BOUNTIFUL – When people think of the Bountiful Jeep Posse, what often comes to mind is search and rescues.
The organization, initially formed in 1946, was the first private search and rescue organization in the nation, said posse treasurer John Eggett. They began by driving surplus Jeeps from World War II.
Today, members drive a wide range of trucks and SUVs said John’s brother Rodney Eggett, who is currently the third captain, but has served in ever officer’s position except secretary and treasurer within the club.
The posse isn’t involved so much with search and rescues anymore, but is involved in a wide range of activities, a mixture of service and social activities.
Rodney Eggett has been a member for 50 years. He said many of their activities are community service-oriented, like helping with the Lions Club’s turkey and ham shoots and the Lions Club project which helps the visually impaired shoot at the club’s gun range in Bountiful.
The posse also helps with parades, and directs traffic when asked, Rodney Eggett said.
One of the biggest service project the posse does is conducting hunter safety courses. Rodney Eggett said the posse generally conducts two or three such courses yearly, drawing hunters from the time they’re old enough to hold a gun properly (10,11 or 12 years old, depending on the child’s size), up through adults, Rodney Eggett said, and hundreds of south Davis residents have taken the course.
“I recall as a young teenager going to the posse club house for my hunter safety classes, said, Centerville Assist. Police Chief Paul Child.
Twenty years ago, nearly all the search and rescues in south Davis County were conducted by the posse. . “It wasn’t unusual for us to do 20 searches on on the east side of Bountiful,” Rodney Eggett said.
Today, nearly all search and rescue operations are handled through the Davis County Sheriff’s Office
One of the projects they’re still involved with is patrolling the streets of Centerville on Halloween. They’ve been helping Centerville Police on the holiday for 40 years now, Child said.
For more information check out the Nov.22 edition of Davis Clipper.
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