The region structure as it is known today can be most easily traced back to 1972 when the National Order of the Arrow Committee voted to approve the establishment of a region chief position (prior to 1972, the Boy Scouts of America was organized into ten regions, and beginning in 1972, the national structure was divided into six regions). The first region chiefs, along with the national chief and national vice chief, were elected in December of 1974 and served two-year terms. Along with this new level of youth leadership came the creation of a “regional OA committee”, similar to the national structure, that includes a chairman who is recommended for service on the regional Scouting committee and the region chief, who serves as a youth representative on the regional board. According to The History of the Order of the Arrow by Dr. Kenneth Davis, the approval of the regional Order of the Arrow structure proved to be one of the key accomplishments of the Order in the 1970s. The regional leadership brought positive effects to the Order in terms of outreach, communications, and field programs.
The next major change in regional structure came to the Order of the Arrow in December of 1984 when the committee made the change to limit the national officer’s term to one year as opposed to two-year terms that had been in place since the 1974 elections. Finally, in 1992, the BSA structure included the four regions that are currently in place today, which resulted in the creation of the Central Region, Boy Scouts of America. The new region was a merging of the East Central and North Central regions, and the regional headquarters moved to where it was until 2009 in Naperville, Illinois. Today, all regional offices have been moved to Boy Scouts of America headquarters in Texas.
Past Central Region Leadership
Year | Region Chief | Region Chairman |
2021 | Terry Hendriex | Mike Tangen |
2020 | Patrick McInerney | Alyx Parker |
2019 | Brandon Stahl | Alyx Parker |
2018 | Will Coots | Alyx Parker |
2017 | Taylor Giles | Dan Segersin |
2016 | Logan Greene | Dan Segersin |
2015 | Joey Dierdorf | Dan Segersin |
2014 | Ricky Angeletti | Dan Segersin |
2013 | Mike Gray | Dan Segersin |
2012 | Marty Opthoff | Chris Grove |
2011 | Collin Huerter | Chris Grove |
2010 | Richie Ferolo | Chris Grove |
2009 | Michael Beckman | Chris Grove |
2008 | Tyler Elliott | Chris Grove |
2007 | Don Hough | Chris Grove |
2006 | Russ Bresnahan | R.D. Dunkin |
2005 | Paul Jensen | R.D. Dunkin |
2004 | Joe Sadewesser | R.D. Dunkin |
2003 | Adam Enerson | R.D. Dunkin |
2002 | Brian Herren | R.D. Dunkin |
2001 | Dominique Baker | R.D. Dunkin |
2000 | Luke Wolfe | R.D. Dunkin |
1999 | Aaron Kreager | R.D. Dunkin |
1998 | Ryan King | R.D. Dunkin |
1997 | Jason Accola | R.D. Dunkin |
1996 | JJ Arnold | R.D. Dunkin |
1995 | Alyx Parker | R.D. Dunkin |
1994 | Kyle Brown | Pat Ross, R.D. Dunkin |
1993 | Joel Shapiro | Pat Ross |
Past North Central Region Leadership
Year | Region Chief | Region Chairman |
1992 | Ray Ridgeway | Brad Haddock |
1991 | Dean Frommelt | Gene Schnell, Brad Haddock |
1989 | Chris Belden | Gene Schnell |
1988 | Daniel Fee | Brad Haddock, Gene Schnell |
1987 | Steve Meinhold | Brad Haddock |
1986 | Andrew Wright | Brad Haddock |
1985 | Kevin Hula | E.D. Paulson, Brad Haddock |
1982-84 | Darrel Bieker | Jack Virtue, M.J. Coyle |
1980-82 | Arnold Heck | Jack Virtue |
1978-80 | Roger Hoyme | Sid North, Jack Virtue |
1976-78 | Charles Clabots | Sid North |
1974-76 | Ron Amen | George Feil, Sid North |
Past East Central Region Leadership
Year | Region Chief | Region Chairman |
1992 | Charles P. Taylor | |
1991 | Art Stevens | Ken Grimes |
1989 | Mike Hartman | C. Younkman |
1988 | Kevin Bokesch | Edward Pease, C. Younkman |
1987 | Skip Van Bloem | Edward Pease |
1986 | Jon Jones | Ray Lee, Edward Pease |
1985 | Matt Sorensen | Ray Lee |
1982-84 | Rick Woodward | Ray Lee |
1980-82 | Rob Akes | Bob Bradshaw |
1978-80 | Brian Kasal | Bob Bradshaw |
1976-78 | Larry Ewaska | Bob Bradshaw |
1974-76 | Max Miller | Bob Bradshaw |
Past National Leadership From the Central Region
We also honor Arrowmen from the Central Region that were elected to provide national leadership to the Order of the Arrow:
2019 | Eric Harrison | National Vice Chief |
2018 | Michael Kipp | National Vice Chief |
2011 | Dan Dick | National Vice Chief |
2010 | Brad Lichota | National Chief |
2009 | Jack O’Neill | National Chief |
2008 | Benjamin Stilwill | National Vice Chief |
2006 | Chris Schildknecht | National Vice Chief |
2004 | Jeff Hayward | National Chief |
2003 | Rich Moore | National Vice Chief |
1997 | Chris Rogers | National Chief |
1996 | Ryan Miske | National Vice Chief |
1995 | Josh Feigelson | National Chief |
1994 | Kyle Tanner | National Vice Chief |
1990 | Tony Steinhardt | National Vice Chief |
1989 | Wade Herbranson | National Vice Chief |
1983 | Bob Wade | National Chief |
1980 | Kevin Moll | National Vice Chief |
1975 | Brad Haddock | National Chief |
1971 | Jim Widmaier | National Vice Chief |
1967 | Robert Szczys | National Chief |
1965 | Michael S. Costello | National Chief |
1963 | Gerald R. McNellis | National Vice Chief |
1961 | Ron Temple | National Chief |
1958 | James W. Kolka | National Chief |
The above information was gathered through research of the History of the Order of the Arrow, 3rd edition by Dr. Ken Davis.