LITTLE MOUNTAIN — Jacob Glenn Shealy recently reached the highest rank of scouting, Eagle Scout.
He is a member of Troop 61, and will become the 55th Eagle Scout in Troop 61 since the troop was reestablished in 1995.
Shealy first became involved in scouting in the fall of 2008 and in March 2009 became a Tiger Cub, where he and his late father, Glenn Shealy, built the first of many pinewood derby cars. The following year Shealy moved on to being a Wolf and a couple years later became Bear.
He advanced through the ranks of scouting (July 16, 2013), Tenderfoot (Oct. 27, 2013), Second Class (Nov. 12, 2013), First Class (April 16, 2014), Star (Nov. 11, 2014), Life (August 30, 2016) and Eagle (Feb. 18, 2018).
Since joining Troop 61, Shealy has held several roles including patrol leader for the Bobcat Patrol, troop instructor, assistant senior patrol leader and his current role as chaplain.
He has also earned 34 merit badges in areas such as camping, cooking, wood carving, citizenship in world and geocaching, to name a few.
To get to the Eagle Scout rank, Shealy completed 170 volunteer hours at the Little Mountain Reunion Park enlisting the help of 19 volunteers in projects that included pressure washing, painting, replacing stairs on the stage, along with helping build and install seven benches at the park.
“Jacob has distinguished himself through continued performance and active services in scouting. He has trained and practiced his leadership abilities and he is marked by the character gained through an understanding of his citizenship and religious beliefs,” said Troop 61 Scoutmaster Billy Lindler.
Lindler added that reaching the rank of Eagle Scout compares favorably to the honors, degree and awards given by religious, civic, fraternal and service organizations.
“Less than four percent of all scouts in the United States reach the rank of Eagle Scout,” he said.
Shealy was grateful for the people who supported him and helped him reach the Eagle rank.
“My scoutmasters have pushed me to be the best that I can be and have all personally been role models to look up to. They have put up with me on my most annoying days and procrastinating tendencies. My mother really pushed me, constantly reminding me to do merit badges, but in the end it all paid off in a way I never knew it could,” Shealy said. “I’m very happy I got to this moment, happy that I made it here and didn’t quit along the way and had people to support me along the way.”
Shealy added it was crazy to think that he is the 55th Eagle Scout in Troop 61.
“It’s crazy that there are so many Eagle Scouts in my troop and that there are so many great leaders to help out me and my fellow scouts,” he said.
Shealy’s mother, Megan Shealy, is proud of her son’s accomplishment.
“I’m really proud of him. I just feel that he really had the self motivation to do it, he needed a little extra push on his time table, but I’m just really proud of him,” Shealy said