By KATHY SCHVANEVELDT

Standard-Examiner staff

Brigham City resident Douglas J. Fife, 81, used to let cattle roam on a piece of land he owns just below Cutler Dam in Box Elder County.

Now, he and his wife, Geneva, and his daughter and son-in-law, Kathryn and Paul Damon, have donated the 105 acres to the Lake Bonneville Council for development as a Boy Scout camp.

Located 20 miles north of Brigham City on the Bear River the land will be used as a Cub Scout day camp, short-term overnight camp and a training facility.

Council executives said they plan to call it the "Doug Fife Scout Ranch." The camp logo will feature Fife's horse, Chief, and follow a western theme, according to a news release.

"It's been a hobby of mine to chase a few cattle around," Fife said with a laugh. "I decided when I couldn't do that anymore, it (the piece of land) would make a good Scout camp."

Fife, who has a lifelong affiliation with Scouting, said the camp is a lot closer than the council's existing overnight camps near Bear Lake and Yellowstone National Park.

It will also relieve some of the congestion at Camp Kiesel in Weber-a Cub Scout day camp, he said.

"Camp Kiesel is booked solid all summer long. They (the council) needed an additional day camp for Cubs," he said.

Fife said he will work closely with a representative from the council in developing basic facilities at the ranch over the next five years, including a lodge, dining hall and training center. Other projects will follow, he said.

"I'm going to make this my final project," said Fife, owner of Fife Rock Products headquartered in Brigham City.

Fife, who began his involvement in Scouting 69 years ago in Cache County, has provided the council with financial and technical support in building the road and dam at Camp Bartlett Scout Reservation and the training center at Camp Kiesel.

He will also volunteer his time helping with construction at the Doug Fife Scout Ranch.

In addition to the land donation, the Fife family made significant financial donations to begin construction of facilities at the site, according to the news release.

The council is actively soliciting additional money needed to fully fund the project, Fife Said

Fife serves on the Western Region Board of the Boy Scouts of America which oversees scouting in the western United States

Fife has served on the council's board of directors and has been council president. He received the Silver Beaver and Silver Antelope awards for his efforts in the council and the region.

STANDARD-EXAMINER

OGDEN, UTAH

MONDAY, OCT. 21,1991