Local Advocate Receives Scouting’s Highest Honor for Service
Walter
Brown to be honored for 50 years of volunteer service
San Diego, CA – May 23, 2008 — During his 50 years of service to
Scouting, local special-needs advocate Walter “Buster” Brown III has made a
significant impact on thousands of youth through his volunteer leadership in
the Boy Scouts of America. For his service and commitment, the BSA National
Council will honor Brown with the Silver Buffalo Award at its Annual Meeting in
San Diego on May 23.
The
Silver Buffalo Award, Scouting’s highest commendation for service to youth, has
been awarded annually since 1925 to civic-minded men and women who stand out
for their invaluable contributions and service to the youth of America.
Since 1963, Brown
has worked tirelessly to make Scouting more accessible to people with
disabilities. Helping them to do the seemingly impossible, he has assisted
special-needs groups in completing backcountry treks at Philmont Scout Ranch, a
high adventure base in Cimarron, N.M.
Brown is a founding
member of the National Special Needs Committee on Scouting and now serves on
the Special Needs Task Force, which has updated all BSA publications relating
to special needs. He also has served as an advocate at every national Scout jamboree
and national Order of the Arrow conference since 1985.
“The Boy Scouts of
America is proud to recognize Buster for a half–century of service and
commitment to our youth, particularly those with special needs,” said Bob
Mazzuca, Chief Scout Executive. “He has worked tirelessly to improve the lives
of thousands of young people, making it possible for them to share the life
experiences that everyone should enjoy.”
Brown is a member
of the Order of the Arrow and holds the Silver Beaver and Silver Antelope awards,
the Woods Services Award, and the Saint George Award. Outside of Scouting,
Buster has served on the boards of the United Way, the YMCA, and the
UNC Educational Foundation. He served as a Sunday school teacher for his
church, and he coached youth basketball teams for many years.
A retired financial
consultant and resident of Elon, N.C., he has three
children. With his wife, Jane, he shares 20 grandchildren.
About
the Boy Scouts of America
Serving more than 4.6 million youth between the ages of 7
and 20, with more than 300 councils throughout the United States and its territories, the BSA is the
nation's foremost youth program of character development and values-based
leadership training. The Scouting movement is composed of 1.2 million volunteers,
whose dedication of time and resources has enabled the BSA to remain the
nation's leading youth-service organization. For more information on the BSA,
please visit www.scouting.org.