Three McDuffie County boys are following a trail blazed by some well known American leaders like former President Gerald Ford.
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Scott Jenkins (from right), Craig Foster, Alex Newton and Guill Johnson pose with the Troop 125 Eagle plaque.
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Craig Foster, Scott Jenkins and Alex Newton all attained the rank of Eagle Scout, joining an elite group that includes President Ford and other American leaders like Ross Perot and Donald Rumsfeld.
The boys, members of Boy Scout Troop 125, fulfilled rigorous leadership responsibilities and completed major service projects to earn their Eagle Scout Badge.
"Scouting points them toward a higher life," said Guill Johnson, the oldest living Eagle Scout from Troop 125 who administered the Eagle Pledge to the newest members at a Court of Honor Ceremony in August.
Mr. Johnson, who received his Eagle Badge in 1951, remembers diligently working on requirements to become the first member of Troop 125 to receive the coveted badge. Despite the fact that fellow Scout Leonard Lokey Jr. attained the Eagle badge a few months before he did, Mr. Johnson remembers the time with fondness.
"It was one of the most important times in my life.
"Next to the church, scouting is the most important organization a boy can belong to," he said.
While participating in the ceremony to honor the Eagles, Mr. Johnson himself received an unexpected honor when Scoutmaster Donnie Reese presented him with an Eagle Badge to replace the one he lost over the years.
"Receiving a new badge meant a lot to me," he said.
To complete their Eagle Scout requirements, the boys from Troop 125 had to complete 21 merit badges in addition to their major service projects. Only 4 percent of scouts complete all the requirements to attain the Eagle Badge.
Thomas Craig Foster, Jr.
The son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Craig Foster, he began his Scouting with Tiger Cub Pack 125. He earned the Arrow of Light Award and entered Troop 125 in 1997.
Craig had a two fold service project. He planned, developed and supervised Scouts during cleaning and relining the First United Methodist Church parking lots. In addition, he planned, organized and completed the refurbishing and relocation of the old church sign. To complete the project, he landscaped with new annuals.
Craig, an active member of the Thomson First United Methodist Church, participates in Drop Zone Ministries and Pathway Choir and has traveled on Choir Tour.
As part of his Scouting, Craig earned four of the God and Country religions awards, a significant accomplishment. He earned God and Me, God and Family, God and Church, and God and Life Awards.
A 2004 graduate of Thomson High School where he was a member of the Bulldog Brigade and the soccer team, he attends Mercer University in Macon, studying pharmacy.
Scott Andrew Jenkins
Scott, son of Mr. and Mrs. Blaine C. Jenkins, began Cub Scouting with Den 6, Pack 125. He earned the Arrow of Light and joined Troop 125 in 1998.
For his Eagle project, Scott developed, planned and gave leadership in the beatification of the Dearing Elementary School parking lot, track and playground. He improved the landscaping by removing overgrown plants and replacing them with new plants, and he cleaned up the track and built three benches for the playground.
A lifelong member of Thomson First United Methodist Church, he is an active member of Drop Zone Ministries. Through Scouting he earned the God and Me, God and Family and God and Church Religious Awards.
Scott, a senior at Thomson High School, is a dedicated member of the football team and has been a member of the tennis and track teams.
Jonathan Alexander Newton
Alex, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Joe Newton, Jr., joined scouting as a Tiger Cub in Pack 125. He earned the Arrow of Light Award in 1997 and joined Troop 125.
For his service project, he beautified Thomson Elementary School through several improvements. He planned, designed and managed the installation of landscaping and irrigation at the parent drop off and pick up areas. In addition, he decorated the entrance area by mounting the large letters TES which he had designed and cut out.
Alex, a member of Thomson First United Methodist Church, has been in the choir and served as an acolyte with the church. He is a member of Drop Zone Ministries.
Through Scouting, he completed the exceptional feat of earning four God and Country Religious Awards: God and Me, God and Family, God and Church, and God and Life.
Alex, a senior at Augusta Christian High School, enjoys sports and was a member of the tennis team when it took a state title in 2003.
1950 Leonard Lokey Jr.
1965 Ben Willis
1991 Matthew Lake
1951 Guill Johnson
1965 David Thomas
1992 Ashley Dent
1951 Hoyt Oliver
1965 Danny Johnson
1992 Jamie Alfriend
1955 Bobby Kitchens
1965 Jimmy Wall
1993 Jabe Hilson
1955 Wyck Knox Jr.
1965 Bob Wilson Jr.
1993 Corey Hanks
1955
Jimmy Harrison
1965
Rick Hawes
1994 Richard Hawes
1955
John McNiel Jr.
1965
Tommy Lockett
1994 James Hauck
1956
Bob Pannell
1966
Glenn Wilson
1995 Drew Lake
1956 Lawrence Lockett Jr.
1967 Crawford Broome
1996 Jay Maxwell
1956 Hayden Hays
1967 Mel Norris
1996 Levi VanSant
1956 Tommy Lokey
1967 Charles Brunson
1996 Walker Hopkins
1956 Smitty Carr
1967 Jimmy Jones
1996 Bennett Dudley
1956 George Lokey
1967 Tommy Neal
1996 Andy Knox Jr.
1958 Bob Knox Jr.
1968 Jack Blanchard
1996 Trey Newton
1958 Jimmy Hutchinson
1969 Duane Humphrey
1997 Ryan Hemphill
1958 Johnny Sisson
1973 Epp Wilson
1998 Matthew Heuer
1958 Gordon Wilson
1981 Darrell Lokey
1998 Nick Armstrong
1959 Fred Blackmon Jr.
1984 Alan Deariso
1999 Colin Hilson
1960 Jimmy Davidson
1985 Steve Carr
1999 Dayton Smith
1960 Tom Harper III
1985 Neal Tam
1999 Wesley Whitaker
1960 Warren Blackmon
1986 Kevin Carr
2001 Bryce Hawes
1960 Allen Young
1986 Clint Hilson
2001 Colt Adams
1960 Jimmy Wilson
1987 Chris Hill
2002 Jeffery Cobb
1961 Bob Young
1987 Butch Askew
2002 Nathan Lake
1961 Jay Wilson
1987 Tom Davis
2002 John McDaniel
1963 Andy Knox
1988 Jim Wilson
2002 Bob Wilson III
1963 Johnny McCarty
1988 Sherwood Clements
2002 Billy Brunson
1963 David Young
1988 Trent Henderson
2002 Blakely Holley
1963 T.O. McNeill Jr.
1989 Rob Joesbury
2003 David Williams
1963 Tommy Brown
1989 Jason Meyer
2003 Wesley Walker
1963 Danny Kimbrell
1990 Andrew Smith
2003 Kelsey Jones
1963 Jim Bradshaw
1990 Donnie Reese
2004 Craig Foster
1964 Monty Nelson
1991 Andy Entriken
2004 Alex Newton
1964 Allan Hall
1991 Cameron Lokey
2004 Scott Jenkins
