Oswego resident Bill Doody’s childhood involvement with the Boy Scouts began when he was in second grade. It came to an abrupt end seven years later when his parents moved from Chicago to Orland Park.
“Not for lack of interest,” he said, but with no means of transportation out of his small subdivision, Doody’s attention shifted to what his Orland Park neighbors were participating in — sports.
Scouting, however, remained in Doody’s “heart and mind,” and over the last 14 years, he has more than made up for it with his involvement after his two sons joined a local Oswego Cub Scout troop.
Currently, Doody heads a Boy Scout Venturing Crew geared toward older Scouts.
Doody began his adult Scouting journey as the assistant Scout leader for his sons’ Cub Scout troop. “After only three months, the cubmaster relocated out of state,” Doody said. “Then I became cubmaster.”
Doody also has served as an assistant scoutmaster, Maramech Hill District commissioner, Venturing Crew adviser, Order of the Arrow adviser, roundtable commissioner, unit commissioner and a merit badge counselor.
With numerous Scouting-related memories, Doody is most fond of the times when Scouts have been encouraged by other Scouts to overcome obstacles and fears.
“That type of encouragement is Scouting at its finest,” he said.
As a result of his long-term service, this year Doody is being honored with the Silver Beaver Award along with seven volunteers from the St. Charles-based Three Fires Council, including Linda Potvin, of Elburn, and Larry Gallagher, of Naperville.
“The Silver Beaver Award is the highest honor bestowed upon a volunteer from a Boy Scout Council,” said Joe Wiltrout, Scout executive of Three Fires Council.
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Potvin has been involved with Scouting for more than 20 years, starting out as den mom when her two boys were Cub Scouts and later served as pack leader of Elburn Cub Scout Pack 107.
Moving up the ranks along with her boys, Potvin served in many positions associated with Elburn Boy Scout Troop 7 and now serves on the Merit Badge Advancement Team for Maramech Hill.
Serving on the Advancement Team has been especially rewarding for Potvin. “To see the boys grow into young men,” she said, “it is life changing.”
Due to her guidance of Scouts, Potvin has received 10 mentor pins from Eagle Scouts over the years in recognition for her work with them. “Those boys have a special place in my heart,” she said.
Gallagher said he has worn various hats during his long tenure with Boy Scouts after his son joined Cub Scouts in first grade. He has served as den leader, pack leader, trainer and committee chairman.
“There are lots of opportunities in Scouting to serve in many different capacities,” he said. “All of them are very rewarding. You get to work with fun adults and wonderful young men.”
“I am involved with training, religious relationships and currently serve as the Thunderbird District’s commissioner,” he said.
“The Scouting program is something you can participate in as a youth and as an adult,” Gallagher said. “Once you become involved in the program, you see the positive things it does for young men that become traits in their character.”
As Scouts move up through the ranks, they want to give back to younger Scouts coming up the ranks, he said.
What you get back from the program is one of those intangibles, Gallagher said. “It pays you back 10 times whatever you put into it.”
Cathy Janek is a freelance reporter.