Wesley Walker, of Pauls Valley, and Elsie Haskins, of Ada, were recently honored as Silver Beaver Award recipients for their outstanding longtime service to youth in Boy Scouts of America. The Silver Beaver is the highest honor for distinguished service that can be given to adult volunteers by a local council.
The awards were presented by the Arbuckle Area Council of BSA during the Council’s annual banquet Feb. 23 at Pauls Valley’s United Methodist Church.
The Arbuckle Area Council’s first Silver Beaver Awards were given to volunteers nearly a hundred years ago. The first in what was then the Pontotoc Council in 1928 and then in the Ardmore City Council in 1931. Those two early councils would later add McClain and Garvin Counties and merge to become the Arbuckle Area Council.
Since 1928 there have been 210 Silver Beaver Awards given to volunteers in the Arbuckle Council.
Wesley Walker has been active in the Arbuckle Council since 1996. He served as assistant scoutmaster and as a committee member of the Wynnewood Boy Scout Troop 79 and is currently the committee chairman for the troop.
During his nearly thirty years of service, he has helped numerous Scouts with Eagle projects, spent many weeks at summer camp as a sponsor, and helped at troop meetings and outings.
“I think it’s a good service organization, and it helps build character for the youth who are involved,” Walker said. “I just think it’s a good program. I enjoy doing it and enjoy helping down at camp – and I’m able to.”
He said he has particularly enjoyed supporting Valley Rally rest stops with the Wynnewood Boy Scout Troop, something he’s done since 1998.
He enjoys going to Camp Simpson to help with projects to maintain and improve the camp, and said he is also grateful for the time he has spent over the years helping Jim “Doc” Ruster prepare meals at Order of the Arrow events at camp.
Walker has also been to Philmont Scout Ranch, a high adventure camp in New Mexico, twice as an advisor.
Walker is a Vigil in the Order of the Arrow and a Washita District Award of Merit recipient.
He has been a member of the Masonic Lodge since 1985, where he served as secretary for eight years. Walker received the Daniel Carter Beard Masonic Scouter Award in 2005.
Walker and his wife, Lorraine, are members of the First Church of God in Pauls Valley.
Elsie Haskins first became involved in Scouting when her sons were active in Cub Scouts. Both sons have since earned their Eagle Scout rank.
She has served as Pack 4 committee member, Webelos leader and a Cubmaster. She has also served as district committee member, assistant district commissioner, unit commissioner and Cub Scout roundtable staff for the Harry Miller District.
Haskins has received several Scout recognition awards including the Order of the Arrow Founders Award, Extra Miler Award, Outstanding Cubmaster, OA Brotherhood Award, Outstanding Unit Commissioner, District Award of Merit and Harry Miller District Hall of Fame.
She and her husband, Mike Musgrave, have served as Camp Rangers at Camp Tiak in Mississippi and Camp Simpson near Tishomingo, where they have also served as Camp Masters for five years. She currently serves as memberat- large for the Harry Miller District Committee.
Haskins is a member of the Stratford First Baptist Church.
The Arbuckle Area Council also recognized its 2023 Eagle Scout class during the Feb. 23 banquet.
Scouts earning Eagle Scout rank included Levi Chase Ballard, James Ladd Rickey, Kaden Nicholas Nirschl, Samuel Ellis Yates and Nicolas McCarty of Pauls Valley Troop 73; Haiden Covie West and Cooper Bradley Knight of Elmore City Troop 71; Corbin Michael West and Jack MacArthur Emerson of Ada Troop 4; Trew Blaze Von Kelly Blackburn of Davis Troop 67; Robert Joseph Clements of Tishomingo Troop 100; Jadyn Fayth Jackson of Ada Troop 198G; Corbin McCurdy of Sulphur Troop 160; Peter Nguyen and Noah Blaine Williams of Coalgate Troop 177; Colt Ryder Peery of Ardmore Troop 1; Elias Jadon Powell of Ardmore Troop 5; and Thomas Stephen Reddish of Madill Troop 10.
