Troop 706 celebrates 89 Eagles

COLUMBIA — Becoming an Eagle Scout is no easy task.

Just ask Sterling Wyatt, the most recent Boy Scout from Troop 706 in Columbia to achieve the rank of Eagle.

“It’s definitely a discipline thing,” Wyatt said. "The most difficult part for me was the merit badges, especially personal finance."

Wyatt, who became an Eagle Scout in September, was one of 89 Eagle Scouts from Troop 706 honored during a plaque dedication ceremony Monday night at St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church. Thirty-four Eagle Scouts attended, including 21 from Troop 706.

Peter Neenan, 62, the assistant scoutmaster for High Adventure and the Eagle coordinator for Troop 706, said the idea for the plaque has been around for some time.

“About three years ago one of our adult leaders, Harold Moore, had an idea about a plaque honoring all the Eagles, and we thought, 'Hey let’s do it. This is a good time, it hasn’t been done and it’ll help us gather history of our troop,’” Neenan said.

As of 2005, about 5 percent of boys in the Boy Scout program reach Eagle Scout, said John Fabsits, district executive of the Great Rivers Council’s Boonslick District. About 1.7 million Boy Scouts have achieved this rank since 1912. To earn the Eagle Scout rank, boys must earn 21 merit badges, complete a community service project and take on leadership roles within their troop. Boy Scouts is open to boys age 11 to 17, but Boy Scouts have until their 18th birthday to earn their Eagle Scout ranking*.

“While all the scouting ranks work to teach scouting and life skills, the work involved to attain the Eagle Rank brings it all together and allows the young men to showcase their leadership skills, sense of community and show their true character,” said Steve Cooper, assistant scoutmaster and another Eagle coordinator.

Nearly all the plaque’s $750 cost was raised by the troop’s “Iron for Eagles” campaign, which included collecting and selling discarded metal such as scrap iron and aluminum cans to recyclers.

For some of the older honorees, the evening was a chance to catch up and reminisce about their Scouting days.

“I’m tempted to talk about the early days of Troop 706, and the experiences we had, the friends we made and the lessons we learned,” Jeff Kunce, a former Eagle Scout from Troop 706, said in his speech during the ceremony. “We old-timers probably need to have a reunion to do just that.”

Kunce earned his Eagle in 1972, when he was 16. After his Scouting days, Kunce attended the University of Utah for four years, got married and became a father. He worked for the Missouri Department of Conservation in Jefferson City until he retired a year ago.

Kunce is scoutmaster of Troop 10* in Jefferson City, the troop his son belonged to when he achieved the rank of Eagle.

Jim Thorne, 47, who became an Eagle in 1977, is still living in Columbia and has been working as a graphic designer for 20 years. He is married and has two children.

“My favorite part of being an Eagle Scout was being older, probably. By the time you’re an Eagle Scout, you’ve been in the program quite a few years, and you get a lot more privileges,” Thorne said.

Kenny Kvam became an Eagle in 1974. He is now a MU graduate who owns Kvam Landscaping in Columbia. He is married with two children and is looking forward to his son Eric, 6, carrying on the Scouting tradition next year when he’ll be old enough to become a Tiger Cub. He said that the No. 1 thing he learned was “to appreciate nature.”

“I’ve always liked to be an outside person so I got a degree in horticulture and started up my own landscaping business after I graduated,” Kvam said.

Another 1974 Eagle Scout present was Dave Bank, 52, who is a Columbia native. He is now a respiratory therapist at University Hospital and spent 15 years volunteering with the Boone County Fire Protection District. He is now married and raising a family. Bank believes the plaque is “a very worthwhile endeavor.”

“Troop 706 has always been active, and it helps give the younger boys something to aspire to,” Bank said.

Many of the boys initially come from St. Andrew's Church, which Banks believes to be one of the reasons for the troop’s success. Support from St. Andrew’s and plenty of adult participation have helped Troop 706 thrive since its charter was established in 1966. The troop now has 36 members, 19 of whom have already achieved Life ranking and are working toward Eagle. Pat Pautler is Scoutmaster of Troop 706*.

Doug Callahan, executive director of the Great Rivers Council, said there are three secrets to the success of Troop 706.

“They have a good, solid, continuing sponsor in St. Andrews, and almost as many adults as they do youth who stay active. I think that has a lot to do with their success,” Callahan said. “(And) they are a very active troop; once a month they’re out. They put the ‘outing’ in ‘Scouting.’”