I am very sad to report former Assistant Scoutmaster Greg Melcher died Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2011. His sudden departure from this world came as a shock to me.

Greg Melcher and I became assistant scoutmasters in 2001 with Troop 256, our sons bridged from Pack 256 at about this time. Greg was the type of scout leader who inspired our scouts to do outdoor activities they would not normally try on their own initiative. He had a "can do" attitude about the outdoors that was contagious. I have many memories of hikes that were very tough (Fall Canyon in Death Valley, and Indian Gardens on the south rim of the Grand Canyon) that Greg and I took scouts on.

Greg had a way of motivating young men to do more than their best. He was the acting scoutmaster at Camp Geronimo in 2005. That year Troop 256, under the leadership of Greg and Camp Geronimo SPL Joe Baker, earned perfect camp inspection scores for the week; something that we have never done before or since that year.

I am sure it was Greg's motivating influence that made him so memorable to the scouters and scouts of Troop 256 and a positive role model for his son, Eagle Scout Danny Melcher.

Memorial services for Greg Melcher will be Tuesday, March 1, at 10:30 A.M. at Central Christian Church in Henderson NV.