Publisher's Desk

This is Boy Scout month, which is always important to me, because we have six Eagle Scouts in our immediate family. First, I would like to thank again, the men (and women) of our community who have served as leaders through the years.

This past week, I listened as a young businessman who is also an Eagle Scout alumni told of an exciting opportunity to work in an international setting for several years. Later that evening, I listened to two other Eagle Scout alumni relate some of their experiences to a friend who had not belonged to the Scouting organization. Being one of Kitty Wilson’s Eagles played an important part in the lives of all three men. One of the Eagles told of Kitty being a father figure to so many of the boys. It did not matter who or what your parents were, you would learn “to help other people at all times, to keep physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight.”

Kitty’s Green Beret experience was a background for teaching self discipline, promptness, and policing your own area. They told of the pride of being transported to camp in an Army truck and then making the two-mile march into camp with full gear. They developed friendships through living and working together that can never be surpassed.

“Of any hundred boys who become Scouts, thirty will drop out in their first year.” Perhaps this may be regarded as a failure, but in later life all of these will remember they had been Scouts and will speak well of the program. Of the hundred, only rarely will one ever appear before a juvenile court judge. Twelve of the hundred will be from families that belong to no church. Through Scouting, these 12 and many of their families will be brought into contact with a church and will continue to be active all their lives. Six of the hundred will become pastors. Each of the hundred will learn something from Scouting. Almost all will develop hobbies that will add interest throughout the rest of their lives.

Approximately one-half will serve in the military, and in varying degrees, profit from their Scout training. At least one will use it to save another person’s life and many will credit it with saving their own. Four of the hundred will reach Eagle rank, and at least one will later say that he valued his Eagle award above his college degree. Many will find their future vocation through merit badge work and Scouting contacts. Seventeen of the hundred will become Scout leaders and will give leadership to thousands of additional boys. Only one in four boys in America will become Scouts, but it is interesting to know that of the leaders in this nation in business, religion and politics, three out of four were Scouts.

Troop 39 of Grantsville has a success story that rivals the national one. Kitty Wilson, along with his many co-leaders through the years, can tell stories of success. They have worked with boys of all levels of society and turned them into men who have become bankers, lawyers, teachers, geologists, doctors, public servants, church leaders, as well as community leaders and volunteers. The Eagle projects carried out in this county have benefited our parks, schools and churches.

Kitty and his assistant leaders helped the young men grow up to be men of character and substance. For the Scouts who could handle the pressure, they were pushed to new heights of leadership. It takes 10 years to complete the path from Cub Scout to Eagle rank, but the ones who complete it have no regrets. They have learned new skills and attitudes that have enriched their lives and the lives of others. Troop 39 is proud of their 50 Eagle Scouts.

From the scouting website, “This story will never end. The ‘Golden Pebble’ of service is dropped into the human sea where it will continue to create ever-widening circles, influencing the characters of men down through unending time.”