Service to youth honored by Scouts
E-mail story
It's easy. Send a link to the story you were just reading to a friend. Just fill out the form on this page and we'll send it along.
Your name and e-mail address are transmitted to the recipient. Otherwise, it is considered private information; see Privacy policy.
Several Church members were honored for their service to youth at the Boy Scouts of America's recent National Annual Meeting in Chicago, Ill., May 19.
Attending the gathering was President Thomas S. Monson, first counselor in the First Presidency, who is a member of the BSA's National Executive Board. President Monson is the longest serving member of the board, having succeeded then-Elder Ezra Taft Benson in November of 1969.
Those who received awards:
• Elder F. Melvin Hammond of the Seventy was presented with the Silver Fox Award from Scouts Canada. (Elder Hammond received the award in March in Canada.)
The Silver Fox is awarded to non-Canadians who have demonstrated exceptional service and character. A past BSA Silver Buffalo recipient — Scouting's highest commendation for service to youth — Elder Hammond is a former Young Men general president and a champion of Scouting.
• R. Lawry Hunsaker, a former bishop of the East Mill Creek 16th Ward, Salt Lake East Mill Creek North Stake, received the Silver Buffalo Award. A retired insurance residential claim superintendent, Brother Hunsaker is a lifelong Scouter who developed Scoutreach and Learning for Life programs in low-income areas of Salt Lake City. He is a past president of the local Great Salt Lake Council and board member for the Western Region and national Scout jamboree committees.
For the past five years, Brother Hunsaker has taken dozens of at-risk youth on snowmobile outings to West Yellowstone, Wyo.
• Jan Thomas Perkins, a former chairman of the BSA National Advancement Committee and the National Boy Scout Training Task Force, also received the Silver Buffalo Award.
An attorney, Brother Perkins has served in a variety of Scouting positions at all levels and is a member of the Mayor's Committee for Downtown Development in Fresno, Calif.
He is bishop of the Valentine Ward, Fresno California West Stake.
• David Cope, a physician from Bountiful, Utah, was awarded the Silver Antelope Award, a regional Scouting honor.
A Scoutmaster and Great Salt Lake Council Executive Board member, he has served on several national task forces and continues to serve on the National Boy Scout Committee. He has also served in Wood Badge leadership positions at several levels and has served on the National Jamboree staff.
• Brent D. Jackson of Fillmore, Utah also received the Silver Antelope Award. A family physician and longtime Scouter, he has served the Utah National Parks Council in many capacities — including district chairman, Cubmaster, Scoutmaster, charter representative and, currently, is committee chairman.
He has also been selected as a regional contingent leader for two world jamborees.
• Wayne M. Perry of Bellevue, Wash, also received the Silver Antelope Award.
He is the president of BSA's western region and has devoted much of his life and personal resources to the development of Scouting. He has served in many Scouting capacities on the local and regional levels. Brother Perry is a business executive, a member of the Washington State Bar Association and the Business School Advisory Board of the University of Washington.
