This tribute to the genuineness of Bob Wolff's spirit has been prepared twenty-five years after his death. As his wife I was motivated to write this when repeatedly asked by Wayne Farrar, the initiator and director of the Hammerstone Scout Museum, to give or loan to the museum memoribilia of Bob's life. When I visited the museum in February 1994, Wayne told me that his information about Bob was primarily from hearing Scouters talk about him. "Bob's name comes up over and over again and I need a biography," he told me.

When I returned home and went through all the things, which I had saved and put away "for a later time." I knew that the time had come to record the facts as I understood them. The work has served as a catharsis, in that I have relived painful memories, as well as enjoyed, laughed and felt more deeply the sheer goodness of the man who had been my husband for twenty-five years.

Robert Lee Wolff, Jr., son of Robert Lee Wolff and Alice Booker Wolff, was born January 24, 1915 in Greensboro, North Carolina. His parents were from Pinnacle, located in Surry County, North Carolina. It was there that his paternal grandparents, Dr. Nathaniel A. Wolff and Alethea Gordon Wolff had lived from 1830 to the early 1900's. His parents were in 1900 and moved to Guilford County in December 1911. Mr. Wolff purchased the historical house built in the 1850's by Robert C. Caldwell, son of Dr. David Caldwell. Know as the "The Black House." it was on Friendly Road about three miles west of Greensboro and near Guilford College. Here Robert and Alice lived with their six children: William, Edward, George, Julia, Dorothy, and Robert, Jr.

Bob was seven years old when his father died in 1922 after a prolonged illness. The Greensboro Daily News account of Mr. Wolff's stated: "He was one of the country's foremost farmers and was held in highest personal regard by all who knew him. He had the confidence of the general public as few mem of today can claim. He was an educated man and an earnest reader. It may be said of him that he was the most scientific and intensive farmers of the community."

It is noteworthy that each of his children valued an education and became well educated people. William earned a Ph.D. in Chemistry. Edward attended North Carolina State College for two years. George graduated from high school and immediately began working. Dorothy received a B.S. degree from Guilford College and was a high school biology teacher. Julia received an A.B. degree from Guilford College and did graduate work at Bryn Mawr. She taught high school English. Mrs. Wolff remained in the home until her death in 1941.

Bob attended elementary school at Guilford College. At age 12 he became a Boy Scout. Growing up in the country and encourgaged by his mother, he learned as a youngster to love and revere all living creatures, plants, and the earth itself. He acquired an amazing amount of knowledge through observation and reading. His particular interest in birds was well developed when he attended Greensboro Senior High School (later Grimsley High School), as evidenced by a paper he wrote for an English class titled "A Beginner's Obeservations of Bird Life." The paper earned an A- from Miss Laura Tillett, his renowned teacher.

After graduating from high school in 1932, he attended the University of Pennsylvania. His brother William was on the faculty of the medical school and Bob lived with his and his wife Mabel. His Scouting interest continued there as he served as an Assistant Scoutmaster and was the nature counselor at the Boy Scout camp of Burlington County, New Jersey for three years.

His first year as a counselor he was voted by the campers as the best-liked staff member. His writing to his mother about this, he said "I think it was because I am a Southern Boy."  In the same letter he told how embarrassed he was because when his sister Dot came to see him, she said "O'mah honey chile, I certainly is glad to see ya!"  Some of the staff and campers heard her and after that they greeted him with "O'may honey chile."  His description of all the nature activities he directed indicates that his popularity was earned of this creative work rather than his Southern dialect.

Bob was intiated into Hunnikick Lodge #76 during the 1934 camp season for the Burlington County Council in New Jersey. In Philadelphia he was also a Neighborhood Committeman for two years. Notes and correspondance show that he and his friends explored many nature areas in the vincinity and took many bird trips. Bob's pre-medical work at the university was halted because he lost all vision in his left eye. This tradegy brought him back to North Carolina where he enrolled at the University of North Carolina, where he earned a certificate of public health in 1938. 

Robert Lee Wolff, Jr.
Camp Lenape, New Jersey
1934

Courtesy of the
Hammerstone Scout Museum
Lillington, NC

There were about 125 Scouts to direct and as they were willing to follow, we built a huge bridge, about 40 feet long and 15 feet high. We also built a smaller bridge and two towers about 20 feet high each, all being completed in 8 minutes."

"The rest of the demonstrations consisted of Scout games, signaling, first aid projects, and special camping scenes where tents were erected and fires built....I had a most wonderful time and made many friends from various countries."

The correspondence which Robert carried on with these new Scout friends continued into World War II. Letters from Sweden, Norway, Finland, Holland, Northern Ireland, Scottland, Nassau, and Brazil are on loan to the Hammerstone Scout Museum in Lillington.  The Greensboro  Scouts toured France, Switzerland, Brussells, and England. His letters to his mother are actually like a diary of the entire trip.

Following his studies at University of North Carolina, Bob worked with the North Carolina Department of Public Health. This took him to several areas of the state. Time was spent in Lumberton, Bryson City, and Leaksville and other areas. While in Bryson City, he worked with the Cherokees, where he served as an assistant Scoutmaster. The Cherokee Council presented to him the Acorn Award for his service. He enjoyed being with the Cherokees very much and often spoke of things he learned from them.

Bob was greatly concerned that he was unable to serve in the Second World War due to his 4F classication. Many of his friends were serving and he had a strong desure to be engaged in the war with them. His disappointment was somewhat mitigated when in 1941 he accepted a request by the Greensboro Area Boy Scout Council to serve as assistant Scout executive. This appointment meant he had to leave public health work and take the National Training Course for Scout Executives at the Schiff Scout Reservation in Mendham, New Jersey. He completed the training April 30th, 1941. In the overall appraisal ranking in a class of thirty men, his rank was number one. He was selected permanent patrol leader of the class. His highest scores were on adaptability, sociability, tact, and sense of humor, followed closely by Scouting spirit, leadership of men and originality. His lowest score was punctuality!

His tenure with the Greensboro Council was from 1941 to April 1943. He was then sought by the Tuscorora Council based in Goldsboro. He accepted their invitation and served as Scout Executive through December 1948. He and Helen Donavant were married in April 1945. Helen was also from Greensboro and served as field secretary of the Greensboro Girl Scout Council for two years prior to their marriage.

While in Goldsboro, Bob's outstanding accomplishments were in the areas of camping, training of leaders and troop activities. However, he did not enjoy the executive role as it related to fund raising and office management. Bob excelled in directing Scout program of exceedingly high quality. He believed strongly in the values inculated in the regular Scout program and in the Order of the Arrow program.

He was the founder of the Nay-Win-Rar Lodge #296 in the Tuscarora Council in 1943. He was also active in assisting other lodges throughout the North Carolina and other states. He helped initiate annual state meetings and was involved in several national OA meetings.
 

 Tuscorara Council Scout Executive
Circa 1945

Courtesy of the
Hammerstone Scout Museum
Lillington, NC