Beavercreek man dies at Boy Scouts jamboree

A Beavercreek man, once a part of a Lewis and Clark Expedition re-enactment project, died this weekend while attending the Boy Scouts of America’s National Scout Jamboree in Mount Hope. W.Va.

The man was identified as 66-year-old Gene Schulz, according to Doug Nelson, Scout Executive for the Miami Valley Council of Boy Scouts of America.

Schulz, a merit badge counselor for the Miami Valley Council, collapsed while walking from his camp inside the Summit Bechtel Family Scout Reserve on Saturday, according to Deron Smith, director of BSA’s Public Relations and Nelson.

“Emergency medical staff on site immediately responded and conducted CPR before the man was transported via ambulance to a local medical center,” Smith said in a statement issued to the Dayton Daily News about Schulz. “Despite the additional efforts of the emergency medical team they were unable to revive him.”

Schulz’s cause of death was not immediately known, but Smith referred to his death as a medical matter, while Nelson said he was told that Schulz died of natural causes.

Up to 40,000 people are attending the jamboree, which ends today. Schulz was among 173 participants and 80 staff members from the Miami Valley Council who are at the event that started July 15, according to Nelson.

Smith had been with the council, which has approximately 2,500 volunteers, for more than a year, Nelson said. He registered with the council as the result of his two-year participation with a Lewis and Clark re-enactment project that started in 2003. The project was being highlighted at the jamboree, the main reason Schulz was attending the event, Nelson said.

Jamboree officials held a Monday night memorial service for Schulz, Nelson said.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the volunteer’s family during this difficult time,” Smith’s statement said.

Both a visitation and funeral service will be at the Tobias Funeral Home, 3970 Dayton-Xenia Road. Visitation will be 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m on Saturday, July 27, immediately followed by the funeral service.

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