William Allen Hyde, 71, lifelong resident of Richland County and highly respected citizen who was "the Father of Boy Scouting in Olney", died early Christmas morning at the Richland Memorial Hospital. He had been in ill health for several years.

Mr. Hyde was born in Madison Township on December 3, 1897, son of the late Albert W. and Mary Allen Hyde. He was a life long member of the First Presbyterian Church, was Cashier of the First National Bank for many years, was owner and operator with his son Allen S. Hyde, of the Hyde Insurance Agency since 1947.

His greatest contribution was to hundreds of boys who were in the Boy Scout troops of Olney. When Olney's first Boy Scout Troop No. 11, later No. 311 was organized in 1919. Allen became assistant Scoutmaster and two years later assumed the Scoutmastership of the troop. He served as Scoutmaster of the troop for twenty years.

He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Allen Smith and Rita Hyde and two grandchildren, Ann and David Hyde of Olney.

Besides his mother and father, he was preceded in death by his wife, Florence E. Hyde who died January 5, 1967.

Funeral services at Schaub Funeral Home with John H. Dunstan in charge. Interment in Haven Hill Cemetery.

Published in Olney Daily Mail (IL)