By Lori Carlson, Editor 

There will be more time for gardening, fixing cars, watching TV and celebrating wedding anniversaries, now that Jim Walsh has retired as Scoutmaster with Troop 331.Jim Walsh has
dedicated many years
to the Boy Scouts of
America, both as a
Scout himself and as a
Scoutmaster. (Photo by
Lori Carlson)

Walsh recently retired after 10 years in the position and 12 years with the troop. He and his wife, Lyn, will celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary on Aug. 6, and he says he hopes Lyn will be glad to have him at home.

“I spent the last eight anniversaries on trips with the boys,” he said, laughing.

Walsh – a school bus technician for the Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan School District – has a long history with the Boy Scouts organization – and with Prior Lake. His grandparents, Ray and Loretta Robel, owned a lake home in town beginning in the 1940s, and Walsh, who was born in south Minneapolis, moved here in second grade. He has lived in Prior Lake ever since. He and Lyn, who also grew up in the Prior Lake area, have lived in their home on Maple Lane since 1991.

Scouting has occupied much of Walsh’s years. As a young boy, he was part of the same troop he eventually would lead as Scoutmaster. He and both of his sons, Danny, now 23, and Tom, now 20, all have been Boy Scouts and have earned the Eagle Scout rank.

His best memories, he said, are “spending time with the boys and backpacking and hiking in places very few people ever get to see.”

He cites Father’s Day trips to New Mexico and Isle Royale in Michigan as highlights.

Though he retired to give other parents an opportunity to lead the troop, Walsh is still involved as a volunteer. When he’s not helping with Scouts, he enjoys gardening and doing home and car repairs.

“Scouts taught me that I could pretty much attempt anything,” he said.

He also enjoys going to car races and spending time with his in-laws at their cabin near Detroit Lakes. And, he likes to cook. “Napa Valley chicken is everyone’s favorite,” he said.

Q and A with

Jim Walsh

How would people describe you?

Friendly and passionate about what I do.

What do you like about living in Prior Lake?

The small-town friendliness of the people.

What’s the last good book you read?

“A Walk in the Woods” by Bill Bryson.

What’s your favorite TV show?

“Two and a Half Men.” I can actually watch it now that there will be no more Monday night Scout meetings.

If you could meet someone famous or from history, who would it be?

A.J. Foyt [a race-car idol].

What would be your ideal vacation?

Australia.

If you were governor or president for a day, what would you do?

Try to help the economy for the older people with fixed incomes.

Lori Carlson can be reached at (952) 345-6378 or editor@plamerican.com.