Boys State guides young men into leadership roles

By WILL STEWART / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard

Warren County will be well represented at this year’s American Legion Boys State with 10 delegates and alternates chosen from Warren County High School and Boyd Christian School.

This year’s delegates from Warren County High School include Brad Anderson, son of Melonie Turner; John Atnip, son of Gail and Johnny Atnip; Daniel Barnes, son of Rebecca and Ricky Barnes; Justin Bennett, son of Ann and Bill Bennett; Jody Denney, son of Valorie and Mike Denney; Nick Jones, son of Nancy and Kenneth Jones; and Brent Simpson, son of Sandy and David Simpson.

Boys State alternates from the high school include Ryan Otto, son of Steve Otto; and Tyler Daniel, son of Karen Daniel.

Boyd Christian School’s delegate is Daniel Buckner, son of Theona Buckner.

Started in 1944, American Legion Boys State continues to be the leading training ground for tomorrow’s leaders from the local to the national level, said local American Legion Post 173 adjutant Charles Norton.

More than a classroom civics lesson, Boys State provides rising high school seniors an interactive forum in which a realistic learning-by-doing process of experiencing government at the state and local level can take place. Over the course of week in late May and early June, hundreds of young men from across the state will gather on the campus of Tennessee Tech. Here they will form a mythical 51st state where they will practice the theories of government, including elections and the legislative process, at the city, county and state level.

To be eligible to attend, boys must be in the top third of their class. Additional consideration is given to each boy’s character, conduct, extracurricular activities and interest in government. American Legion Post 173 selects the delegates and alternates.

“We consider these boys to be the cream of the crop in Tennessee,” said Norton. “Boys State is aimed at training the leaders of tomorrow and we want the best kids to do it.”

With a cost of $200 per delegate to attend Boys State, several businesses and organizations, in addition to Post 173, have made donations to send the local boys to the program. These include First National Bank, Union Planters Bank, AmSouth Bank, Cumberland Bank, Breakfast Rotary Club, Noon Rotary Club, Evening Exchange Club and Rock Island Lions Club.