It had been more than 30 years since Kansas City Eagle Scouts gathered at Municipal Music Hall, but on Sunday, March 10, two generations of Scouting’s elite celebrated the start of a new tradition.
The 2012 Clifford W. Illig Class of Eagle Scouts Reception welcomed more than 1,100 attendees to Municipal Music Hall. Those in attendance included 225 members of the 2012 Eagle Scout Class and 32 members of the 1962 Eagle Scout Class who celebrated the 50th anniversary of receiving their coveted Eagle badge.
2012 marked the 100th anniversary of the Eagle Scout Award with 850 Heart of America Council Scouts earning Scouting’s highest rank – twice the national average. The 2012 Eagle Scout Class also provided leadership to more than 105,000 hours of community service.
Distinguished Eagle Scout, Clifford W. Illig, Vice Chairman and Co-founder of Cerner Corporation and Co-owner of Sporting Kansas City, served as the event honoree. Illig presented all Eagle Scouts in attendance with the official Eagle Scout “Challenge Coin” to commemorate the special occasion.
The event also featured the presentation of the Paul D. Arend Scoutmaster of the Year Award and the National Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year Award. The Paul D. Arend Scoutmaster of the Year Award is presented annually in the Heart of America Council to a Scoutmaster who has demonstrated a lifelong committment to the values of the Scout Oath and Law and to the mentorship of Eagle Scouts. This year’s award was presented to Scoutmaster Paul Crooks, Troop 1374, Liberty, MO.
The 2013 National Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year Award was presented to Eagle Scout William Riley, Troop 1376, Liberty, MO. William’s Eagle Scout Service Project contributed 559 hours of service to the community and included the design and construction of an outdoor classroom at South Valley Middle School in Liberty, MO.
Todd Leabo, Sports Radio 810 WHB, served as the event emcee and best-selling author and Eagle Scout, Alvin Townley, was the featured guest speaker.