Flower Mound’s Bubeck Recognized for 50 Years of Service to Scouts

With his father out of the picture when he was a youth after his parents divorced, Harry Bubeck needed some other type of male guidance. So, he turned to something his dad had been involved with back in their native New Jersey—scouting. 

Harry first joined Cub Scouts in 1964 at age eight when he, his mother, and four siblings went to live with his grandmother in Wichita Falls, Texas. At age 16, Harry moved to Dallas in 1973 under the roof of an aunt and uncle. About two blocks away was St. Andrews Presbyterian Church in East Dallas where Harry joined Boy Scout Troop 42. Two years later, Harry graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School.

Wanting to assist those younger than himself and later his own children, Harry began volunteering with that same troop. Half a century later, that troop decided to honor him for that long-time service by presenting the Flower Mound resident with a commemorative plaque.

“I’ve been very, very active in scouting,” Harry said. “I’ve done national events. I’ve probably been to 10 national jamborees, a world jamboree, and for the Order of the Arrow, I’ve attended about 15 National Order of the Arrow Conferences.”

Harry, who has served as troop jamboree master five times, will be adding another national Order of the Arrow event in July at the University of Colorado in Boulder.

Harry served as scoutmaster for 12 years before switching to lodge advisor with the Order of the Arrow’s Mikanakawa Lodge in the 1990s. Not being able to serve in both roles, Harry remained active with the troop for the last 30 years as co-committee chair focused on its finances. 

More recently, Harry and the other co-chair, Mike Flagg, began leading the church’s corresponding girls’ troop. 

Both the Order of the Arrow and Troop 42 are affiliated with Dallas’ Circle10 Council. Harry credits Mikanakawa Lodge Advisor Jim Ince for helping him through his divorce with his first wife. Similarly, Harry cites Troop 42 leader D. Charles Chapman and committee chair Jay Cook Evans as instrumental figures in his early life. 

Though Harry never became an Eagle Scout himself, all three of his sons—Marcus High School graduates Brandon, Sam, and Nathan—did achieve the honor with that same troop. 

“I’ve been fortunate that all three of my boys have been Eagle Scouts. In the Order of the Arrow, we have a special thing called the Vigil Honor which all three have earned,” Harry said. “That’s very cool.” 

Harry initially retired in 2011 after 35 years in information technology with the Dallas Independent School District. Three years later, Harry returned to the workforce loading data for Equifax. Harry and second wife Cathy, whom he married in 1987, have lived in Flower Mound since 2000. They have four grandchildren and one foster grandchild.

“I’m very blessed to have a good wife as Cathy lets me do it because it takes a lot of time away from her,” said Harry, who reconciled with his father in 1981. “In April, I was gone every weekend except for Easter plus a couple in May.”

This wasn’t the first time Harry was honored as in 2015 he was selected to receive the Distinguished Service Award from the National Order of the Arrow Committee. Harry currently mentors Cathy’s 13-year-old great nephew Ethan Schuller, who accompanied his great uncle at last year’s jamboree. Harry also enjoys teaching merit badges. 

Throughout his many years in scouting, Harry has collected more than 270 patches from around the county which he has framed and displayed in his garage. 

“The reason I’ve stayed in scouting so long is to help youth,” the now 67-year-old said. “We get some of them from broken homes. I’ve been doing this so many years it’s nice to go back and see these kids get married and raise a family.”