Friday, July 31, 2009

EDWARD WHITEHEAD, THE OLDEST BOY SCOUT

FORMER DUBLIN MAN HONORED
AS THE OLDEST BOY SCOUT IN THE UNITED STATES

On May 9, Edward Whitehead turned 102. As one of eighteen children of Dave and Hattie Whitehead, Whitehead was born in Dublin, Georgia in 1907.




The Arbor Day Foundation honored Whitehead on April 24, 2009 with its first Arbor Foundation Centennial Award at the Dauch Scout Center in Detroit, Michigan. “I’ve enjoyed every bit of it. It seems like I have been collecting awards since before most of you were born,” said Whitehead.

The Whitehead family moved to Albion, Michigan, where he joined the Boy Scouts at the age of fifteen in 1922. As a scout, Edward earned many badges, including the Silver Beaver, the highest honor a boy scout can receive.

Whitehead remained active in scouting as a scoutmaster, cub master and adviser after he moved to Detroit, where he lives today. He still is somewhat active as he works in the scout shop of a scout center and occasionally at a day camp. The former truck driver credits his longevity to a good diet and plenty of rest. He estimates he has worked with more than three thousand scouts. “There are a lot of lessons you can learn. You learn about honesty, about doing good works, about helping others,” Whitehead said.

References: Freep.com, (Joe Rosseter, Free Press, CNET News.com

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