Tommy Smith recognized as Eagle Scout mentor

Tommy Smith was recently recognized as an Eagle Scout mentor when he and wife Virginia Smith attended an Eagle Scout Court of Honor Ceremony in Oklahoma City, OK. James Hankins, grandson of Tommy and the late Wanda Jordan Smith, was awarded the rank of Eagle Scout by the Boy Scouts of America and chose to honor his “PaPa” as his most significant mentor on his path to this achievement.
Eagle Scout is the highest achievement or rank attainable in the Boy Scouting program of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA). The designation “Eagle Scout” has a long history since its founding over one hundred years ago. Only a small percentage of Boy Scouts are granted this rank after a lengthy review process. The requirements necessary to achieve this rank take years to fulfill and include earning at least 21 merit badges by mastering various outdoor and life skills. The Eagle Scout must also demonstrate Scout Spirit, an ideal attitude based upon the Scout Oath and Law, service, and leadership. This includes an extensive service project that the Scout plans, organizes, leads, and manages.
James began his scouting adventures as a Tiger Cub in the first grade. He wrote in the ceremony program that he was “hooked immediately” by fun in the outdoors. He continued to enjoy the outdoors and the brotherhood of scouting for the next 15 years while his mother, Dr. Alisa (Smith) Tomette, formerly of Fiske Union, volunteered as a BSA Adult Leader. With the BSA James and his mom attended summer camps in Oklahoma, Colorado, and Texas. His love of the outdoors led to family scouting trips to the Grand Tetons, Yellowstone National Park, and several camping and canoeing destinations in Arkansas. Tommy joined the family on one such adventure rafting the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon. James especially came to enjoy hiking and wilderness camping, and in 2013 completed a 72 mile, 10 day, hike at the Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico, considered to be the ultimate “high adventure” Scout camp in the US.
James earned all of the Cub Scout ranks awarded in the BSA program and completed the requirements for the Arrow of Light, the highest award in Cub Scouting.
As a Boy Scout he earned 30 merit badges, including the welding merit badge, briefly following in the footsteps of his grandfather. He completed his Eagle Scout service project by planning and managing the construction of a pergola in the butterfly garden at Grace United Methodist Church, the charter organization for his troop. James was recognized for his excellent shooting skills by the National Shooting Sports Foundation and was awarded the Junior USA Shooting Team Patch several consecutive years. He and his mom were also inducted into the Order of the Arrow, the National Honor Society for Boy Scouts of America.
Each Eagle Scout is asked to choose the person who he feels has been the most important or most influential mentor while on the Scouting journey that led him to the Eagle Scout rank. James chose his “PaPa”, Tommy Smith, as his mentor and presented him with the Eagle Scout Mentor pin at the Court of Honor Ceremony. James, who has grown up in Oklahoma City, spoke of his Grandfather’s influence on his love of the outdoors.
Tommy, an avid hunter, fisher, and all around outdoorsman taught James to shoot and fish during summer and holiday visits to Papa’s farm. James also spoke of the life lessons he learned from his grandfather. He said that he couldn’t think of anyone else who exemplified the Scout spirit more than his grandfather who he believes consistently practices the slogan of the Boy Scouts of America to “Do a good turn daily”.
James currently attends Oklahoma City Community College and plans to pursue a degree in ecology. He is interested in developing biofuels and hopes to help protect and preserve the environment so that future generations can also enjoy the outdoors as much as he and his PaPa.
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