We lost one more of the Greatest Generation today, my Scoutmaster from many years ago. W. J. Whitworth passed this morning at 7:00 AM. He was 88 years old. I will miss him dearly, but I thank God for his influence on my life.
Here's a tribute written by a good friend of mine which tells it all. Thanks for reading and please have a kind thought for Fannie Sue, his surviving wife.
Many men can trace their love of nature and the outdoors to the lessons learned in the Boy Scouts. Scouting has provided a basis of life skills for astronauts, teachers, professors, US Senators, Presidents and artists like Norman Rockwell. As a young artist, Rockwell was hired as the art director of Boys' Life, the official magazine of the Boy Scouts of America. He created a series of paintings of life in scouting. Among his paintings is one titled "The Scoutmaster." The image portrays a scout leader in his official uniform standing over an open campfire under a moonlit sky scattered with stars. Behind the scoutmaster are the scouts, sound asleep from what was surely was a long day of outdoor adventure. The leader has a look of satisfaction as he enjoys the quietness and an evening campfire.
Few men know the true rewards of this moment captured by Norman Rockwell. However every Boy Scout that has advanced through the ranks of scouting or camped out under a moonlit sky can thank a Scoutmaster for providing encouragement, guidance and leadership. Without the dedication of a scoutmaster a scout troop cannot function properly.
W.J. "Whit" Whitworth was a dedicated scoutmaster. Whit led Troop 15 at the First Christian Church in El Dorado for nearly three decades. Whit wasn't just a Scoutmaster; Whit molded character among young men. Like many adult leaders he began his service to scouting when his son became a Boy Scout. However he continued to train young men for many years after his son had earned his Eagle badge and left for college. Whit earned respect by making his scouts feel they were an important part of Troop 15. Rarely did he raise his voice. Instead scouts sought to come closer to him so as to hear his words of wisdom.
I can't look at that image Norman Rockwell painted without seeing W.J. Whitworth. I see in my mind's eye the sacrifices Whit made for his scouts and his troop. Whit understood sacrifice; he came from that era Tom Brokaw calls, "the Greatest Generation." Whit inspired the young men he mentored. Every scout troop had a scoutmaster, only a few had a man like Whit.
This world is a lot better because of the sacrifices made by W.J. Whitworth. The influence he made for his scouts will continue to inspire young people for generations to come. I am glad that Whit was my Scoutmaster. The knowledge and experiences he shared with us as boys has enlightened our days as adults.
Whit always closed our troop meetings by joining arms and reciting the Scoutmasters benediction, "And now may the great scoutmaster of all true scouts be with us until we met again."
Here's a tribute written by a good friend of mine which tells it all. Thanks for reading and please have a kind thought for Fannie Sue, his surviving wife.
Many men can trace their love of nature and the outdoors to the lessons learned in the Boy Scouts. Scouting has provided a basis of life skills for astronauts, teachers, professors, US Senators, Presidents and artists like Norman Rockwell. As a young artist, Rockwell was hired as the art director of Boys' Life, the official magazine of the Boy Scouts of America. He created a series of paintings of life in scouting. Among his paintings is one titled "The Scoutmaster." The image portrays a scout leader in his official uniform standing over an open campfire under a moonlit sky scattered with stars. Behind the scoutmaster are the scouts, sound asleep from what was surely was a long day of outdoor adventure. The leader has a look of satisfaction as he enjoys the quietness and an evening campfire.
Few men know the true rewards of this moment captured by Norman Rockwell. However every Boy Scout that has advanced through the ranks of scouting or camped out under a moonlit sky can thank a Scoutmaster for providing encouragement, guidance and leadership. Without the dedication of a scoutmaster a scout troop cannot function properly.
W.J. "Whit" Whitworth was a dedicated scoutmaster. Whit led Troop 15 at the First Christian Church in El Dorado for nearly three decades. Whit wasn't just a Scoutmaster; Whit molded character among young men. Like many adult leaders he began his service to scouting when his son became a Boy Scout. However he continued to train young men for many years after his son had earned his Eagle badge and left for college. Whit earned respect by making his scouts feel they were an important part of Troop 15. Rarely did he raise his voice. Instead scouts sought to come closer to him so as to hear his words of wisdom.
I can't look at that image Norman Rockwell painted without seeing W.J. Whitworth. I see in my mind's eye the sacrifices Whit made for his scouts and his troop. Whit understood sacrifice; he came from that era Tom Brokaw calls, "the Greatest Generation." Whit inspired the young men he mentored. Every scout troop had a scoutmaster, only a few had a man like Whit.
This world is a lot better because of the sacrifices made by W.J. Whitworth. The influence he made for his scouts will continue to inspire young people for generations to come. I am glad that Whit was my Scoutmaster. The knowledge and experiences he shared with us as boys has enlightened our days as adults.
Whit always closed our troop meetings by joining arms and reciting the Scoutmasters benediction, "And now may the great scoutmaster of all true scouts be with us until we met again."
