Pollard Was Pioneer for Women's Rights; a Milford Grandmother Knocked Down Boy Scouts' Gender Barrier.

Summary

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Catherine Pollard, who died recently at age 88, would agree that she was persistent and had strong convictions. Whether she regarded herself as either a feminist or a social pioneer is less certain. But Pollard, a Milford mother and grandmother, earned a spot in the social history of 20th century America when she became the first Boy Scout troop leader in 1988. Pollard became involved with the Scouts because her a son was a member. She had been a den mother, bugle instructor, committee member, and an informal troop leader. In 1974, when her Milford troop faced being dissolved because of the lack of a male leader, Pollard applied to be a scoutmaster.

The Scouts turned her down. They argued that maturing, young teenage boys needed a male role model. Pollard - a former Girl Scout who raised chickens, rode a motorcycle, and played the drum in addition to the bugle - said it was ridiculous to let her troop dissolve because of her sex. Besides, she was already doing the job.

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Pollard Was Pioneer for Women's Rights; a Milford Grandmother Knocked Down Boy Scouts' Gender Barrier.

The state's Commission on Human Rights...

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