W. Virgil Vandament, Boy Scout Leader

Willis Virgil Vandament was born in Lukin Township on October 17, 1898, to Wiley and Matilda Vandament.

 As a child, he attended Franklin School in his neighborhood along with 68 other students, all taught by Marion E. Moore. Vandament was neither tardy nor absent during the 7-month school term of 1910. August 19, 1914, he graduated from the 8th grade and received the Lindley scholarship for having the highest grade in his township on final examinations.

President Wilson declared war on the Imperial German government April 7, 1917, starting American’s participation in World War I. Within a month, on May 2, 1917, as soon as the school term had ended, Vandament enlisted in the Army. He had just finished his Junior year at BTHS. By August 1, 1917, Vandament was a private in the 3rd Infantry, stationed at Ft. Washington, Maryland.

Little is known of his actual army experiences, other than Vandament was classified as gunner first-class and that he received no wounds during battle. New Year’s Day, 1919, he was discharged and on his way home. On the fourteenth of January, he was welcomed back to Lawrence County and a week later was employed by Central Refinery. By the end of January, he had enrolled in night school to complete his high school education.

Six months after his return, on Saturday evening, July 3, 1919, Vandament married Miss Ruth Dudley of Bridgeport. A daughter, Jane, was born in 1924, followed by a son, Harold, in 1927.

By 1924, the first Boy Scout Troop had been formed in Bridgeport. By March of that same year, it was apparent that a second Boy Scout troop was needed as there were still several boys who wanted to join. Vandament consented to accept the position of Scoutmaster of Troop 251, if Hallie Hamilton would assist him. Vandament would remain active in Scouts for the next 50 years of his life. In 1944, thirty boys, who had all been in Troop 251, were in the armed forces fighting the Second World War. Nine of them were Eagle Scouts that Vandament had mentored.

Vandament was an active member in Post 62 of the American Legion in Bridgeport as well as being involved in the activities of the First United Methodist Church of Bridgeport. He found time to go to ball games in St Louis and he and Hallie Hamilton occasionally drove to Champaign to see the Illinois football games.

 In 1930, the Vandament family was renting a home in Denison Township, but by 1938, they had purchased a lot in Gray’s addition, Bridgeport and the house at 406 Griggs St. became the family home. The couple had a very active social life, being mentioned in the hometown newspapers almost every week under the Bridgeport Social column. One of their favorite activities was to play bridge with the Ruckers, Hamiltons, Ridgleys and Grays.

Vandament worked for the Marathon Pipeline for forty-three year before his retirement. He died September 17, 1973, at age 74, of a heart attack, and is buried in the Whitehouse Cemetery.

Some of the Society's Boy Scout Collection