Osage Lodge #42 History
Order of the Arrow in the Ozarks started with the founding of Osage Lodge #42 by Allen C. Foster in 1929. Osage Lodge was the first OA lodge to be founded west of the Mississippi. The first induction was held at Camp Arrowhead with 23 charter members inducted. Lodge #42 officially received its charter from the National Lodge on July 3, 1929. Mr. Foster served as the first Chief of the Fire for Lodge #42 and he also played a part in the development of the OA by serving as 1 of 15 men chosen to be Area Leaders. Mr. Foster oversaw OA Area 12 which served Region 8 of the 12 Regions. The lodge totem was a indian head. In 1973 the lodge was the first in Missouri and one of the first in the nation to receive the prestigious E. Urner Goodman Camping Award bestowed by the National Office.
| Osage Lodge Chiefs | |
| 1962 | Ken Browning |
| 1961 | Ronald Radtlee |
| 1960 | Tony Stumeyer |
| 1959 | Bill Lenz |
| 1958 | Monty Denninson |
| 1957 | Jack Robinette |
| 1956 | Jack Logue |
| 1955 | Fritz Schaeffer |
| 1954 | Dean Crafton |
| 1953 | Sandy Sutton |
| 1952 | John Anderson |
| 1951 | Michael H. Cain |
Nih-Ka-Ga-Hah Lodge #91
Mo-Kan Council seeing the success of the OA program in other councils decided to form their own lodge and July 13, 1936 Mo-Kan council received a charter from the National Lodge with 27 registered members. The lodge totem was a deer skull.
| Nih-Ka-Ga-Hah Lodge Chiefs | |
| 1962 | Edward Riggs |
| 1961 | Norman Fretwell |
| 1960 | Norman Fretwell |
| 1959 | Frank Martin |
| 1958 | Gary Justice |
| 1957 | Maynard Henson |
| 1956 | Jack Chapman |
| 1955 | Jim Moffett |
| 1954 | Larry Bigg & Garry Bigg |
| 1953 | Gary Myers |
| 1952 | Marvin Parker |
| 1951 | Ronnie Roderique |
Wah-Sha-She Lodge #42
In 1994 when Ozarks Council 308 and MO – KAN Area Council 306 merged, they formed the existing Ozark Trails Council 306. The merger of the two councils additionally caused the Order of the Arrow Lodges that were supported by each council to merge into one. Osage Lodge #42 and Nih-Ka-Ga-Hah Lodge #91 gave birth to Wah-Sha-She Lodge 42. Wah-Sha-She can be translated into English as meaning “Water People”. Over the past several years, Wah-Sha-She Lodge has had a strong presence in its Section as well as on the National level. The Lodge has received the prestigious recognition of being an Honor Lodge, which is bestowed by the National OA Office, many times since its beginning and has survived through two section changes. Wah-Sha-She Lodge celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2015. In 2015 the Lodge won 1st place in Basketball and placed in the top ten for group dancing.
Section Involvement
The Section C-5B Traveling Trophy is a prestigious honor given to the winning lodge that attends conclave and who win that year’s competition for several events. Some of the categories are: Lodge contingent involvement, training attendance, program attendance, competition involvement, and drive to lead. The traveling trophy has been awarded to our lodge in 2020, 2016, 2015, and 2014.
Section Officers
The following Arrowman have been elected to serve as Section Officers from our lodge.
| Section Chief | |
| 2018-2019 | Garret Schmidt |
| 2017-2018 | Garret Schmidt |
| 2015-2016 | David Bippes |
| 2012-2013 | Michael Bray |
| 2009-2010 | Chris Courtney |
| Section Vice Chief | |
| 2016-2017 | Garret Schmidt |
| 2012-2013 | Cody Stepp |
| 2011-2012 | Michael Bray |
| 2010-2011 | Chris Courtney |
| 2007-2008 | Justin Kolker |
| Section Secretary | |
| 2020-2021 | Andrew Snyder |
| 2018-2019 | Greg Doermer |
| 2016-2017 | Matthew Bippes |
| 2015-2016 | Matthew Bippes |
R. D. Dunkin Leadership in Service Award
This award is designed to recognize those within Section C-5B who go far beyond their immediate responsibilities as Arrowmen and by doing so have laid a path of excellence for other Arrowmen to follow. The award is named after R.D. Dunkin, who believed that young people can grow to exceptional strengths and reach their full potential with the right combination of leadership, education, mentorship, and love. R.D. Dunkin served as the Central Region Order of the Arrow Chairman for sixteen years, and is responsible for shaping the region structure and program into what it is today. The following Arrowman from our lodge have received the award.
| Award Year | Recipient |
| 2020 | David Bippes |
| 2020 | Garret Schmidt |
| 2019 | Austin Powell |
| 2019 | Forrest Bolles |