Posted 10:35 pm Saturday, March 02, 2013
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East Texas Boy Scouts recognize achievement at banquet
By ADAM RUSSELL
arussell@tylerpaper.com
Chris and Patti Bowman, of Tyler, continued their late son’s scouting legacy Friday night by presenting the first Patrick Bowman Memorial Eagle Scout Scholarship as part of the East Texas Area Council Boy Scouts of America Banquet.
arussell@tylerpaper.com
Chris and Patti Bowman, of Tyler, continued their late son’s scouting legacy Friday night by presenting the first Patrick Bowman Memorial Eagle Scout Scholarship as part of the East Texas Area Council Boy Scouts of America Banquet.
Mrs. Bowman shared her son’s story, his love for Scouting, nature, and friendship before presenting the scholarship to Troop 100 Eagle Scout Luke Kelly.
Bowman and his father were the first father-son duo to achieve Eagle Scout in the Green Acres Troop 370.
“His favorite part of scouting was the friendships he built over 27 years,” she said.
“His favorite part of scouting was the friendships he built over 27 years,” she said.
More than 300 attendees, mostly Scouts, troop and BSA representatives and family, stood and applauded.
Continuing with its history, six other young people were recognized for their academic and Scouting achievements: Danielle Pittman received the Jesse and Ina Brundrette Scouting Scholarship; Mark Maple received the Kiwanis Scholarship; and, Keegan Allen received the George W. Pirtle Eagle Scout Scholarship. Suri Garcia and Lillian Fearing received the Venturing Leadership Award, Logan Lopez was presented the William T. Hornaday Award.
Attendees also recognized the 2012 class of more than 150 Eagle Scouts. About half the class attended the event.
Six Scouters received the Silver Beaver Certificate, the highest award given to volunteers by the local council for individual commitment to Scouting youth. Silver Beaver recipients included Debbie Splinter, Mark Maple, Matt Lindsey, Jim Shupe, Art Phillips and Paul Vaughn.
Ms. Splinter, of Whitehouse, has been involved in Scouting since 2004. She has served in every Den Leader position and as Cubmaster for Pack 123. She also serves or has served at a district, council and national level.
Maple, of Bullard, is a third-generation Scoutmaster. His greatest scouting accomplishment is that his two sons are Eagle Scouts. He has served Troop 366 since 2000. The troop recognized its first Eagle Scout in 2006 and has since recognized 19 more. Maple earned the Good Shepherd Emblem and Scoutmaster of the Year twice and the District Award of Merit.
Continuing with its history, six other young people were recognized for their academic and Scouting achievements: Danielle Pittman received the Jesse and Ina Brundrette Scouting Scholarship; Mark Maple received the Kiwanis Scholarship; and, Keegan Allen received the George W. Pirtle Eagle Scout Scholarship. Suri Garcia and Lillian Fearing received the Venturing Leadership Award, Logan Lopez was presented the William T. Hornaday Award.
Attendees also recognized the 2012 class of more than 150 Eagle Scouts. About half the class attended the event.
Six Scouters received the Silver Beaver Certificate, the highest award given to volunteers by the local council for individual commitment to Scouting youth. Silver Beaver recipients included Debbie Splinter, Mark Maple, Matt Lindsey, Jim Shupe, Art Phillips and Paul Vaughn.
Ms. Splinter, of Whitehouse, has been involved in Scouting since 2004. She has served in every Den Leader position and as Cubmaster for Pack 123. She also serves or has served at a district, council and national level.
Maple, of Bullard, is a third-generation Scoutmaster. His greatest scouting accomplishment is that his two sons are Eagle Scouts. He has served Troop 366 since 2000. The troop recognized its first Eagle Scout in 2006 and has since recognized 19 more. Maple earned the Good Shepherd Emblem and Scoutmaster of the Year twice and the District Award of Merit.
Lindsey has volunteered since 1990. He served many unit, district and council positions including Assistant Scoutmaster, Scoutmaster, Venture Crew Advisor, Order of the Arrow Chapter Advisor and Ordeal Master Advisor. Most of his service has been with Troop and Crew 518 in Lufkin, Troop and Crew 333 in Tyler, and the Tall Timbers and Okee Tuklo Order of the Arrow Chapters.
Shupe, of Hawkins, began volunteering in 1982. For the past 12 years he has served as Troop 391’s Committee Chairman, Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmaster. He also served as District Training Chair, Council of Boy Scouts Chair, Wood Badge staff member and has been awarded the District Award of Merit twice.
Phillips began his Scouting career in 1948. As an adult Phillips became a Merit Badge Counselor and sat on Eagle Boards of Review. He remained active at the Circle of Ten Council in Dallas where he became District Chairman and Friends of Scouting Chairman before returning to East Texas in 2009.
Vaughn, of Marshall, is the Scoutmaster of Troop 239. He began in scouting with his oldest son in 1996. Three of his children are Eagle Scouts. Vaughn has been recognized for numerous scouting awards including the Scouter’s Training Award, the District Award of Merit and assists with numerous scout activities including District Pinewood Derbies, Day Camps and District Banquets.
Greg Leitch, Assistant Scout Executive said the recognition banquet is the annual event to acknowledge achievements in East Texas scouting. The East Texas area includes 17 counties and more than 14,000 Scouts.
Leitch said East Texas volunteers logged more than 40,000 community service and Scouting hours in 2012. The 2012 Eagle Scout class was the largest ever, he said.
"It’s good to know Scouting continues to grow here even with all the different options kids have these days,” Leitch said.
Shupe, of Hawkins, began volunteering in 1982. For the past 12 years he has served as Troop 391’s Committee Chairman, Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmaster. He also served as District Training Chair, Council of Boy Scouts Chair, Wood Badge staff member and has been awarded the District Award of Merit twice.
Phillips began his Scouting career in 1948. As an adult Phillips became a Merit Badge Counselor and sat on Eagle Boards of Review. He remained active at the Circle of Ten Council in Dallas where he became District Chairman and Friends of Scouting Chairman before returning to East Texas in 2009.
Vaughn, of Marshall, is the Scoutmaster of Troop 239. He began in scouting with his oldest son in 1996. Three of his children are Eagle Scouts. Vaughn has been recognized for numerous scouting awards including the Scouter’s Training Award, the District Award of Merit and assists with numerous scout activities including District Pinewood Derbies, Day Camps and District Banquets.
Greg Leitch, Assistant Scout Executive said the recognition banquet is the annual event to acknowledge achievements in East Texas scouting. The East Texas area includes 17 counties and more than 14,000 Scouts.
Leitch said East Texas volunteers logged more than 40,000 community service and Scouting hours in 2012. The 2012 Eagle Scout class was the largest ever, he said.
"It’s good to know Scouting continues to grow here even with all the different options kids have these days,” Leitch said.
