Only two percent of all the boys who go through the Boy Scouts of America program become Eagle Scouts. So it's quite unusual tht Troop 47, with 25 boys, has produced four Eagle Scouts with possibly five more ready to complete their requirements this year.
The four Eagles - Brian Kendall, 18, Scott Owen, 17, Jason Pearson, 18, and Tim Smith, 18 - and their families were honored Sunday February 6, at a Court of Honor attended by about 100 people at the Elizabeth United Methodist Church. Pearson was accompanied by his grandparents, Raymond and Kathaleen Pearson of Elizabeth, and the others were accompanied by their parents: Jim and Barbara Kendall, Ron and Jillene Owen, and Charley and Sharon Smith, all of Elizabeth.
The five who are now working on Eagle Scout requirements are Ben West, 16, Michael Owen, 15, Sean Stofel, 15, Jonathan Sellers, 15, and David Wayne Karcher, 16.
Phil Bills of Corydon, an Eagle Scout himself, represented the George Rogers Clark District at the Court of Honor and spoke about the history of Scouting and the values it aims to inculcate in young boys as they transform themselves from followers to leaders.
Scouting started in 1810 in England. Scouts begin as Cub Scouts and , if they meet the requirements, advance through Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, Life and Eagle Scout levels. At each level, "at each hill, there's an easier road to take," and some boys drop out, Bills said. Only one or two percent continue to work on merit badges and projects until they achieve the highest rank. There were 15 Eagle Scouts in the three county district last year.
"It's quite an achievement," Bills said. Other famous people who have achieved that status are former President Gerald Ford, astronaut Neil Armstrong ("Houston - the Eagle has landed"), presidential candidate Bill Bradley, and Indiana Gov. Frank L. O'Bannon.
"If you do something good, it's expected of you," Bills said. "If you do something bad, everyone will mention that you were an Eagle Scout."
Scout committee chairman Wayne Karcher, a veteran of 26 years in Scouting, presided as each young man was given a badge, patch, Eagle square knot for his scarf, and a certificate. The mothers were given a necklace and the fathers got tie tacks as tokens of thanks for their many hours of help, support and advice. Karcher estimated that the boys have put in an estimated 1,200 hours of community service.
Scoutmaster Ron Owen said the four boys have been part of his family the past six years. The played baseball in the rain, learned CPR and first aid, and came to trust and respect each other. He thanked them "for sticking with me."
Owen admitted that he had learned a lot from them. "I think I'm teachin' them, but it comes back," he said.
To be an Eagle Scout, each young man had to design and supervise a community service project. They had to find their own work crew, obtain the funding and get permission from the appropriate board. They had to buy the materials, supervise the work, and feed the crew. They are not allowed to do the work themselves. The project is an exercise in planning, resourcefulness and leadership, Owen said.
Pearson, a graduate of the Charles Allen Processor Vocational School in New Albany, is already out of school and a union carpenter. His project was a new flag pole at the Elizabeth United Methodist Church. "It's made out of concrete," said Owen. "It's there to stay."
Tim Smith chose to measure, map, catalog and clean up all the trails in South Harrison Park, and then put up large wooden maps for hikers in the woods.
Brian Kendall went to the South Harrison Community School Corp. school board, got some funds from the South Central Elementary School PTO and put up a new announcement sign at the school, where his father is principal.
Scott Owen, who's already signed up with the U.S. Air Force, designed and organized the installation of handicapped accessible ramps and rails at Camp Stem's dining hall and restrooms.
Owen has been the Scoutmaster since 1994, except for one year when another fellow took his place. He started with three boys.
Owen retired from the Navy, and last week he announced his retirement as Scoutmaster, so he can concentrate on his work as the archery expert at Floyd's Gun Sales in Corydon and as the new president of the Harrison County Archers Club. His assistant, Doug Sellers, is the new Scoutmaster, and Owen will remain as his assistant.
Owen said it was a pleasure to work with the boys and see them achieve so much in their community. They have also been active in school and sports at South Central Junior Senior High School. Twenty one merit badges are required to make Eagle Scout, but some of these boys have 30 badges. "They do a little bit of everything," Owen said.