Lehi resident entrenched in service, Scouts

LEHI — Firmly entrenched in Scouting, the local John Hutchings Museum of Natural History, family life and his church, Alvin Schow has served the Lehi community for most of his 79 years.

Although circumstances at the start of World War II prevented him from becoming an Eagle Scout, Schow believes that Boy Scouts of America "is the best program in the world if carried out as it should be."

The local Scout program fell apart after the start of the war because so many leaders were called up, he said. Schow by that time had earned his Star rank, but was unable to take the next step to Eagle. Later, when he served in the bishopric of his local LDS ward. he became reacquainted with Scouting.

"I still think it's the salvation of youth if they follow it. Where else do you learn to salute the flag and serve God?" he said.

He served in Scouting for 30 years, receiving the Second Miler Award, the Silver Beaver Award and the Lehi District Award of Merit.

Schow was chair for the Mormon Relations Committee for the Utah National Parks Council and a member of the Lehi District Advancement Committee.

He often stressed the importance of the Scout Oath during Eagle Boards of Review, and he admonished Scouts to place the oath where they can easily see it every day.

"I still recite the Scout oath to myself," he said. "I stand in front of a mirror several times a month and say it."

The Lehi Boy Scout District staff honored Schow with the John Hutchings Outstanding in Service Award in 2004.

Schow served on the Hutchings Museum Board of Directors from 1988-1998, including three years as board president. During that time the museum moved from its original site to the Lehi Memorial Building.

The city arranged to lease space to the museum for $1 a year in exchange for the building the museum left. The museum houses the collections of the late John Hutchings.

Hutchings collected rocks and minerals, birds and eggs, fossils and shells, Indian and Wild West artifacts, and pioneer relics dating from 1850-1900. Each collection has its own room. The pioneer room includes memorabilia from Camp Floyd, a U.S. Cavalry encampment in Fairfield. It includes Pony Express artifacts and Hutchings' antique guns.

"He had (the collection) at his home and his wife wanted it out," Schow said.

The rocks and mineral collection may be the finest in the country, he said. It is known as the finest in Utah.

In 1955 Hutchings gave the artifacts to the people of Lehi in a trust. Last year visitors to the museum came from every state in the union and seven foreign countries.