Bob and Ma Ford truly loved Camp Lowden. They did their very best to protect its beauty by establishing some firm guidelines for its use. We used to joke about how amazing it was that it seemed no one wanted anything to do with the place before 1979, but now that the popularity was on the rise once again, everyone wanted a piece of the pie. Each year it became more and more difficult due to management inconsistencies and a continually changing agenda where camp was concerned. They became increasingly frustrated as it seemed that literally anyone could come to camp, do whatever they wished, build whatever they wanted, and it was perfectly all right.

Their desire to stay the course and try to maintain camp at the level they truly believed it should be unfairly earned them the reputation of being mean and nasty. They simply would not bow to the wishes of every volunteer who came through the gate, and for that they were seen as uncooperative and overbearing. I know that they were just the opposite.

While we did not always agree on everything, Bob and Ma Ford were two of the best people that Camp Lowden has ever had for rangers. They both put in long hours working to improve camp and keep it up to par. Bob’s knowledge of camp was second to none. Ma worked as hard and as long as he did. She would mow grass, repair buildings, and sew canvas tents and tarps by hand to fix them. Their love for Camp Lowden was immeasurable and more than made up for any shortcomings they may have been perceived to have. I can safely say that while they were at camp and I was camp director, they were among my most loyal, dedicated staff members.

Ranger Bob had a great sense of humor, albeit dark. Each summer a dinner was held at camp upon the arrival of staff members. Staff members would stand up and introduce themselves and any family members who joined them for dinner. Ranger Bob would introduce himself in the following dry manner, “I’m Ranger Bob and I sleep with the camp cook.” Appropriate, as Mrs. Ford was indeed the camp cook.

I was a first-year Scout in 1980 and, like most first-year Scouts, was attracted to the “cool guns” at the rifle range. Ranger Bob ran the range and quickly laid down the law: guns are serious business and you will be serious when you handle a gun. It seemed like he knew just about everything about guns; in later years I heard that he had reached the “expert” level at the National Rifle Association, which is about the highest you can get.