Larry Walkinshaw is shown above about the time he became a Boy Scout Leader in 1930. For forty years Dr. Walkinshaw, a Battle Creek, Michigan dentist, led young men in scouting in various capacities. Soon the popular Scoutmaster of Troop 29 of the Nottawa Trails Council had over 70 scouts participating. The Tice boys were among them.

Seventy-seven years later I met them at the Michigan Audubon Society’s CraneFest Fund raising event on October 10, 2008. Paul Tice, his wife, Doris, myself and Wayne Tice were there as shown above. Another former Boy Scout, Lynn Junkett, all from nearby Battle Creek, attended as well. These, and many other scouts, had all birded with Walkinshaw. Wayne Tice was with Larry when he recorded Michigan Sandhill Crane Nest No. 1 where all modern-day crane saving efforts began on that eventful day of May 31, 1931. These events are chronicled in detail on page 25 in On the Wings of Cranes. It was here Larry said, “I had a site of cranes that completely changed his life.” It also affected his scouts to say nothing of crane populations worldwide.

Wayne, 91 years and going strong, sent me Christmas greetings in 2008. “Sure glad we made Lowell’s book review.” He continued, “‘Doc’ was a great inspiration to me.”

During the 1970s and 1980s, these former Troop 29 members joined others to stage reunions for their Scoutmaster, always highlighted with more praise and gifts. One elegant painting of Florida Sandhills now graces the home of his Walkinshaw’s daughter.