mountain Brook Presbyterian Church, said: “Over the years, Troop 97 has camped in many challenging regions in the North American continent and served well in times of stress and even natural disasters. Under Steve’s leadership, every experience – good, hard, tough, disappointing, or unkind – turned into a learning experience. An entire generation of Homewood men will live the benefits of Mr. Lloyd’s effect on their lives.
“His program challenged all his Scouts to develop the virtues of respect, responsibility and resourcefulness in every member of the program,” Rush added. “He accomplished this by developing attitudes of excellence, energy and enthusiasm not only in the boys but in the other adult leaders.”
Lloyd’s Lessons
“Steve Lloyd is everything that is good about Boy Scouting,” Mullins said. “If you’ve had the opportunity to interact with or work alongside ‘Mr. Lloyd,’ as so many young men know him, chances are, you came away better for it.”
Lloyd’s unwavering enthusiasm for Scouting was always inspiring and still resonates today.
Dan Strunk said Lloyd is known throughout the Scouting world for his “leadership, teamsmanship and people skills” and for his ability to work with a variety of ages – from the young men who are Scouts to the adult leaders around them – in his own troop and “among all the other Scout relations he has had with individuals and their troops.”
“He is well known among all adult members of the Greater Alabama Council in terms of assuring his troop’s attendance/participation in Council activities,” Strunk said. “He has never been anything but enthusiastic about the program, assuring the troop’s constant activities as well as activities involving the council where his troop played strong, active roles. His appearing anywhere Scout leaders congregated, in representing his troop, always seemed to serve as ‘icing on the cake’ regarding group enthusiasm and camaraderie.
“His regular wearing of the uniform, maintaining the troop bus and being present at all (Troop) 97 activities and all district and council activities has always assured the strength of the program for not only Troop 97 but the entire Greater Alabama Council,” Strunk added.
Lloyd’s dedication over the years to the boys in his troop was evident.
His wife, Marilyn, said: “Steve worked hard on every Scout’s Court of Honor advancement and Eagle Courts of Honor, giving his full attention to details for each Scout. Many nights he would be up late working on a presentation for a Court of Honor, and he wouldn’t wrap it up until he felt it was worthy of presentation.
“Scouting is a way of life that I know he aspires to instill in each young man that has gone down the path of Boy Scouts. The admirable characteristics of a Scout are something Steve strongly believes in teaching.” These are summed up in the Scout Oath, she said, something that “is so touching for a parent to hear their son say. At least, it has always been that way for me.”
Marc Corsini served as assistant scoutmaster in the troop under Lloyd’s leadership, and his sons, Nicholas and Matthew, both earned Eagle rank. Corsini said it’s rare, if not unheard of, for an adult mentor to stay in a child’s life from fifth grade to their 18th birthday.
“During those years, you normally would have multiple teachers, coaches, advisers, friends, etc. who make an impact on a child’s life, and these people usually would spend only one to maybe three years with the child. Rarely does an adult get to mold and develop young people over a seven-year period. Not everyone is that committed, but that’s what Steve Lloyd has done. And, altogether, he’s done that for 14 years as Scoutmaster. So, he’s had a significant long-term and positive influence on many more boys than just my own.”
Homewood City Councilman John Hardin is a former assistant scoutmaster at Troop 97 whose sons, Michael and Will, both earned Eagle Scout rank.
“I knew from the first day I met him (that) Steve Lloyd was going to be that special leader of young men my two boys would have the opportunity to benefit from in Troop 97,” Hardin said. “I am not sure they would have both made it to the rank of Eagle Scout without Steve’s leadership and guidance.”
Burgess sums up Lloyd’s years of dedicated service to his Scouts and so many others this way: “He has spent countless hours teaching boys how to grow up to be men of solid character, and he has left a positive imprint that will be passed down to untold future generations.”
