HI-LEX Gnomes

A Marching Tradition since 1940

Perhaps the most recognizable and one of the oldest units in the parade. The Original ideal of Asa & Gene Eldridge, owners of Hi-Lex, in 1939, they had 10+/- Gnomes constructed of chicken wire frames and were covered with paper machi to look like drops of bleach. The original Gnomes, carried by Hi-Lex employees, made their first appearance in the Winter Carnival Parade in 1940. In 1948 they decided to expand to 40 Gnomes and enlisted the help of Boy Scouts from Troop 13, chartered by St. Columba Catholic Church to carry the Gnomes. The new Gnomes were constructed of fiberglass and were considerably lighter than the original Gnomes. In the 50's and 60's the Gnomes and Troop 13 Boy Scouts traveled to many small town festivals.

After 60 years, in 1999/2000 Hi-Lex was purchased by KIK International of Canad. The new owner, not aware of the long tradition of the Gnomes, told the employees to get rid of the Gnomes. Wally Wescott of Wescott Station seized an opportunity to buy the only remaining Gnomes that were not destroyed. Working together, Boy Scout Troop 13 and Wescott Station have ensured the tradition of the Hi-Lex Gnomes, back to their original numbers 10+/-, as part of the Winter Carnival will live on.

Scouts Registered in Charter Year 1924

Edward Boland* William Hennessy* Robert Brandle*
Charles Horn* Paul Capistrant* Henry Klinkhamer*
Guy Chapskie Vantelli Larkin* Albert Cirou*
Robert McElroy* James Neary Bernard Dolin*
John Orlikowski William Ewald Roy Patterson*
James Fitzgerald* Gordon Peterson* Stanley Flesher
Eugene Spear Jerome Gellerman Patrick Thompson*
Frederick Giese* Jeromme Timm Joseph Hennessy
Ralph Van Kempen
* Denotes Scouts listed on the original charter application of March 20, 1924, other joined during the charter year.

Troop 13 Scoutmasters

Francis Bergrup 1924 – 1927
Walter Flesher 1927 – 1936
Herbert Flesher 1936 – 1938
L. H. Leiser 1938 – 1939
Theodore Steiner 1939 – 1941
Eugene Morgan 1941 – 1944
Joseph Tretter 1944 – 1947
Eugene Tretter 1947 – 1948
Joseph Tretter 1948 – 1949
Harry Loughrey 1949 – 1952
Joseph Tretter 1952 – 1953
Jay Brooks 1953 – 1954
William Van Dyke 1954 – 1956
Jack Roddy 1956 – 1958
John St. Martin 1958 – 1973
Peter Koegel 1973 – 1975
Thomas Cheesebrow 1975 – 1976
Raymond Kvidera 1976 – 1978
Larry Haupt 1978 – 1979
Jack Kettles 1979 – 1980
Duane Edwards 1980 – 1982
Roy Nauertz Jr. 1982 – 1992
Barry Jauaire 1992 – 1994
Leonard Amunrud 1994 – 1998
Richard Nauertz 1998 – 1999
Jason Barrett 1999 – 2002
William Newsom 2002 – 2004
Nick Denkinger 2004 - 2010
Ethan Stevens 2010 - 2012
Jeremiah Willard 2012 - Present

Troop 13 Eagle Scouts

George Ziegler 8-1-49 John Wolters 8-1-49 Sylvester Hall 12-1-51
Richard McNamara 12-1-51 Don Rohweder 5-18-56 Mike Maddock 5-18-56
Jerry DeZelar 5-18-56 John Imre 5-18-56 John Ryan 5-18-56
John Hanson 5-18-56 Richard Sweet 11-20-64 Mark Krenik 5-11-74
Thomas Krenik 4-13-76 John Gitaen 12-14-76 Rock Krenik 7-6-77
Kevin Donovan 3-1-82 David Donovan 5-5-82 Richard Nauertz 7-17-89
Paul Juaire 12-10-90 Andrew Liberko 7-2-91 Chad Weihold 8-29-91
Scott Juaire 3-23-93 Cory Dahlquist 4-11-94 Christopher Evans 9-11-95
Scott Dahlquist 3-3-96 Matthew Amunrud 4-30-97 Daniel Larkin 5-5-98
Bradley Gerster 8-29-02 Tom Newsom 12-13-05 Charles Grieman 12-13-05
James Coleman 9-20-06 Bob Jameson 10-19-06 Jeff Anfang 10-19-06
Dan Newsom 1-28-08 Brain M 4-8-08 Issac Coleman 5-6-08
Dan Frankenfield 5-6--08 Peter Anfang 8-28-08 Matt Denkinger 12-15-08
Patrick Haney 5-19-09