Jones earns Eagle Scout badge

McLennan Jones is the last of several Albany Life Scouts who have recently worked to complete the requirements to achieve the Eagle Scout award, the highest award available through the Boy Scouts of America organization.

To be eligible to apply for the Eagle Scout award, a Life Scout must have earned at least 21 total merit badges, served in a leadership role in their Scout troop, taken part in a unit leader conference, and completed a service project.

Jones joined Scouting in the first grade, as a Cub Scout in Albany.

“Early on I knew that I wanted to become an Eagle Scout, and put forth the effort that it took because I thought it would be a great learning experience and the campouts with all my friends were lots of fun,” Jones said. “The various Scoutmasters that we had over the years motivated me to go all the way. Then I got very busy with other activities after Weeblos, and I stopped working on my badges.”

Jones doesn’t regret the time he spent working toward a black belt in Tae Kwon Do; however, by the time he returned his focus to merit badges, he found that he needed to earn quite a few in a relatively short amount of time.

“I finally got busy with Scouts again last year,” Jones said. “I worked hard on them last summer, took a break when school started, then earned several more over Christmas break.”

Jones is finishing up his Eagle Scout community service project within the last three weeks of his eligibility, which ends when a Scout turns 18 years old.

Service Project

Jones built a gaga ball pit for The Feed Store as his community service project.

“First Baptist Church has a gaga pit, and they would sometimes bring it over to The Feed Store,” said Jones. “I loved playing gaga; it is a giant free-for-all! I wanted to make one for The Feed Store as a big ‘thank you’ present.”

The Feed Store had a pit of its own at one time, but it was in shambles according to Jones, who said that he was always excited when they could play the game.

The pit Jones made is crafted in eight sections, each made from 2”x4” lumber screwed together to make a six foot wide by three foot tall panel, reinforced on both edges and in the middle of each section. Jones used hinges to fasten the panels together into a portable octagonal playing field.

“It is well built and I hope that it will be a lot of fun for the community,” said Jones.

The idea for an Eagle Scout project may be an original one or one already done by someone else. In either case, the Scout must plan, develop, and lead others in doing the project, “demonstrating leadership.”

“Henry Kelly has been a big help, and my mom and dad helped a lot also,” said Jones. “Lowe’s donated all of my lumber. Lancaster Specialties and several stores on Treadaway have also been a lot of help by donating funds toward the project.”

The board review form paperwork must be turned in before the Scout reaches 18 years of age, though the Eagle Scout court of honor ceremony can take place even after the Scout’s birthday.

Henry Kelly and Jones currently plan to have a joint Court of Honor cere-mony.

Past and Future Plans

Jones is a member of the Fandangle cast and was in one-act play during high school. He built a T-shirt cannon and shot those into the stands at football games. 

During high school, Jones was a member of FFA for three years, band his freshman year, and played tennis and golf.

The Life Scout performed in Antic Spring, a one-act play written by Robert Nail in 1939, directed by Kelly, and performed by a cast and crew of seven Albany High students last summer and this Fandangle season to raise money for charity.

Jones was presented with his black belt in Tae Kwon Do on April 14.

He will attend college at Abilene Christian University to become an RN.

“They are always needed, and jobs are available everywhere,” the Scout said.

Jones is a member of Troop 255 led by Scoutmaster Alan Koemel. 

He is the son of Shelia and Jay Jones of Albany.