R. Ritchie Robertson and the Boy Scout Band
- Landyn Block
- Aug 7
- 5 min read
Updated: Aug 18
The Boy Scouts of America was established in 1910, originally serving boys 11–14 years old. The Scout program has grown and expanded throughout its existence, now including boys and girls of all ages. The Scouts continue to honor their four core values of character development, mental and physical fitness, citizenship training, and leadership.
The Boy Scout Band of Springfield, Missouri was founded in 1920 to exemplify these four scouting values. Dr. R. Ritchie Robertson, the public school music director, championed the initiative — stating, “Teach a boy to blow a horn, and he won’t blow a safe,” — and secured vital support from the community.
R. Ritchie Robertson, born in Scotland in 1870, moved to the United States in 1900 for his health. He arrived in Springfield, Missouri, in 1916 and quickly made a lasting impact. Recognizing the need for a musical outlet in the Springfield community, Robertson formed the Boy Scout Band with an inaugural group consisting of 50 young men. This group quickly gained notice under Robertson’s direction.
Robertson’s leadership style was both disciplined and personal. Trumpet player Jack A. Powell recalled: “When Ritchie Robertson would strike the stand with his baton for ‘Attention,’ not a muscle moved until his further command was understood. No person that I know could command the attention of boys like Ritchie Robertson.” When asked about his memories of the Boy Scout Band, member Paul Brewster stated, “There was never a more understanding man than he when it came to ruling a large group of boys. I know every boy that was in those bands will always remember that great man.” Lester E. Cox, band committee chairman, stated, “Ritchie Robertson was a good child psychologist and had complete control of the boys during rehearsals and in concerts.”
The band’s fame wasn’t limited to Springfield. In 1924, they executed summer “Goodwill Tours” across rural Missouri towns, bringing music and joy to communities. Jack A. Powell shared this memory: “Each year that I was in the Boy Scout Band, we would take a tour of surrounding counties and play in various towns. The tour was by means of buses. When we would come to a small area town, the local people would always give us ice cream cones or provide us with a lunch. These occasions were extremely important to me as a young boy.”
Less than two years after the Boy Scout Band began, they performed for President Warren G. Harding at the Rotary International Convention in St. Louis. The Boy Scout band performed for a variety of distinguished figures, both nationally and locally. Some of these included President Franklin D. Roosevelt, composer John Phillips Sousa, violinist David Rubinoff, and businessman Lester Cox.
In 1928, the band reached its peak, featuring 440 bandmembers. Under Robertson’s direction, the band premiered his own “Bluebonnet March,” sharing the spotlight with celebrated composer John Philip Sousa. At a Shrine Mosque event, Sousa conducted the Boy Scout Band and honored Robertson with a silver cup, a testament to the band’s musical excellence.
The band experienced some changes in the late 1930s. Ritchie Robertson’s son, James Robertson, assumed many of his father’s duties. James Robertson graduated from Drury College and was a fellow at the Juilliard School of Music. After his father suffered from a stroke in 1938, James exclusively commanded the Springfield Boy Scout Band.
R. Ritchie Robertson passed away on November 5, 1939, at the age of 69 leaving behind a lasting musical legacy that had a significant impact on many. The Boy Scout band continued until 1949 when it dissolved due to the increasing range of programs offered by the public school system.
In addition to forming the Springfield Boy Scout Band, Ritchie Robertson helped develop many other musical groups in the Springfield community. Before forming the Boy Scout Band, he founded the DeMolay Drum Corps, the Abou Ben Adhem Shrine Band, and the Frisco Band. In 1933, Robertson’s efforts contributed to the founding of the Springfield Civic Symphony, now known as the Springfield Symphony Orchestra.
Another notable group formed by Robertson was the Kiltie Drum and Bugle Corps in 1926. Drawing from his Scottish heritage, he began the first uniformed high school girls drum and bugle corps. The Central High School Kilties continue their tradition in Springfield by making many appearances in their Royal Stewart plaid tartans.
The Library Center’s Local History and Genealogy Department, is currently featuring an exhibit exploring R. Ritchie Robertson, the Boy Scout Band, and scouting in the Ozarks. On display you will find Robertson’s baton and medals awarded to the “The Star-Spangled Scotsman.” Other items used by scouts are also on exhibit for patrons to view and discover more about the growth of scouting in the Ozarks.
To view all of the library’s archival collections relating to Scouting, you can view our digital archive collection here.
Resources
All images courtesy Springfield-Greene County Local History & Genealogy Archives via the Scouting in the Ozarks collection.
McConnell, Kaitlyn. “Remembering Springfield’s Boy Scout Band, the Largest in the World.” Ozarks Alive, February 17, 2017. https://www.ozarksalive.com/stories/remembering-springfields-boy-scout-band-the-largest-in-the-world.
“With Kiltie Love” https://withkiltielove.wordpress.com/about/.
Burns, Don. “Springfield's Amazing Boy Scout Band.” Springfield! Magazine 2, no. 12 (1981): 42–43.
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