Boy Scout Troop 202 to present 100th Eagle Scout Award

SALT LAKE CITY — Boy Scout Troop 202 will present its 99th and 100th Eagle Scouts awards on Dec. 16 at Saint Ambrose Parish.

August Boyle will receive the 99th and Elliot Lee will receive the 100th Eagle Scout award. Lee, a senior at Skyline High School, is honored to be the 100th Eagle Scout, he said.

"I built that on the 99 others who came before me," said Lee adding that the process of getting the Eagle has been fun and exciting. His Eagle project was building dog beds for the Utah Humane Society.

"I like animals and building dog beds was something they needed," he said. "I learned that respect is sometimes hard to come by, but it helped that I am over 6 feet tall and could use it to intimidate others if I had to, but being nice also helps in teaching others how to make the bed frames."

Lee became a scout in 5th grade as a social outlet, he said. "I’ve enjoyed camping, hiking, canoeing and boating, and I was in charge of the troop for a while, so I learned a lot of leadership skills teaching the 11-year-old scouts skills, and getting them through their first summer camp."

Boyle, a senior at West High School, also likes camping and hiking. He became a Cub Scout and "stuck with it," he said. "I am glad that scouting has been a large part of my life."

For his Eagle Scout project he built shelves for the Utah Food Bank. Another point of an Eagle Scout award is to benefit the community, Boyle said. "It is also to come up with an idea and then to lead others in doing the project. It was cool seeing it all put together. Becoming an Eagle Scout was one of my goals when I first started, so I am happy that I have achieved this goal."

Troop 202 was founded in 1954 from Troop 2, one of the first troops started in Salt Lake City. It began at an Episcopal church and later moved to St. Ambrose Parish, said Frank Whitby, Troop 202 assistant Scout Master.

The Eagle Scout is the highest rank in scouting. Since its induction in 1911, the Eagle Scout has been earned by more than 2 million young men, who hold the title for life. Only about 5 percent of all scouts earn their Eagle Scout because of the hard work and perseverance involved.

Troop 202 awarded its first Eagle Scout to Jack Guthrie in 1960; his brother Mike received the third award.

The skills he learned as a scout were helpful later, Jack Guthrie said. "I went into the military and all the guys were struggling with knots, and I knew them inside out. I’m a parachute rigger and it’s all because of scouting. Scouting gives boys a sense of accomplishment. I am humbled to have been awarded the first Eagle Scout from Troop 202."

Troop 202 Scout Master Joe Zachary is also an Eagle Scout. "There are two kinds of Eagle Scouts, the boys who earn them before they get into high school and the boys who are about to turn 18 and realize they better get it done," said Zachary.

Boy Scouts are aged 11 to 17; younger boys can begin Cub Scouts in first grade.

"At least half of the boys come through Cub Scouts and the other half start in Boy Scouts," said Zachary. "We organize everything around outdoor activities. Once a month we have a camping trip, except in November, and in December we camp indoors. But every other month we camp outdoors and we do a lot of hiking, bicycling, aquatics, and that’s what interests a lot of the kids."

The scouts also meet weekly to plan camping trips, work on merit badges or do an activity.

"The idea is to let the boys lead the troop and let the adults take care of the safety of the boys," said Zachary. "One of the big attractions for the younger scouts is to hang out with the older scouts, and the big attraction for the older scouts is the leadership positions. The boys get leadership experience and confidence that benefits them in high school, college and life in general. The lessons the boys learn through their merit badges, service projects and by participating in the program are lessons they will use throughout life."

In its first 30 years, Troop 202 awarded 30 Eagle Scouts. Since 1990, they have awarded 70 Eagle Scouts. "We have a very active troop," said Whitby. "We hope to have as many Eagle Scouts and Scout Masters as possible from past years attend our 100th celebration."

Saint Ambrose Boy Scouts of America Troop 202 will celebrate its 100th Eagle Scout on Dec. 16 at 6:30 p.m. If you are a Troop 202 Eagle Scout or know of one, contact Frank Whitby, frankw@biochem.utah.edu, 801-918-8493.