OAImages Blog

This is the second of a series of posts on patches issued for the various national officers in the Order of the Arrow.  Previously I had written about “Lodge of the National Chief” patches.  Next up are patches for the “Lodge of the National Vice Chief”.

In many ways the Order of the Arrow’s National Vice Chief is like being Vice President.  He’s the “Carroll A. Edson” to the Chief’s “E. Urner Goodman”.   It’s his position to support and assist the chief when needed.   Still, it is an important and honorable office.   Most National Vice Chiefs in recent years have been honored with at least one patch by their home lodges.

1985:  Michael G. Hoffman, Wipala Wiki 432.  During his term of office, no patches were issued by Wipala Wiki for Vice Chief Hoffman.  However, Hoffman’s service was commemorated in 2005 by the S96 through S101 from Wipala Wiki lodge.

1990:  Tony Steinhardt, Nischa Chuppecat 212.   The S8 from Nischa Chuppecat was issued to honor to honor Vice Chief Steinhardt.

1991:  Jeff Posey, Na Mokupuni O Lawelawe 567.  The brothers of Na Mokupuni of Lawelawe lodge honored their brother with their S13 and S14.   Mr. Posey has been a great help in writing these blog posts and is an avid collector of National Office patches.

1992:  Blair Dickens, Caddo 149.   Caddo 149 issued their R7 for Vice Chief Dickens.

1993:  Dameon Hutto.   I know of no lodge patches issued for Vice Chief Hutto.

1994:  Kyle Tanner, Inali 38.   Inali lodge issued a single flap, their S14 for Vice Chief Tanner.

1994: Kyle Tanner , Muc-Kis-Sou 170.  During Tanner’s term of office, this lodge merged with Inali 38 to form Konepaka Ketiwa 38.  Blue Book lists the S12 from this lodge as being issued for the National Vice Chief.   There is some disagreement over whether this flap actually exists.  Neither the Blue Book editor nor several  prominent collectors of national officers have this piece.  Can anyone confirm this piece exists?

1995:  Dave Clark, Nentego 20.  Nentego 20 issued their S14 to honor Vice Chief Clark.

1996:  Ryan Miske, Tonkawampus 16.   A few months after ending his term Ryan Miske visted the last SR-7 Conclave.  In a rather unusual occurence for North Carolina, we had snow that Saturday morning… in mid-April.   Of course we blamed the VIP from Minnesota for this!

Tonkawampus issued the S8 through S10 in his honor.  The S9 and S10 also were the lodge’s 1996 NOAC issues.  There was also a privately made ZS2 for this National Vice Chief.  

1997:  Josh Sain, Wa-Hi-Nasa 111.   Vice Chief Sain died tragically during his term of office.   The National Order of the Arrow has established a scholarship in his memory.

He was honored by his lodge with their S44.

1998:  David Petrush, Otanahgon 172.   NOAC shows this year used the fact that Petrush had a twin brother during their shows at Iowa State in 1998.

Vice Chief Petrush was honored by Otanahgon lodge with their S4.

1999:  Andy Oh, Amangamek Wipit 470.  In the days before lodge 470 started issuing massive amounts of patches, the tenur of Vice Chief Oh was honored with two flaps, the S39 and S40.  The S40 could only be obtained from the Vice Chief himself.

2000:  Jordan Hitchens, Kittatinny 5.  Unlike the National Chief this year, only a single flap was issued by Kittatinny 5 for Vice Chief Hitchens.    It is listed in Blue Book as the S24.

2001:  Scott Hunter, Tatokainyanka 356.   A rather attractive flap, listed as the S28.5, was issued by Tatokainyanka lodge for Vice Chief Hunter.

2002:  Riley Berg, Tah Heetch 195.  Vice Chief Berg’s tenure was commemorated by the S11 through S13 from this lodge.  Also, Tah Heetch’s eR2002 pays homage to the National Vice Chief.

2003:  Rich Moore, Kuh-Ni-Eh 145.  While in office, Moore attended a Fall Ordeal for Tsoiotsi Tsogalii lodge where he spent the weekend serving as an elangomat.   I believe his clan did not know their elangomat was “special” in some way until after the Ordeal ceremony was completed.  C-5B also issued a patch for Vice Chief Moore.

2004:  David Dowty, Black Eagle 482.  I had been told by a member of this lodge that they specifically decided not to issue a patch for this National Vice Chief.  However the ZS6 was produced, without authorization, in his honor.

2005:  Seth Mollitt, Echockotee 200.   Echockotee 200 issued their S27 and S28 for Vice Chief Mollitt.  The S28 could only be obtained from the Vice Chief.  S-4S also issued a patch for Vice Chief Mollitt.

The patches for Vice Chief Mollitt were also coordinated with the flaps issued by Wipala Wiki for Patrick Murphy, 2005 National Chief.   A nearly identical design was used by both lodges.

2006:  Chris Schildknecht, Ku-Ni-Eh 145.   Ku-Ni-Eh lodge issued their S68? through S70?, not yet listed in Blue Book, for Schildknecht.   C-4B issued a patch for the Vice Chief.

2007:  Larry Newton, Alibamu 179.   Word has come to me that Alibamu lodge has issued at least two flaps for the 2007 National Vice Chief.   The more difficult flap has a BLU border.   A more common version of the same design has a BLK border.  I will add these pieces to the site when I have images of them. (added 7/30/2007)

Credits and Thanks:

• James Arriola, Bill Chin, Jeff Posey and Steve Silbiger for their assistance and providing their spreadsheet of known national officer patches.   It would have been much harder to write this without their help