July 27, 2018
By: Dwayne Page
Smithville Boy Scout Troop 347 honored Thomas Hunt Webb at the Eagle Scout Court of Honor on July 24 at Northside Elementary School. The ceremony was held under the roof of the new 20-foot by 30-foot pavilion that will be used as an outdoor classroom for N-E-S. Webb was responsible for that development from initiation to completion as his Eagle Scout project.
“I’ve definitely learned more about leadership skills and responsibility,” Webb told WJLE about his years in scouting and his Eagle project in particular. “I learned how to make a plan and put it into action and see it through.”
“A lot of my family has been in the program,” Webb told WJLE. “My dad [Alan Webb] was an Eagle Scout, and my brother [Anderson] was an Eagle Scout. It was sort of my turn.”
Members of Troop 347 rededicated Webb with the Scout Oath and Law.
“To achieve the Eagle Scout rank, a candidate must pass through all the ranks of scouting,” Dr. William Sherwood, Scoutmaster of Troop 347 told the crowd. “Each has required skills, merit badges, service hours and leadership development requirements.”
“In just a few short years, Thomas has undergone a miraculous transformation—from someone who struggled to memorize the Oath and Law to someone who lives those words, from someone who wanted to go camping to someone who’s been camping many times, from someone who needed to be led to someone who can lead others,” Sherwood said.
Representative Terri Lynn Weaver presented Webb with two flags that had flown over the state capitol in his honor along with a special proclamation. Weaver said she always leaves an Eagle Scout awards ceremony inspired to do better.
“The reason why I loved to go to these is, as I said earlier, just the way the community wraps around our Boy Scouts …and how everybody really works and zeroes in on helping these young men reach their goal and forge that character.” Representative Weaver said. “You know the word forged means you have to work at it. You have to chisel. You have to build, and that’s so vital in order for these young men to grow up to be the quality men that they end up becoming.”
Scoutmaster Sherwood presented Webb with his Eagle Scout Award. His mother, Lora, pinned the Eagle medal on her son’s uniform while his dad pinned the Eagle Scout lapel pin to Webb’s collar. In return, Thomas bestowed pins to his parents in recognition to their efforts on his behalf.