Jeff Haney, a former scout in Dr. Parker's troop, presents him with Wednesday's
Good Scouting Award.

 

 

Dr. Robert Parker Presented "Good Scouting" Award
at Friends of Scouts Luncheon

 

by: Bobby McDonald

 

Hopkins County Judge, Chris Brown, welcomes a large crowd to Wednesday's Friends
of Scouting Luncheon.

 

Friends and supporters of the NeTseO Trails Boy Scouts gathered at Wesley United Methodist Church, Wednesday at noon, to raise funds and to learn even more about the local Boy Scouts program.

County Judge Christ Brown began the program with a welcome and introduction of guests and called on Rev. Brian Bosworth to lead the invocation.

 

 

 

Local Hopkins County Boy Scout Director, Wayne Davenport outlined the many activities of the local scouting program and informed the group that the local group includes: Pack 69, Pack 75, Pack 77, Pack 937, Pack 5667, Troop 66, Trop 69, Troop 937, Troop 5667, and Crew 69.

 

 

Mr. David Scott was the keynote speaker for Wednesday's event.

 

 

Keynote speaker for Wednesday's event was  Mr. David C. Scott, author and co-founder of PenlandScott Publishers, in Irving. Scott outlined the history of the U.S. Scouting program and traced important highlights of the program for over 100 years. He brought the message "closer to home" when he outlined the history of the scouting program in Northeast Texas and even Hopkins County. He then told of President Teddy Roosevelt and his impact on U.S. Scouting, as one of its most honored supporters.

 

 

Scott personally autographed copies of his book, for those present.

 

 

Scott has written a book, entitled "We Are Americans....We Are Scouts!" The book outlines the scouting program history and Scott presented each one in the audience with a copy of the book, as well as personally autographed them following his message.

 

 

 

 

However, the highlight of the event was the presentation of the "Good Scouter" Award to longtime leader and supporter, Dr. Robert F. Parker. One Parker's former scouts, Jeff Haney, made the presentation to Dr. Parker, who first became involved in the local scouting program in 1968. Parker continued to lead, inspire, and direct young men, thru 2009. Haney told of a humorous occasion, now, of how he and fellow scouts in Parker's troop "learned not to throw rocks in camp!"

 

Longtime local scouting associates, Verdon Graves and Dr. Robert Parker. Graves solicited
Parker to become involved in the local scouting leadership program.

 

 

 

Parker, in accepting the award, "didn't back down" on his disciplinary action of the troop, in the "rock throwing incident" and continued to deliver the message of good conduct among his scouts. Parker thanked longtime local Scoutmaster, Verdon Graves, for soliciting his involvement in scouting, as Graves was present in the audience, as were many of Parker's former scouts.

During Wednesday's luncheon, hosted at Wesley United Methodist Church and catered by Plain and Fancy Sandwich Shoppe, over $21,000.00 was pledged for the local scouting program!

 

Dr. Parker is surrounded by just some of the former scouts from his troop, who attended Wednesday's
event, in his honor.

 

Congratulations, Dr. Parker!!!

 

____