Thomas earns Eagle Scout honors

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GLADSTONE - Boy Scout Jack "TJ" Thomas IV was presented with the Eagle Scout award by his Scoutmaster Anders Nyberg at the recent Gladstone Troop 466 Eagle Court of Honor. Jack is the 88th Scout from Troop 466 to earn Eagle honors since it began in Gladstone in 1937. The title of Eagle Scout is held for life, thus giving rise to the phrase "Once an Eagle, always an Eagle."

Earlier this summer Jack demonstrated his learned leadership skills by completing his Eagle Project as he led members of Troop 466 along with his family and school friends. The Eagle project was completed at the Memorial United Methodist Church where Jack has worshiped since moving to Gladstone in 1993. The project involved renovation of the Church library and included all the planning, designing and building of eighteen-foot wood book cases. This room, along with another large youth room, was also repainted.

The recognition of Eagle Scout has always carried with it a special significance. The award is a performance based achievement whose standards have been well maintained for almost 100 years. Only about three percent of all Boy Scouts who join a Troop earn the Eagle Scout rank. The Scouting ideals learned and goals of citizenship training, character development and personal fitness are important facets for youth to learn, whether or not they attain the Eagle Scout rank.

Jack participated in the Gladstone Cub Scout Pack 471 as a Tiger Cub when he began scouting in 1st grade, and completed his Arrow of Light and the Webelos II rank by 5th grade before entering Boy Scouts.

Jack joined Boy Scout Troop 466 in January of 2001 at the age of 10. In Boy Scouts, he advanced through the ranks of Tenderfoot, Second Class and First Class during his first year. Completing the Star and Life ranks over the next few years, he also completed 22 merit badges, among the many requirements toward attainment of the Eagle Scout rank.

Throughout the years Jack held numerous Scouting leadership positions including Patrol Leader, Troop Guide, Chaplain, Assistant Senior Patrol Leader, Senior Patrol Leader, and Junior Assistant Scoutmaster. During Jack's scouting career he attended most Troop 466 activities, which included backpacking, canoe and bike trips, winter campouts, Spring and Fall Camporees and Klondike Derbies, in addition to summer camps at Camp Hiawatha near Munising.

Jack was inducted into the Order of the Arrow in 2004 and completed the second level, his Ordeal the following year. The Order of the Arrow is Boy Scouting's National Honor Society of which members are selected by fellow scouts in their respective Troop. Membership recognizes those best exemplify the Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives, to develop and maintain camping traditions and spirit and to crystallize the Scout habit of helpfulness and service to others.

One of the highlights of his Scouting career was participation over four summers in the week long Mackinac Island Scout Service Camp and Governor's Honor Guard, including 2005 when he was chosen to be the Senior Patrol Leader to more than fifty Scouts from across the U.P. and the Traverse City area.

Another highlight in Jack's scouting career was in 2005 when he attended the two week long Boy Scout National Jamboree at Fort AP Hill in Virginia. Even with the extreme heat during much of that event, he talks regularly in his Troop of the many great memories he shared with forty fellow Boy Scouts from around the Upper Peninsula.

Jack recently turned 18 years old and has completed an Adult Scout application to become Gladstone's newest Assistant Scoutmaster in a commitment to help other Scouts working along their Eagle trail. A recent graduate of Gladstone High School, Jack's career plan is to further his education at Michigan Tech in Houghton to study Mechanical Engineering.