Davis receives Eagle Award at Shell Hall ceremony

On Saturday, Aug. 17, Greybull resident Steele Davis, 17, was presented with his Eagle Scout award in front of his family, friends and Boy Scout Troop 312 at a ceremony held at the Shell Community Hall. The Eagle badge is both the highest honor afforded by the Boy Scouts of America [BSA] and the most difficult to achieve. Davis, who has participated in scouts since he was 6 years old, was required to earn 21 merit badges, serve his troop in a leadership role and complete a service project in his community before applying for the award. His work, conduct and character were then subject to review by a committee, which ultimately approved his ascent.
“I feel more pride than anything,” said Davis, about the award. “I am now part of a small group of scouts who have accomplished this, and I feel proud and honored to be among them.
“I would encourage any boy to [join scouts]. It builds you into a strong young man and teaches you life skills. I have never had a regret about doing it.“
For his service project, Davis constructed and installed wooden storage cubbies in the observation area at the Antelope Butte ski resort. Davis designed, measured and oversaw the project’s completion over the course of four months with assistance from his friends, family and community. He received monetary and supply donations from the Greybull Building Center, Big Horn Co-Op, Ace Hardware and Home Depot’s Sheridan branch. He designed and assembled the storage boxes at Mark Michelena and Marva Rimer’s wood shop.
“We’re really, really proud of him,” said Kari Davis, Steele’s mother. “He has always been determined to do things, to do things well. He sets goals, then he achieves them. It’s a real honor just to have him as a son.”
John Fuller, who led Troop 312 before stepping back from lead Scoutmaster duties last year, remarked, “It’s been a multi-year process for Steele. [Seeing him ascend from Cub to Eagle Scout] is one of the rewards I get out of [being a scoutmaster] — seeing young boys take advantage of all the scouting program offers and turn out to be awesome young men. I am proud to put these boys out into the world.”
In addition to his Eagle award, Davis received recognition from the American Legion, whose representatives presented him with four awards commending his service and good citizenship. Davis was also gifted an American flag from the office of Senator John Barrasso that had been flown in the U.S. Capitol in honor of his rare achievement.
As a newly minted Eagle Scout, Davis joins an exclusive club. Since 1912, when the BSA awarded the first Eagle badge to Arthur R. Eldred, just two million scouts have attained the rank, or about 6% of all scouts in the organization’s history.
Davis, who wants to be a helicopter pilot, will be applying to colleges this fall, including the Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD.