Bigbee honored at Boy Scout luncheon
The 2008 Warren County Patron Luncheon for the Middle Tennessee Council of Boy Scouts of America was held Wednesday. During the ceremony, the Black Fox Distinguished Scouting Award was presented to Dr. Wallace Bigbee.
Bigbee grew up in Germantown and has been associated with scouting for most of his life after starting out in Cub Scouts. Since that time, he has been involved in scouting, as well as a strong supporter of scouting and its importance to boys.
‘I’m pleased you have honored me in this way, but we really aren’t talking about me,’ said Bigbee. Although the award was accepted, he didn’t accept all the glory. Instead, he chose to point out others who deserve the honor.
‘We are honoring my mom and dad who gave me a good idea of what I should be when I grew up to be a man. We are talking about Harry Griffin’s mom who was the den mom. Oh, that was fun. And then, Scout Master Stan, who organized the troop at White Station in Shelby County and invited the kids to come and be scouts.’
He continued to name others who chose to join the ‘community of scouting’ and get involved with the ‘fellowship of scouting’ on different levels, mostly volunteer, to create Boy Scouts of America. He credits everyone involved, then and now, for establishing the organization and ensuring its continued success.
Boy Scouts of America was founded on Feb. 8, 1910. Shortly after the Scout Oath was created and it remains unchanged now, some 98 years later:
‘On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; to help other people at all times; to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.’
According to Bigbee, Boy Scouts of America is about the boys and showing them what they should be when they grow up and how to achieve those goals, as he himself was taught. By teaching those values, society reaps the much-needed benefits.
‘How many of you are disgusted with the deterioration and the morals of this country and the world’? Bigbee asked. ‘You can depend on church and you can depend on scouting to teach honor, duty to God, duty to country and duty to society. It’s not about me. It’s about scouting and it’s about the boys.’
Along with the Black Fox Distinguished Scouting Award given to him Wednesday, Bigbee has been given the Long Rifle Award and the Silver Beaver Award, which is the highest honor given by the Middle Tennessee Council, for his distinguished service to the scouts.
In 2007, the Black Fox District had 1,300 scouts, including 11 Eagle Scouts who contributed 1,872 hours of service to the community.