Words by Al Blanton | Images by Ryan McGill
Clemson University Head Football Coach Dabo Swinney was the Special Guest this Wednesday at the Black Warrior Council’s 12th Annual E.A. “Larry” Drummond Lifetime Scouting Achievement Award Luncheon, held at the Jasper Civic Center. A two-time national champion at Clemson and former Alabama football player under coach Gene Stallings, Swinney outlined his core beliefs and provided biographical details of his family connections to Walker County during his address. Swinney joins an impressive list of speakers for the event, which includes Bruce Pearl, Nick Saban, Greg Byrne, and Pat Dye, among others.
“I’ve always been passionate about helping other people when I can, and certainly for the Boy Scouts, this is a purpose-driven organization, and kind of aligns with how I try to live my life, with purpose,” Swinney told The Walker Leader. “(I’m) glad it worked out and always good to come home.”
Zac Lollar served as the Event Organizer, and the Luncheon Leadership Team included Brian Alexander, Kevin Callahan, Andrew Harris, Clint McClain, Bert Hendrix, Bryant Brooks, Austin McLemore, Cade Diehl, Chad Hill, Whit Wilson, Walker Wilson, Billy Doss, Steven Nolen, Ted Killingsworth, Jud Allen, Curt Ballard, Russ Robertson, Shannon Lollar, and Matthew Laird.
Robertson, a Black Warrior Council Board Member and former Eagle Scout, served as Event Emcee, while J.J. Hadder served as Luncheon Chairman. Greg Tinker, Chartered Representative for Pack/Troop 117 and pastor at Covenant Nazarene Church, delivered the Invocation, and JROTC Post 925 at Jasper High School Presented the Colors.
Another highlight of the event was the awarding of the Lifetime Scouting Achievement Award to Paul Kennedy, President of the Walker Area Community Foundation. Past recipients include Grady Hendrix (2013), Dr. David Rowland (2014), B.W. “Wade” Rollins (2015), Steve Byars (2016), Steve Hager (2017), The Murphy Family (2018), Eddie Jackson (2019), Gerson May (2020), Pete Smith (2021), Steve Hudson (2022) and Kevin Callahan (2023). Kennedy is the 12th recipient of the award.
The Mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Scout Law. The Vision of the Black Warrior Council is to be the premier youth development organization in West Alabama by transforming impressionable young men and women into responsible, civic-minded adults who live lives that honor the Scout Oath and Law. The Black Warrior Council serves 2,000 youth and their families annually in 12 counties of West Alabama. The Council is chartered annually by the national BSA, headquartered in Irving, Texas.
Gold-Level Event Sponsors included Carl Cannon Chevrolet Buick GMC, Walker Area Community Foundation, Riverpeak Partners of Raymond James, Drummond Company, Honda of Jasper, Hyundai of Jasper, Steve Hudson & Associates, Bill Penney, Thompson Tractor, John Drummond, Abbie Drummond, Sam & Jane Murphy, Jon & Ashley Glover, Babs & Michael Anderson, Dr. & Mrs. Charles Nolen, Jr., Dr. Larry Thorne, Patrick Drummond, Steve & Judy Hager, Gerson & Judy Mya, and Rick & Beth Stukes.
The event included a tribute to the late Steve Hager, who passed away on January 19 and was a pioneer of Scouting in the Black Warrior Council.
Upcoming events for the Black Warrior Council include a Steel Horse Ride on Saturday, April 6, in memory of Richard “Bull” Corry, the Tenderfoot Golf Classic on Friday, May 10, at Ol’ Colony Golf Club in Tuscaloosa, and the Sporting Clays Event on Friday, September 9 at Camp Horne in Cottondale, Alabama. WL
