Paying It Forward: Scouting builds generations of leaders #141
America's best days are ahead as Scouting continues to build leaders. Consider donating fund so succeeding generations can learn the key principles foundational to changing lives for the better.
Jack Browne, Wichita Falls Times Record News edition, Sunday November 23, 2025
Friends connect us to community. Monday, I joined the Northwest Texas Council of Scouting America annual Americanism fundraising luncheon as a guest of my friend David Farabee, a Wichita Falls businessman and former state legislator.
Great food from Texas Roadhouse satisfied our bodies nutritional needs as four generations of leaders associated with Scouting inspired us with the many ways their lives have been influenced as they contribute to their communities.
My soul was filled with confidence and spirit refreshed. I believe America’s best days are ahead as many such inspired leaders freely share their best skills and practices so other generations have a chance to learn and grow into the citizens we need.
Confidence, service, honor, leadership and integrity were words shared by speakers as we then learned the impact of their scouting experiences. We saw how just a few dedicated individuals can affect so many lives when those recipients then continue the multiplicative sharing with succeeding generations in creating stronger citizens and families in our communities.
Retired Wichita County Justice of the Peace Janice Sons was master of ceremonies as last year’s Americanism award recipient. She shared the impact the event speakers have in their communities, then announced Nancy Brown as this year’s recipient of the Americanism award.
Nancy was introduced by Wayne Reed, general manager of Nexstar Broadcasting and long-time board member of Hands to Hands. Reed recognized Nancy for 16 years of service at Hands to Hands where her leadership skills raised the funds allowing eight agencies to serve hundreds of local families while making our community stronger and empowering the ongoing growth of children.
Nancy noted the calling of the mission and her love for the opportunity to educate others of their neighbors’ challenges while inspiring community members to take action.
You could clearly hear her tireless passion as she spoke.
Scout 2nd Class Sam Longar of Troop 22, sponsored by American Legion Post 120, shared his Scouting experiences as part of a military family.
“Moving every three years, leaving friends and community, scouting was a consistent opportunity to engage and grow,” Longar said.
Sam is already a leader, adapting to life’s challenges and moving forward.
Sons introduced Darrel Kirkland, noting his seventy plus years of Scouting experiences from Cub Scout, Eagle and now decades as scoutmaster of Troop 15. As scoutmaster, Darrel has guided 195 scouts to the rank of Eagle Scout.
Kirkland introduced keynote speaker Jim Daniel, a Wichita Falls native and Eagle Scout. He is director of software development at Oracle. He reviewed the impact Scouting has on his life, and how the values enabled him to deal with life’s challenges.
When Daniel was a freshman at Texas A&M, his challenges included the November 18, 1999 Texas A&M Bonfire collapse where 12 people died. He shared the subsequent opportunities and challenges of his 6 and a half years of military service and then his career turn towards technology that led him to cloud computing, first at Amazon, and now at Oracle.
Daniel noted that it’s not enough to have ideals without concrete implementations that realize those ideals.
“As people move towards common goals, it is important to be guided by principles and efficiency as well as striving for the goals,” he said. Daniel said, “Becoming an Eagle Scout, prepares you to see, do and be. Scouting is worth investing in.”
The foundations that these four generations, Sam, Jim, Nancy and Darrel share revolve around Scouting’s Oath three main promises: duty to God and country, duty to others, and duty to self as well as the Scout Law.
If you know a Scout, no doubt you’ve heard them recite the 12 points of Scout Law: trustworthy, loyal, helpful,friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent.
If you see one of these recently honored individuals, share a “Well done, thank you for what you do.”
Scouting was founded in 1907 by Robert Baden-Powell with an experimental camp of 20 boys on Brownsea Island, England after military service in South Africa by Baden-Powell. His best-selling book, Scouting for Boys published in 1908, emphasized character development and outdoor activities.
Scouting spread globally with the Boy Scouts of America, now Scouting America, incorporating in 1910 after William Boyce, a Chicago publisher, was inspired after being helped by a Scout as he was lost on a foggy London Street.
You can make a difference with a monetary donation that furthers the work here in Wichita Falls of the Northwest Texas Council of Scouting America at https://nwtcscouting.org/donate/
Jack Browne is a community activist and former technology engineer, sales and marketing executive at Motorola and other top tech companies.