Mr. Cubbing

Greetings family, neighbors and friends. Today’s history rambling recalls the 1950’s and 60’s when the Ralph family was very involved in Scouting. Dad was a Cubmaster, Mom a Den Mother, and Jim and I went all through Cubs and Scouts. Dad was recognized for his leadership in this 1960 Hayward Daily Review newspaper article. The attached photos show dad and Jim (third from right) working with one of the dens, and the first pack meeting in our backyard (I’m the Indian with the beads sitting in the front row and Jim is wearing the cowboy hat in the second row)….Bill 

Veteran Scout Leader Retires

CASTRO VALLEY, April 7 - William H. Ralph, “Mr.Cubbing “ of Castro Valley has retired  as cubmaster of Pack 706, but he’s not leaving Scouting.

From now on Ralph will conduct Cub leader training courses in the Redwood Boy Scout District.

Ralph, a machinist for the Caterpillar Tractor Company in San Leandro earned the title of “Mr Cubbing” through his leadership of pack 706 at Marshall School for 10 years.

He organized the pack when his oldest son Bill became a Cub Scout in 1950. Since then the pack has grown from 15 boys to more than 100.

“We held the first meeting in our backyard” Ralph says. “As the community and more boys got into Cub scouting, our pack expanded. Sometimes we didn’t have enough chairs for the boys

at our meetings.”

   At one time the pack had 114 boys and 13 den mothers. But no matter how large it grew, it was always open to any boy in the Marshall School area.

   Bill Ralph is now 18 and a student at Oakland city College. Bill is a Life Scout and serves as assistant Scout master of Troop 700.

Bill’s younger brother, Jim, 15 is a sophomore at Castro Valley high School and a Star Scout. He is working to earn enough money to attend the National Boy Scout Jamboree at Colorado Springs, Colo.,this summer.

   When he retired as Cubmaster, members of pack 706 and their parents presented him with a pair of bronze bookends, each adorned by the figure of a Boy Scout.

   Last December, Ralph received the Silver Beaver Award, highest honor bestowed on an adult leader, at the Oakland Area Boy Scout Council’s Recognition Dinner. He has also received two honorary awards, the Scouter’s Key and a statuette.

   Ralph and his wife, Constance, also have a daughter, Debra,4. The family lives at 19828 Forest Avenue.     

Our sister Debi was only four years old when Dad retired as Cub Master from Pack 6, however as she got older he went on to  spent a decade with her as a 4-H leader