Andrews – For the second year in a row, Murphy Cub Scouts Pack 400 was named Pack of the Year at the Boy Scouts of America Nantahala District Banquet on Saturday night. It’s also the fourth time the pack has won the Big Bear trophy in six years.
“I’m pretty happy,” Cubmaster Josh Frentz said. “If it wasn’t for our volunteers, we wouldn’t be where we’re at.”
There are 35 kids in the pack, including 15 girls. He said both the pack and Troop 400 went through a rough time at the beginning of the year, and the award coupled with him receiving the Cubmaster of the Year award especially meant a lot this year.
In fact, Pack 400’s table at the Andrews United Methodist Church Family Life Center was filled with awards at the end of the night. Christine Winner, treasurer and Bear den leader, was named Scouter of the Year. Frentz, along with John Morton of both Troop 400 and 4400, received Life Line Awards for doing something to save their units. Leaders Frank Blount and Crystal Cecil were given Trail Blazer Awards.
The evening featured Eagle Scout Drew Pyle returning as guest speaker. He earned the highest rank in Boys Scouts of America in 2013, then graduated from Andrews High School in 2017. He is a junior at Western Carolina University majoring in business management.
He spoke about what Scouting has meant to him, and that he would like to be Scoutmaster or den leader someday for his kids. He also challenged everyone in the room – including himself – to continue working every day on becoming a better person through the points of the Scout Law.
“I want to be a better Eagle than I was today, yesterday,” Pyle said.
Andrews and Marble leaders also received awards:
- Andrews Commissioner Nenia Thompson was named Commissioner of the Year;
- Troop 401 Assistant Scoutmaster Jeff Mansker received a Trail Blazer Award the Cross and Flame Award;
- Pack 401 Cubmaster Kathy Bryant received a Trail Blazer Award and the District Award of Merit.
- Greg Worley of Marble’s Pack 430 earned the Den Leader of the Year award. He and his wife, Kim Worley, both earned den leader awards. Kim Worley also earned a Trail Blazer Award.
The Nantahala District consists of nine units in Cherokee, Clay and Graham counties, and is part of the Daniel Boone Council, which serves the 14 westernmost counties in the state. Council representatives were proud to honor local leaders and units at the banquet.
“We are a strong council because we have strong volunteers and strong youth,” said Robert Garrett, assistant scout executive.