By Henry Fairley IV
Assistant Scoutmaster Troop 401
On Feb. 5, more than 180 people attended the Rowan County Boy Scouting Leader Recognition Banquet at First Reformed Church in Landis and were recognized for their service.
Mary Ponds, mayor of Granite Quarry for nine years, spoke, along with Brad Steen, a volunteer and member of the Kannapolis District.
He is an assistant Scoutmaster with Troop 591 and was council chairman of the Bass Pro Shops Outdoor Games for four years. He received both the District Award of Merit and the Silver Beaver Award.
The Rowan District recognized the following adults with several awards for their leadership:
– James Wilkie earned the William D. Boyce New Unit Organizer Award. This award recognizes individuals who are the driving force in starting a new Troop or Pack. Wilkie started Pack and Troop 670 at Cedar Park AME Church in Cleveland. He has been a registered leader for 31 years and received the 2006 Scoutmaster of the Year Award. He has been unit commissioner, camp promotion team member, member of the Camporee and training teams. His troop is a mainstay at Camp John J. Barnhardt. He is a trustee of his church, chairman of its districtwide Scouting outreach and a member of the Optimist Club.
– Henry Norden Fairley IV earned the William T. Hornaday Gold Badge. This award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and a commitment to the education of youth on a council or district level for significant conservation efforts over a period of at least three years.
Fairley is a member of Troop 401 chartered to Sacred Heart Catholic Church, where he has been in Scouting for 10 years and an adult leader for the last five years. He is an Eagle Scout and received the Venturing Silver Award and the Order of the Arrow Vigil Honor.
He has taught educational programs emphasizing sound stewardship of our nation’s natural resources and environmental improvement. Four scouts in his troop selected Eagle Scout projects focusing on environmental conservation. He is the first person in the Central NC Council history to receive the badge.
– Lynne Miller earned the Scoutmaster of the Year award. Miller has been in Scouting for 11 years, is a member of Troop 375 chartered to First United Methodist Church of China Grove and has served as Tiger, Wolf, Bear and Webelos leader, as well as Cubmaster. He became an assistant Scoutmaster at a time when the troop was in danger of becoming inactive.
– Daniel Swink earned Webelos Leader of the Year. Swink has been a Webelos leader for five years and is a member of Pack and Troop 315 charted to Grace Lutheran Church. He plans many activities and leads camping trips and outings. He is an assistant Scoutmaster.
– Jerry Lippard is Assistant Scoutmaster of the Year. Lippard is a member of Troop 328, chartered to Ebeneezer Lutheran Church, and has been an assistant Scoutmaster for five years. A diligent record keeper, he has helped Scouts earn their Eagle ranks. He handles all the planning of camping trips or outings.
– Scott Robinson earned the District Award of Merit. He has been a Den Leader with Pack 443 sponsored by St. John’s Lutheran Church for four years and the committee chairman for three years. He was instrumental in forming the District Board of Review and has served as a member since its inception. He is a constant participant in the Friends of Scouting campaign. He has been past president of the Kiwanis Club, past chairman of the Planning Board for Salisbury, secretary for the administrative council at his church, and a member of the board of trustees at Salisbury Academy.
– Donny Raymer earned the James West Fellowship Award. He has been the Scoutmaster of Troop 315, sponsored by Grace Lutheran Church, for 37 years and has received numerous awards. He has earned Scout Leaders Training Award, Scoutmaster Key and has received the District Award of Merit, Silver Beaver Award and the Lamb Award.
The James E. West Fellowship Award is a national recognition for individuals who contribute $1,000 or more in cash or securities to their local council endowment trust fund.
Organizations or individuals may contribute an award in honor or memory of someone ó an Eagle Scout, a Silver Beaver recipient, council president or district chairman.
– Kurt Stebe earned the OA Chapter Service Award. He was recognized for his exemplary service to the Order of the Arrow Rowan Chapter for his time as chapter chief. Stebe is a Gold Palm Eagle Scout of Troop 401, sponsored by Sacred Heart Catholic Church, where he is an Order of the Arrow troop representative. He is a Brotherhood member of the Order of the Arrow. He is the chapter vice-chief.
– Glenn Stebe also earned the OA Chapter Service Award. He was recognized for his exemplary service to the Order of the Arrow Rowan Chapter for his time as an associate chapter adviser. He is an assistant Scoutmaster with Troop 401, sponsored by Sacred Heart. He was the first adult the troop elected to the Itibapishe Iti Hollo OA Lodge and became an Ordeal member in 32 years.
The highlight of the evening was the first presentation of the Rowan District Cup to Troop 333.
Rowan District Eagle Scout Class of 2008
Robert Edward Edmiston, Troop 301.
Ryan Earl Edwards, Troop 315.
Andrew Marshall Duncan, Dillon Matthew Bentley, Cody Alan Stewart, Troop 317.
Benjamin Ryan Davis, Andrew Bryan Davis, Troop 328.
Jonathan Clark Agner, Troop 333.
Nevin Wendell Spohn, Adam Alison Lomax, Clayton Samuel Price, Troop 349.
Patrick Matthew Hunter, Matthew Phillip Koon, Troop 351.
Franklin Eugene Caldwell II, Troop 373.
Jacob Eli Fisher IV, Colin Chapman Brown, Michael James Mellinger, Hunter Alexander Fisher, Jacob Michael Shuping, Cody William Opel, Troop 379.
Kurt Theodore Stebe, Joshua Michael Brophy, Troop 401.
George McCulloch Brown, Troop 404.
Dustin Tyler Pruitt, Steven Thomas Page, Troop 442.
Jay Baxter Caldwell III, Jerry Michael Neely II, Christopher Allen Cook, Clark Gregory Alcorn, Aaron Michael Walser, Troop 443.
Marshall Perry Graham, Daniel Thomas Cohen, Troop 448.
Thomas Ethan Hester, Troop 476.
Rowan District Venturing Silver Award Class of 2008
Joshua Michael Brophy Crew 401.
Jasmine James, Telecia James, Winter Heno and Sabrina Lamphere, Crew 415.