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George W. Olinger
1882 - 1954
Founder, Highlander Boys
These
were the words that George W. Olinger said to his small group of fifty
Highlander Boys in 1916
and he kept right on making that admonition until 1928 when he became
responsible for 1,200 boys
actively enrolled in his Denver program.
Initially, Mr.
Olinger organized a baseball team in the Highland neighborhood. He
soon found that
actually playing ball with those boys made it easier to guide them into
worthwhile ventures
even if they were not all inclined to accept his ideas of conduct. He
supplied bats, balls, gloves and
even uniforms for all of them. He believed that every boy would
strive harder to be a winner when he
was wearing a uniform. In some subtle way friendships be came closer
and teamwork was improved.
Encouraged by one successful ball team he organized another and another.
It was not long before
the Olinger ball teams were showing up in the Denver newspapers as tops
among boy teams.
In 1916 Mr. Olinger had another idea that would serve more boys, so he started
the
“Highlanders of Denver”. He invited fifty boys to join his new venture,
It was a non-sectarian
organization with the purpose of developing boys into loyal citizens
through a Four Point program
dealing with the mental, spiritual, social and physical aspect of a boy’s
life.
Mr. Olinger
financed the organization completely from his own resources for twelve years,
until 1928 at which time there were 12,000 active alumni members.
To become an Olinger
Highlander Boy recruit there were some requirements. A
boy had to be nine years of age, between
four feet two inches and four feet eight inches, pass a reasonable physical
examination and show
reasonable mental and educational aptitude. All boys
were required to attend Sunday School regularly
at the church of his, or his parents choice. All boys
must be accompanied by both parents,
when they were admitted to membership.
Each boy accepted into the organization was required to memorize the Highlander
Precepts, the Aims
and the Highlander Prayer, not only memorize but strive to live by
these principles. Boys took a pledge
to honor and live by the precepts of
the Olinger Highlanders. After the pledge the boy received a
Silver Token with the Precepts engraved on the
front and Highlander's name engraved on the back.
Olinger Highlander Boys.
Circa 1928.
Each
boy spent at least one year in “speak well” classes and if he wished,
he could round out his training
by joining a band, a chorus, hobby club or tumbling class, all under
expert, supervision. Every year,
boys were given the opportunity to study business, using the examples of
commercial and manufacturing
firms in Denver. When the baseball teams became Olinger Highlanders, the
uniforms were changed to
khaki military uniforms, since the physical phase of the Four Fold program
included military drills as well
as calisthenics, athletic and international folk dancing. For each
division of the program —
mental, spiritual, social and physical — Mr. Olinger employed experienced
specialists. Among them
was Music Director John Leick, who was coronet player in Sousa’s
first band
Olinger Highlander Boys Band.
Circa 1928.
Original Highlander Boys building.
A converted candy factory, commonly referred to as the "Old Dutch
Mill."
4th & Grant, Denver, Colorado.
1928.
In 1928 there were 1,200 boys actively engaged in the program in Denver and some
11,000 ex-Highlanders.
By then, it was clear that the operation of an institution of the size of
Highlander Boys Inc. was quite a load
for any one man, even George Olinger. A board of Directors was
organized among Denver businessmen
and plans made for the Highlander Boys Foundation, which would have
headquarters in a “Temple of Youth.”
Funds were to be raised by the citizens of Denver to support the
foundation.
After an eight-day campaign $294,000 was raised and optimism was high.
The Mothers Corps brought in
$50,000 in cash in a pledges to show their appreciation.
The plans went forward, the
Temple of
Youth was built and all of Denver
celebrated with enthusiasm. On February 22, 1930, the new building was
dedicated with the renowned
composer and bandmaster, John Phillip Sousa, present to direct the
Highlander Boys Band.
The building at 300 Logan Street offered a gymnasium, rifle range, hobby
and crafts rooms,
meeting rooms, a huge kitchen, a library and parade grounds.
The Temple of
Youth under construction. 300 Logan Street.
July 8, 1930
Building plaque on the Temple of
Youth.
The plaque reads:
The Highlander Boys Inc. builders of better boyhood
Physical, Mental, Social, Spiritual.
Denver, Colorado.
The building was located at 300 Logan Street.
1930.
Then came
the Depression. After five years of successful operation the foundation budget
could not be
raised. Mr. Olinger gave himself, his time and some of his money
trying to keep the foundation solvent.
He placed a dramatic appeal on a full-page ad of the Denver Post, urging the
citizens to volunteer their help.
He himself offered $2,500 to apply to the budget. But pledges could not be
collected. Unemployment was high,
wages were falling, profits were low. Finally, on September 1, 1933, the
foundation reluctantly suspended
operation. It was a shock for most Denver citizens. For many
people besides the parents and close friends,
the Highlander uniform had become a symbol of correct behavior, fine posture,
neatness, respect and
efficiency along with many desirable character traits found in the basic
Highlander code.
No one could deny that Mr. Olinger exemplified the precepts that he
advocated for his boys.
The
organization disbanded and the "Temple of Youth” was sold to pay
state taxes. The building and
parade grounds became the new headquarters of the Denver branch of the
National Guard. This property
was commonly referred to as the National Guard Amory.
David C. Bayless, PhD, Perpetuator.
foundation members. With that cadre, he reorganized "The Highlander Boys Organization." Mr. Bayless
continued with Olinger's themes, including the Precepts, Aims and Highlander Prayer. He carried on under
the same basic policies and same careful supervision that Mr. Olinger provided, although from time to time
the program was updated to fit the needs of that day’s young man. It was a great joy to Mr. Olinger to see
the Highlanders again on the march. He served on the board until his death in 1954.
"Vox Pop"
December, 1943A very popular radio interview show that traveled around the United States to broadcast the voice of
the people during WWII. People who were interested in appearing on the show as contestants would
apply, the producers would ask a small number to be personally interviewed by the program hosts.
The show participants would be selected from the interviews.
The show referred to in this history was broadcast from the Armory. All of the contestants were
Highlander boys. The show was aired over the whole country, giving unusual prominence to the city
of Denver and even greater exposure to the Highlander Boys,
At that time, during the middle of WWII, most people back East thought of Denver as a small time cow
town. For us, it was almost unbelievable that "Vox Pop" would give our town and our organization
that kind of publicity.
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| Co host Warren Hull, Vox Pop Radio, interviews Highlander Boy Bandsman Joe Doolittle and his father. Denver, Colorado. December 20, 1943. |
Lt. Colonel Jerry Allingham interviewed by Co host Parks Johnson, Vox Pop Radio. Denver, Colorado. December 20, 1943. |
In
the mid 1950's the
organization acquired the building at 301 E. 4th Avenue and gradually developed
it
into a facility for sport and drill activities. Eventually the building was
redesigned to offer offices, classrooms,
kitchen, band room, rifle range and armory. Brigade drill practices and
competitions were held at the
National Guard Armory or the armory parade grounds.
In 1959 the organization upgraded from it's traditional WW1 dress uniform to a
dark blue uniform based
on the United States Air Force Academy uniforms. Recruits wore a silk-screened Highlander
sweatshirt over
a white shirt and a black tie, blue slacks, black shoes and a blue military hat.
Redesigned
uniforms
1959.
Through
the 50s and 60s the organization membership fluxuated between
1,200 and 2,000 boys.
As it's main fundraiser, the organization held the "Annual All Boys
Show" at the Denver Civic Auditorium,
a three-day event with two performances each day. The last performance of
the event was an assembly
of the entire Brigade and a "Parade and Review" which featured
the retirement ceremony for the
Brigade Commanding Officer.
ten for $5. Every boy was required to sell $75 of "All Boys Show" tickets. Ticket buyers could either use
the tickets to attend a performance or donate the tickets to a local orphanage for the orphan
children to attend the show.
Sergeant Major Danny Laird sells Highlander Boy Bonds to Denver Mayor Tom Currigan.
Mayors Office, Civic Center.
1965.
In 1955 Albert S Carter, a prominent Denver Citizen donated a three hundred and
ten acre tract of
mountain property near Golden Colorado to the Highlander
Boys Organization.
Carter Lake, Golden Colorado.
Circa 1964.
All Highlander Boys were obligated to attend summer camp for a week at the organization’s Colorado
mountain property, Carter Lake. The camp offered Quonset-hut housing for all boys under the rank of
lieutenant. Lieutenants, captains, majors and colonels were required to bunk in four-man tents.
The camp offered a command post, a complete kitchen and mess hall, a clinic and a large tent
— called the big top — for group gatherings and nightly sing-along. Camp activities included archery,
art and crafts, baseball, boating, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, swimming and volleyball.
In the early 60s, Denver
became more decentralized and it became more and more difficult for boys
to come into the core city for drills and activities. Outlying
chapter groups were established in Arvada,
Aurora, Broomfield, Englewood, Lakewood, Northglenn, Thornton and
Westminster.
The Highlander Band remained at the Denver headquarters and grew into
three separate levels
of competency. Twice a year each chapter would send its best-drilled
private, non-commissioned officer,
squad, platoon and company to the National Guard Armory to compete in
drill competitions, which led
to the award of the organization’s Honor Company.
Along
with the organizations growth, so did the demand for more activities. Boys could join
basketball teams, wrestling teams, a gymnastic team, debate teams, a radio club, rifle teams and
drill teams. Drill teams became very
popular. The "Runts" drill team was for boys under
54 inches in
height.
Private First Class, Kurt Davis,
Runt Drill Team.
1961.
The Non Commissioned Officer drill team was called the "Scotch
Patrol."
The commander held regular competitions to
allow
newly promoted NCO's an opportunity
to win a position on the 18 man team.
Scotch Patrol Drill Team.
Commanded by
Captain Albert Dreher.
1967.
The "Gold
& Blue" drill team was comprised of only 12 officers from the entire Brigade.
To
become a member a "challenge" was made to an existing
team member. A challenge was a very
intense man-to-man drill
competition of the team's routines.
The winner was chosen by a vote
of the other 11 members. The commander was the current Brigade Commander,
not always a team member, an honorary position.
8 man Gold
& Blue Drill Team.
Commanded by, Brigade Commanding Officer Russell Stone.
1966.
In
the late 1960s, at he height of the Vietnam War, the organization faced
criticism for it's military
uniforms, the use of wooden rifles and its emphasis on military discipline
and drill. Some referred to the
boys as "young fascists." Membership declined drastically. In the
mid 70s management attempted to
keep the organization viable by discontinuing the blue military uniforms,
the use of wooden rifles,
drill teams and military discipline. The new direction was
"co-ed." The organization was simply called
"The Highlanders." Carter Lake Camp and the building at E.
Logan were sold and the proceeds
used to pay taxes, salaries, purchase co-ed uniforms and pay other costs.
Recruitment continued
to decline. Struggling with the changed culture of the Vietnam
era, the organization found itself
without membership funding and community support.
to Channel 9 studios. When the armory building was razed, the cornerstone was opened and a copper
time capsule containing Highlander memorabilia was opened. For several years the contents of that box
were on display in the lobby of Channel 9 studios . Remaining artifacts are currently in storage pending
the relocation of the Denver Historical Museum.
It
is estimated that from 1916 to 1976, 30,000 boys in the Denver metro area
proudly called themselves
Highlander Boys. By the end of the first decade of the 21st
century, perhaps only 2,000 men were still
alive, carrying the memories of the Highlander experience. They still lived by the
Precepts, Aims and
same basic policies laid out by George Olinger. The Highlander Boys were trained to show
respect,
commitment, courtesy and loyalty. From the experience of commanding other boys in
military units,
they learned to be leaders. The promotion system encouraged a feeling of accomplishment and
self-worth. And they had a lot of fun along the way.
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