Greetings fellow Oak Lawnians! Congratulations to Bobby Clancy on earning his Boy Scouts of America Eagle Scout Award. Clancy is a member of Troop 618 based out of Trinity Lutheran Church at 9701 S. Brandt Ave. in Oak Lawn.
Clancy, 18, is a senior at Reavis High School, 6034 W. 77th St. in Burbank. Before joining the Boy Scouts in 2009, Clancy was a Cub Scout. He became interested in joining the Scouts after seeing a Scouting pamphlet and flier when he was a student at Maddock Elementary School in Burbank.
Clancy, who really enjoys camping and fishing, said, “It was just being outdoors and having a good time” that first attracted him to becoming a Cub Scout.
The Eagle Scout Award is the Boy Scout’s most prestigious and highest rank. To qualify, a Scout has to earn 21 merit badges, actively serve as a Life Scout in a troop for six months; and plan, develop and execute a service project that benefits his church, school or community. The last step in the process is for the Eagle Scout candidate to appear before a board of review.
Clancy’s Eagle Scout service project was to organize a collection of food and household supplies to benefit the Ronald McDonald House at 4410 W. 93rd St. in Oak Lawn. Clancy said he and “about six or seven of my troop members and friends and family went house to house and dropped off a bag (for collection items) with a flier inside.” His flier specified that he would return in two weeks to collect the bags. Clancy’s collection effort was focused on the houses and streets near Trinity Lutheran Church.
Clancy’s mom, Michelle, said her son “came up with the idea all on his own. What drew him in is the sick kids — they have no control.”
His service project lasted from February 2015 until October 2015. He appeared before the board of review in February of this year.
“At the end of that meeting they told me I was an Eagle Scout,” Clancy said. “I was happy and surprised and a little nervous.”
When he first joined the Scouts, the idea of becoming an Eagle Scout hadn’t crossed his mind, he said.
“The idea didn’t come to me at first, but almost everyone in my Troop (618) became an Eagle Scout, and you have to do that before you turn 18,” Clancy said.
Besides Scouting and enjoying the outdoors, the Burbank teen likes working on his dirt bike and also loves automotive mechanics.
In fact, he plans to pursue a career in automotive mechanics by attending Moraine Valley Community College in Palos Hills this summer.
“Moraine Valley has a very good automotive program, and it was more cost efficient to go there,” Clancy said.
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Bobby Clancy isn’t the only child of Michelle and her husband, Robert, who loves the Scouts. Their 16-year- old son, Tyler, is working on becoming an Eagle Scout, and their 15-year-old daughter, Kaylee, has earned the Girl Scout Gold Award, which is the highest achievement in Girl Scouting.
Bobby Clancy said that being a Boy Scout has influenced him in many ways.
“It’s helped me learn how to be a leader, like an Eagle Scout, about camping, and other good things,” Clancy said. “If someone’s not outdoorsy, then (Scouting is) probably not for them.”
He plans to be remain active in the Boy Scouts.
“I want to support those that are close to (Scouting) and tell them to keep going through it and to not give up,” Clancy said.
Michelle Clancy said: “I love the manners all of the Scouts show. (Scouting) helped (Bobby Clancy) become whole, especially during his service project; it makes him well rounded.”
Birthday wishes go out to Reagan McQuaid, who’s turning 7, and Sydney Daley, who’s turning 20, from their grandparents Joan and Mike Fahey. Happy 11th birthday to Rauri Haggerty, from her parents. Happy 13th birthday to Jedidiah Byrd from his uncle Rob Turek. Happy birthday to Erik Sevening, who’s turning 14, from his family. Sandy and Dave Wills send birthday wishes to their grandson, David Smith Jr., who’s turning 20. Happy 20th birthday to Meghan Jean, from her family. Happy 21st birthday to Sean David, from his family. Birthday wishes go out to Vanessa Ciametti, who’s turning 37, from her family and Sit ‘N’ Pretty pals. Loving birthday wishes go out to Sarah Petzel, who’s turning 38, from her family, Juan Hernandez and Sunny Petzel. Birthday wishes go out to Nancy Kane from her family. Happy birthday to Debbie Zwartz, from her husband, Dan, their children and family. Jean Bartle’s family wish her a happy birthday. Birthday wishes go out to Betty Seidler, from her husband, Dan. Happy birthday to Diane Massey, from her children and grandchildren. Happy birthday to Andy Caruso, who’s turning 51, from his wife, Linda, and their children, Tina and Julie. Danny Maerker’s, wife, Toni, and son, Danny wish him a happy 55nd birthday. Birthday wishes go out to Chuck DiNolfo from his family. Eddie Brand’s wife, Debbie, and their family wish him a happy birthday. Birthday wishes go out to Mike Hoy, from his mother-in-law, Aggie Mark.
Wedding anniversary wishes go out to Tim and Pam Fleming as they celebrate their 17th anniversary, from Polly Fleming and their family.
Keep your fellow Oak Lawnians informed about birthdays, special events or special “stuff” going on with your family or within the community. Call me at 708-899-9544 or e-mail me at the address above.
Until next time …