John Reese attains
Eagle Scout
Wood River High School senior John Reese
attained a milestone in his young life when he received his Eagle Scout
honor at a special ceremony Dec. 26, 2000 in Hailey.
Reese, 18, son of Susie and Ron Reese of
Bellevue, had his Eagle Court of Honor on the evening of Tuesday, Dec. 26
in St. Charles Parish Hall in Hailey. John is a member of Wood River Boy
Scout Troop 6.
Improvements made last year at Phil Homer
athletic field in Hailey, where John played his high school football,
comprised the young man’s Eagle Scout project.
He built the base on the Homer Field
dedication rock, and he installed an irrigation line near the football
field to water the new grass on the hill adjoining the field.
On his project description, John wrote,
"This project will be of benefit to the School District and the
community because it will enable the School District to put grass on the
berms surrounding the field."
Those berms on the west hill are where
spectators have gathered to watch Wood River High School football games
for the last 20 years. Before Reese finished his project, the berms
consisted of weeds and rock.
Reese, in carrying out his project,
estimated he personally spent 99 hours of work between the job’s
inception, in May 2000, and its completion, which was Aug. 6 of last year.
Spending another 100 hours of work to
complete the task were his valued helpers.
They included Levi McGonigal, David Markin,
Ross Schwartzenberger, Jim Chatterton, Ron Reese, Steph Miller, Steve Dick
(the backhoe), Jubal Brown and Ryan Thomas;
Also, Lee Stoops, Susie Reese, Keith Myers
and Company (topsoil), Dave Swenke, Larry Anderson of Anderson Asphalt
(pouring the base for the Phil Homer stone) and School District employees.
Idaho Lumber (rentals) and Silver Creek
Irrigation (pipe) also contributed. John’s project list of materials
included 4,800 square feet of turf and 210 feet of irrigation pipe.
Of course, no project seems to run smoothly—and
John inevitably encountered some changes along the way.
He had to run the irrigation off the
existing irrigation line and place turf on the side of the hill so people
could sit on nice, soft grass instead of hard rocks.
John’s project counselor was School
District Building and Grounds director Mike Barratt.
Barratt explained, "The plan was
delayed due to many changes behind the control of the Scout himself.
"John did an excellent job rolling
with the punches."
The total cost of the project was $1,944,
with nearly all of the cost of materials and rentals donated by local
companies and the School District.
John, after finishing up his Cub Scouting,
became a Boy Scout in Jan. 1994. He attained First Class in Feb. 1995,
Star Scout in Aug. 1995 and Life Scout in April 1996.
At the Dec. 26 ceremony, Peter DeBaun from
the Presbyterian Church of the Big Wood in Ketchum gave the invocation.
Special guests included Snake River Council
Boy Scouts of America district executive Dan Arters, and district
commissioner Wanless Southwick and his wife Sherry.
Other special guests were district chairman
Lamar Duffin and Ketchum-based Troop 192 scoutmaster Paul Stoops.
Scouts from Pack 87 and Troop 6 took part
in the opening ceremony. Eagle Scout Jim Chatterton and Troop 6 Scouts
read the Scout law. Bob Jost recited the "Eagle Scout Poem."
Master of ceremonies and local unit leader
Maurice Pyne along with Larry Thornton presented John with his Eagle Scout
badge.
In his comments, Pyne said, "Becoming
an Eagle Scout is a great accomplishment and being an Eagle Scout is a
great responsibility."
He reminded John that his obligations
include living with honor, being loyal and courageous, serving others and
having a vision of leadership.
To cap the enjoyable post-Christmas
evening, a Dutch oven dessert was provided by Eric Schwartzenberger, and
Maurice and Merla Pyne.
His entire Scouting career has been
beneficial, John wrote in his Eagle Scout project book.
"Over the past 12 years," he
said, "scouting has shaped my life in ways that not even I will fully
understand. I have become an up-standing citizen and leader in the
community.
"This has pointed me toward the
direction my life is heading."
"I hope to attend Texas A&M in the
fall semester of next year and major in construction management. During
the time I spend in college I plan on going through the Cadet program at
Texas A&M.
"After college I plan on moving back
up to the Wood River Valley and starting or working as management. I hope
to retire before I’m 40.
"During my next 22 years I plan on
spending a lot of my free time leading Scouting and helping with other
organizations, including Rotary and the Lions Club."
