Follow Me, Boys!

A saxophonist who abandons a dream of becoming a lawyer to become the town’s Scoutmaster. He leads Troop 1 with natural charisma, guiding boys toward maturity and service. Over two decades he becomes a pillar of the community and a catalyst for local growth.

A bank teller who partners with Lem in nurturing the troop and the town’s youth. She helps raise Whitey with Lem, and the two eventually share ownership of Hughes’s store, reflecting a deep commitment to community service and family.

A troubled boy who initially resists the Scout troop, stealing from the store and testing Lem’s patience. He undergoes a transformation, growing into a capable young man who later becomes a military captain and returns to share his life with Nora.

Owner of the bank’s lakeside property and a grieving mother whose past losses shape her cautious, dignified leadership. She hosts the troop at the lake, testifies in court to protect the property, and ultimately preserves the site as a place for boys to grow.

A town figure who seeks to use Hetty’s property for financial gain, attempting legal and financial maneuvers to control the site. He represents the opposing force to Lem and Vida’s community-centered vision.

Owner of the town general store who becomes a focal point of Lem’s early days in Hickory. His leadership contributes to the town’s social fabric, and his later passing leaves the store and its legacy to Lem and Vida.

An army nurse and Whitey’s wife, who represents the connection between homefront sacrifice and personal life in the postwar era. Her presence anchors the family dimension of the story as the town grows.

Whitey’s father, a town figure whose drunken encounter at a pivotal night disrupts the troop’s plan and contributes to Whitey’s troubled beginnings. His actions propel the family dynamics that Lem and Vida must navigate.