City man gets Scout Wood Badge

By: Cynthia Williamson
   LAMBERTVILLE — Scouting is a pursuit Lambertville Troop 49 Scout Master Thomas Sheppard said he could really dig his teeth into.
   His 19-year journey through Boy Scouts began when he joined Cub Scouts at age 7.
   Mr. Sheppard, 29, was presented with the distinguished Wood Badge when the Lambertville troop held its annual Court of Honor awards ceremony and dinner Sept. 10 at the First Presbyterian Church in Lambertville.
   The badge is given to Scout leaders who complete advanced leadership training in such areas as planning, communicating and counseling. Several New Jersey colleges will give three credits to those who complete the course.
   Troop 49 guide Al Hacker of Kearny, who also coached Mr. Sheppard through the program, presented him with the Wood Badge certificate and regalia.
   "When I met Tom two years ago, there were five boys in his troop," Mr. Hacker noted. "The troop has grown, and I’m sure it’s through his efforts. He has grown so much in his leadership abilities."
   Though Scouting has always been a "constant" in his life, Mr. Sheppard said his interest in Boy Scouts "really took hold" when he was 13 and his parents divorced.
   "Scouting has given me the constant sort of unit my family didn’t have because it was sort of restructuring," he said. "That’s a debt I can never repay."
   Mr. Sheppard is an Eagle scout, the highest rank a Boy Scout can achieve. He said his parents supported his endeavors to succeed.
   "There were times when my parents were there to keep me moving along," he said. "But they wouldn’t do the work. They were there as any parent is behind their kids."
   His father, Barry Lee Sheppard of Ringoes, was den leader his Weeblo year.
   When he reached age 18 and could no longer be a Boy Scout, Mr. Sheppard said he "knew it wasn’t the end of my involvement" in Scouting.
   He became Lambertville Troop 49 assistant scoutmaster in 1994 and took over for Scoutmaster Neale Myers when he retired in 1996 after 25 years with the local troop. Mr. Sheppard also was an adult leader in his old Boy Scout troop, Flemington Troop 62.
   He grew up in East Amwell Township and graduated from Hunterdon Central High School in 1989, when he moved to Lambertville where his mother, Mary Elizabeth Sheppard, is the municipal clerk.
   He holds an associate’s degree in biology from Raritan Valley Community College and earned a bachelor’s degree in natural resource management from Rutgers University’s Cook Campus.
   He is a park naturalist with the Hunterdon County Department of Parks and Recreation.
   In other awards given to scouts at the ceremony Sept. 10, Eric Casey was presented the religious award by his pastor, Father Leon Kasprzyk of St. John’s Church in Lambertville. It was the first time a member of the local troop had attained the award.
   Eric, a Lambertville resident and South Hunterdon freshman, also received a third-year service star and an attendance award for participating in at least 70 percent of all scout functions for the third straight year.
   Additionally, the assistant patrol leader’s rank was advanced to Star. He also earned the cooking and environmental science merit badges this year.
   In other rank advancements, Wyatt Brady, Benjamin Gross, Rhett Hockenbury, Billy Hood, Brent Gordon, Sam Grillo, Ryler Hockenbury and Chris Keyser were advanced to Second Class.
   Receiving Tenderfoot rank were John Hawkins, Jeffrey Hornberger, Jonathon Tillett, Troy Easton, Bob Piel, Robbie Williamson, Kyle Hart and Garret Williamson.
   Scout rank advancements were given to P.J. Angle, Andrew Dunaj, Bret Gross and Kevin Liana.
   Earning merit badges this year were James Cordes (cooking), Patrick Hornberger (canoeing), Wyatt (wilderness survival), Troy (basketry, swimming, orienteering, pioneering and cycling), Sam (art, insect study, cooking and pioneering), Brent (pioneering, cooking, art and insect study), Benjamin (insect study, cooking, pioneering and art), Kyle (basketry) and John (insect study and basketry).
   Also, Rhett (basketry, swimming, orienteering, pioneering, home repair, railroading and cycling), Ryler (basketry, swimming, orienteering, home repair, reading, railroading, pets and cycling), Billy (art, woodcarving, cooking, leatherwork, basketry, pets, pioneering, insect study, fire safety and sculpture), Chris (cooking, pioneering, home repair and fire safety), Bob (basketry), Jonathon (art and pioneering) and Robbie (basketry).
   Receiving first-year service stars were Wyatt, Sam, Benjamin, Brent, John, Billy, Chris, Dennis and Jonathon.
   James and Patrick received third-year and sixth-year service stars, respectively.
   Scout leaders receiving service stars were Kevin Brady (nine years), James Keyser (16 years) and Mr. Sheppard (19 years).
   First-year attendance awards were given to Wyatt, Benjamin, Billy, Chris and Jonathon.
   Patrick received a fourth-year attendance award.
   Ranger recognition was given to P.J., Andrew, Kyle, Jeffrey, Bob, Robbie and Garret.
   Polar Bear recognition was given to P.J., Troy, Kyle, Rhett, Robbie and Garret.
   The Arrow of Light award was presented to the following: Andrew, Bob, Robbie and Garret.