The Enid News and Eagle, Enid, OK

Boy Scouts

Related Photos

  • Steve Whitfill

    whitfill boy scout.jpg

  • Steve Whitfill

    whitfill current.jpg

Discussion

February 6, 2010

Local director ‘proud to be an Eagle’

In January of this year my wife Debbie and I were in Washington, D.C., where we met a former member of the Maine state legislature and aide to President Reagan. 

While driving from the Washington Monument toward the White House, he directed our attention to a monument dedicated to the Boy Scouts of America. He asked who among our group had achieved the rank of Eagle Scout and then volunteered it had been his experience in Maine job applicants who were Eagle Scouts were “always given the job.” At age 60 he then recited the Scout Oath and the Scout Law. He had been an Eagle Scout and was still quite proud of that accomplishment.

I believe in my life Scouting laid a strong foundation for the development of moral character, the achievement of goals and the process of learning new and varied skills. Scouting also gave me the opportunity to belong to a group of peers, a strong need for all of us, and particularly so in those years of maturation and development.

Gangs prey on youths for this very reason, and tragically a gang allegiance will produce nothing of lasting value for the individual or for the community. I was lucky to have had the opportunity to pursue merit badges and not notches on a gun.

I have been blessed by many things in my life and know were it not for the unselfish commitment of scouting volunteers like Bill Burcham, Harold Kip Wells and many others, my life would be remarkably different. I am reminded Scouting taught me camping skills which turned into many years of great family camping trips and leadership opportunities provided a head start in college and then in business. I am confident much of who I am today likely initiated on my road to Eagle.

As director of a medical foundation for nearly 24 years now, I have hired many people. Eagle Scouts may not have been “always given the job” like in Maine, but they sure have always been given an extra measure of consideration and respect. I too am proud to be an Eagle.



Steve Whitfill,

executive director,

Northwest Oklahoma Osteopathic Foundation

Text Only
Boy Scouts
Featured Ads
AP Video
Tim Cook Defends Apple's Tax Accounting AP Photograher: 'It Was a Miracle' They Got Out Raw: Crews Search for Survivors of Okla. Tornado Raw: Tearful Reunion After Okla. Tornado OKC Hospital Describes Treating Tornado Wounded Obama Pledges Urgent Aid for Tornado Victims Raw: Massive Funnel Clouds in Oklahoma
NDN Video
RAW: Massive tornado strikes Oklahoma RAW: Xbox One debuts VIDEO: Teacher reunites mother and son after tornado levels elementary school in Oklahoma City Jennifer Lawrence Gets Naked and Painted Blue as X-Men's Mystique Okla. tornado survivor finds dog buried alive under rubble VIRAL: Baby makes epic soccer goal Pickler's Dance Moves Cause A Stir Obama to tornado survivors: The country stands beside you Reporter Cries Over Devastation Sneak Peek: 'Modern Family' Says Good Bye Trailer: 'The Last Stand' Available on Blu-ray Disc, DVD, Digital Download IWitness Look at Moore, OK Tornado RAW: Moore, OK tornado touches down near school Robert Pattinson Moves Out RAW: Russian dash cam catches car 20 feet in the air Oklahoma tornado survivor: "Everything is gone" Khloe Lashes Out at Kim Kardashian's Critics Couple Argues As Woman's Lover Crawls Out Window RAW: Brad Paisley Forgets Lyrics To His Own Song Justin Bieber Gets Booed
Poll
House Ads
Facebook