Boy Scouts honor area volunteers at annual council awards banquet
By Bonnie Edwards
Published in News on January 26, 2007 1:48 PM
SMITHFIELD -- Area Boy Scouts announced the 2006 class of 95 Eagle Scouts after honoring long-time volunteer Bill Kemp and naming four new Silver Beavers at their annual recognition banquet Thursday.
The Tuscarora Council announced former council president Jim Daniels of Goldsboro, Doug Wiggins of Mount Olive, Dr. David Rives of Sampson County and Edward Perkinson of Johnston County as the newest recipients of the Silver Beaver awards.
More than 300 people gathered in the fellowship hall at the First Baptist Church in Smithfield for the event, which is held each year to honor scouts and volunteers.
The Silver Beaver, established in 1931, goes to local volunteers who have provided noteworthy service of exceptional character to youths.
Daniels is co-owner of Daniels & Daniels Construction in Goldsboro. His work at Daniels Memorial United Methodist Church includes the parsonage committee and chairman of the trustees. He has also been involved in economic development and has served on the Goldsboro Wayne County Committee of 100. He has been a longtime volunteer with Troop 7 and has served the council many years. He was council president the past three years and helped find new council executive Harold Keller.
Wiggins is an Eagle Scout. He has played many leadership roles with Scouting and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He has served as a varsity team coach, scouting coordinator and a Torhunta District committee member. He has served on the council executive board and its executive committee. At the church, he has been state president, bishop and high council member and has held numerous other positions. He also volunteers with local government and school organizations and has helped sponsor numerous youth athletic teams.
Rives is a poultry veterinarian in Sampson County and an Eagle Scout. As a volunteer, he has served in numerous Scouting leadership roles, including den leader, Webelos leader, assistant scoutmaster, Coharie District chairman and council executive board member. He has also volunteered with the Red Cross, the Sampson County United Way, Clinton High School and Graves Memorial Presbyterian Church.
Perkinson has worked for the children of Johnston County for more than 30 years through his career in social work and foster care. He is active at the First Presbyterian Church and has volunteered with the Smithfield Parks and Recreation Department.
He founded Troop 95 and has chaired several events for the Neusiok District. He is a Woodbadge staff member, a scoutmaster, Neusiok District committee member and Order of the Arrow chapter adviser.
In addition to the Silver Beaver awards, current council president Bill Bryan presented a framed Eagle neckerchief to Bill Kemp's widow, Betty, in honor of her husband's contributions to scouting.
"There is no greater honor a Scout can have than to bear the name of Eagle Scout. There is no greater honor a Scouter can have than to have a class of Eagle Scouts bear his name. Bill Kemp was a true leader," Bryan said.
Kemp was himself an Eagle. He received his neckerchief on Oct. 26, 1937. As a Scout volunteer he led an Eagle Scout goodwill tour to Europe. He received the council's first Distinguished Eagle Scout Award, and he, too, received the Silver Beaver for his many years of service to Scouting.
Bryan said during his banquet address that young men today are facing a time of great change, "a world of revolutionary change, of unprecedented hope -- side by side with instability and violence."
Scouting can help them find their way, he said.
"The role our nation will play depends on the kind of people we are, the kind of people our children will become," Bryan said. "That means that Scouting must continue to prepare our young people to lead, to accept responsibility and to care about the principles and causes beyond self-interest."