|
Tom Neilson, a former scout master, has been a member and served the Grand
Canyon Council Boy Scouts for 40 years. Helen Freeman has been a Cub Scout
leader for over 19 years. This month, both will receive the highest volunteer honor, the Silver Beaver Award. Neilson, who was a scout at age 12, has been in the Scouting leadership role for 27 years with both Cub and Boy Scouts. Ironically, Neilson and his
wife, Etta, had two girls but no boys. Although he never had a son, he said he was dedicated to the youngsters in Scouts and "loved them as his own." Neilson, now 72, began his long-term volunteer Scouting involvement in 1960 as a Scout master in Cottonwood with Troop 21 and had six troops altogether. "When I moved to Cottonwood, I had some dear friends in the Latter-day Saints' Church and was looking for position in the church so I could be busy. A friend asked me to be a Scout master. It gave me the opportunity to help. I've had as high as 45 boys at one time," he said. That same year, Neilson and his troop were active in exchanging the 48-star flag for the 50-star flag throughout the Cottonwood community during the July 4 ceremonies. Recently, he was instrumental in reorganizing the Rainbow Acres' Ranch Scout Troop in Camp Verde. At this time, Neilson is the program chairman for the Verde District Boy Scouts. He said he had 12 Eagle Scouts during his volunteer involvement. Neilson and Freeman are the only two award recipients from the Verde District.
Excerpts from the Verde Valley Newspapers. Courtesy of Carole Keefer Staff Reporter
|
|
