94-year-old Boy Scout leader to retire, disband troop

NEWARK, N.J. — A 94-year-old scoutmaster in New Jersey is shutting down a Boy Scout troop he founded almost 75 years ago, in 1942.

Julio Balde says he planned to keep Troop 102 operating in Newark for another year to mark its 75th anniversary. But he says his body had other ideas, and participation isn’t the same.

The troop operates out of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church with six members. But four are graduating high school, so the troop will disband at the end of the month.

Balde estimates that nearly 1,000 scouts have participated since he founded the troop. Forty-three became Eagle Scouts.

Balde turns 95 on Friday.

.neFileBlock {
margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.neFileBlock p {
margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}
.neFileBlock .neFile {
border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
padding-bottom: 5px;
padding-top: 10px;
}
.neFileBlock .neCaption {
font-size: 85%;
}

In this June 11 photo, Newark Scoutmaster Julio Balde holds Troop 102’s original charter from 1942, in Newark, N.J. The 94-year-old scoutmaster is shutting down the Boy Scout troop he founded almost 75 years ago.

http://www.limaohio.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/54/2016/06/web1_110912568-95fbf79e54f244508c094d1df5511c8d.jpgIn this June 11 photo, Newark Scoutmaster Julio Balde holds Troop 102’s original charter from 1942, in Newark, N.J. The 94-year-old scoutmaster is shutting down the Boy Scout troop he founded almost 75 years ago. George McNish | NJ Advance Media via AP