Near Louisville in Winston County, Mississippi — The American South (East South Central)

“Big Iron” and Camp Palila

Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, March 12, 2024

1. “Big Iron” and Camp Palila Marker

Inscription. Opened in 1937, Legion State Park was the fourth CCC-built state park in Mississippi. From 1954 to 1979 the park served the Boy Scouts of America as Camp Palila. Paul D. Thompson (1937-2016) was the last camp ranger and lived here from 1967 to 1979 with his wife and daughters. Nicknamed “Big Iron” after a popular Marty Robbins song, Thompson was a Mississippi highway patrolman and scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 5 in Louisville from 1963 to 2008. Thompson influenced the lives of thousands of young men at Camp Palila.

Erected 2023 by Mississippi Department of Archives and History.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Fraternal or Sororal Organizations • Parks & Recreational Areas. In addition, it is included in the Mississippi State Historical Marker Program series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1937.

Location. 33° 9.168′ N, 89° 2.676′ W. Marker is near Louisville, Mississippi, in Winston County. Marker is on Legion State Park Drive, 0.6 miles north of North Columbus Avenue, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 695 Legion State Park Dr, Louisville MS 39339, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 8 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Legion Lodge (approx. ¼ mile away); Winston County Soldiers Monument

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(approx. 2.1 miles away); Winston County War Memorial (approx. 2.1 miles away); Carl Jackson (approx. 2.1 miles away); First Presbyterian Church (approx. 2.1 miles away); Grierson's Raid (approx. 2.2 miles away); Community House (approx. 2.2 miles away); Hamill Spring (approx. 7.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Louisville.

Also see . . . Paul Thompson 1937-2016. Obituary for the Mississippi Highway Patrol veteran of 27 years and scoutmaster for 45 years. (The Clarion-Ledger via Legacy.com) (Submitted on April 7, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, March 12, 2024

2. “Big Iron” and Camp Palila Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on April 7, 2024. It was originally submitted on April 7, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 32 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 7, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.