Oldest Girl Scout receives 75 year pin!

At 105 years of age, Emma G. Otis is the oldest Girl Scout member still active in Western Washington. Congratulations, Emma, on receiving your 75-year Girl Scout membership pin!

Born in 1902, Emma grew up in Gig Harbor and attended nursing school at Tacoma General. She served as the Girl Scout leader for her daughters' Brownie Girl Scout troop, and led the troop of 32 girls all the way through graduation from Tacoma's Stadium High School in about 1942 – the first troop to do so.

Emma's belief in the value of Girl Scouts is so strong that she continued as a member long after her tenure as troop leader. All of her daughters, granddaughters, and great-granddaughters participated in Girl Scouts. Today, not only Emma but three granddaughters and four great-granddaughters are still members.

Emma believes in promoting the organization while serving as a role model for young girls today. She has visited the birthplace of Juliette Gordon Low in Savannah, Georgia, several times and has attended nearly every awards ceremony held to honor friends and family members.

In years past, Emma would accompany family members and their troops on Girl Scout outings. She is pictured here attending a recent camporee at Camp St. Albans where she declared to the girls, "I'm still a Girl Scout." Emma absolutely loves being around youth and they all love and respect her.

By the way, Emma can still wear her original uniform and has worn it many times since retiring as a Girl Scout leader!