LEESBURG — The Boy Scouts of America can trace its roots back nearly 210 years ago to 1810 when Chicago newspaper magnate William D. Boyce founded the organization following a trip to London, during which he had an encounter with a boy who became known as the “Unknown Scout.”

Throughout its history, more than 105 million men and boys have been members of the organization. The number of annual participants has been dwindling through the last several years due to a number of circumstances including opportunities drawing the interest of boys who in past generations would have been drawn toward scouting.

Leesburg’s Lonnie Fisher has been active with Boy Scout Troop 729 for many years. He also serves as a meteorologist at the National Weather Service Station in North Webster.

Locally, scouting still has deep roots. In Leesburg, Boy Scout Troop 729 is going strong, thanks in no small part to the efforts of Lonnie Fisher. Fisher began his volunteer service in scouting 11 years ago when his older son, Alex, was in first grade. Alongside his wife, Brandy, they became den leaders in the local Cub Scout pack.

Now 19, Alex rose through the ranks of scouting, eventually earning the highly coveted and rarely achieved rank of Eagle Scout. Throughout the years, the elder Fisher has held many roles within the scouts with each step being taken alongside Alex and his younger son, Kevin, who is now 17. This year, Kevin is following in his father’s Boy Scout leadership footsteps as he is serving in the role of den chief for Troop 729, a position that Alex previously held, as well.

This year, Lonnie Fisher is serving in two roles with the Scouts. He is the troop’s unit commissioner, a role which Fisher said is the liaison between the troop and the Anthony Wayne Area Council, BSA, in Fort Wayne, of which the Leesburg troop is a member. In that role, Fisher ensures the troop is receiving what they need to ensure the unit’s health and success. He also serves as the troop’s assistant scout master, helping not only the veteran Boy Scouts in the group but especially newer members of the unit, including former Cub Scouts who have aged up in to the more senior organization.

Fisher also has served in the roles of den leader, assistant cubmaster and cubmaster. Brandy also continues to volunteer with the Scouts, as she currently serves on the troop committee as its secretary.

“I enjoy watching the kids grow and learn,” said Fisher. “It is amazing the bond you get with the boys. You see it more with the Cub Scouts than with the Boy Scouts, but they all know that they can come and talk to us, whether it’s about scouting or otherwise, including what is going on at home or in school. I enjoy watching them grow and learn to become more independent.”

Fisher said the Leesburg troop currently has nine members, although at its peak it had 14. This, he noted, defines them as a “small troop,” although there are larger troops in North Webster and Syracuse.

Outside of his volunteer work with the Boy Scouts, Fisher is a meteorologist at the National Weather Service station in North Webster. Born and raised in Michigan, he began his career in 1998 in North Dakota, where he spent 18 months that he said makes any weather experienced in northern Indiana seem relatively mild. He then spent some time in Lincoln, Ill., prior to his transfer to Kosciusko County in 2002.

While there are certainly higher rungs on the career ladder within the weather service, Fisher said he is here for the long haul, concluding, “I enjoy what I do!”