Artifact of the Week 20240809 - Billy Clark Story

For members of the Order of the Arrow, the name Billy Clark is synonymous with Cheerful Service. But outside of the bedpan story, very little was known about this unassuming Scout from Troop 1 in Philadelphia that E. Urner Goodman believed envisioned Cheerful Service as he founded the OA. Then, in 2020, OA historian Bill Topkis got a break and, through a series of events, was able to connect with Billy's 90-year-old daughter, Phyllis.

Bill and Phyllis exchanged information and stories about Billy, and our understanding of Billy and his cheerful disposition gained some much-needed depth.

During the Goodman-Edson Observatory at the National Order of the Arrow Conference, a four-page brochure was distributed to help share the enhanced story of Billy Clark. #NOAC2024 #studioboulder