Grand Rapids Catholic Committee

Scouting has been part of my life for over 50 years.  It began in Lansing, Michigan when I joined a Cub Scout pack at the age of eight.  I continued with Boy Scouts in Troop 132 and then Sea Explorer Ship 301.  I earned the rank of Eagle Scout in 1964 and Quartermaster in Sea Exploring in 1965.  As a youth, I never eared any of the Religious emblems because I was not aware of them. 

My adult career in scouting included several training awards, the District Award of Merit, Silver Beaver, George Meaning Award presented by the AFL-CIO, and both the Bronze Pelican and St. George award by the Roman Catholic Church.

Over the years I have been a Cub Scout Den Leader, Cubmaster, and Scoutmaster as my son progressed through the ranks.  I have also served on District, Area, Regional and National Scouting committees.  My primary area has been on adult leader training including numerous Woodbadge staffs for Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting, and Sea Badge.  I have also served on two faculty staffs at the Philmont Training Center.

Currently, my roles in Scouting are Charter Organization Rep and Executive Officer for the pack and troop here at St. Anthony of Padua.  I have served on the Diocese of Grand Rapids Catholic Committee on Scouting as Training Chairman and on the Board since 2007.  In February, 2013, I was appointed Chaplain to the Catholic Committee on Scouting. I have conducted several Scouter Devolvement courses at our annual Diocesean Scout retreats. I have developed an International Awareness Program were Scouts can meet with msionaries, priests, deacons, sisters, and lay people who have worked in foreign countries and/or have attended World Youth Days and World Jamborees.   Since I did not have the opportunity to earn the religious emblems as a youth, my goal now is to have a trained Religious Emblem counselor in every parish to promote and assist Scouts of all ages with the various religious emblems available to them.

Ginny, my wife of 45 years, has also been involved in Scouting.  We have two grown children and two grandsons who I hope will be Scouts when they are old enough.  Over the years as our children were growing up, I have been a soccer coach, soccer referee, and PTA member.  With my son, we were altar servers.  Both my wife and I have always been involved in various capacities in the church. 

After serving in the U.S. Air Force, I worked for 20 years with AT&T, six years as a production manager at Infrared Internationale. I am now Pastoral Associate and RCIA Director here at St. Anthony of Padua in Grand Rapids, MI.  I was ordained a Permanent Deacon in August of 2002.  Besides my parish assignment, I am also involved in the Diocese Jail and Prison ministry as well working with the pastoral services for Hope Network. I have my Master of Pastoral Studies from Loyola University New Orleans, and a certificate completion from the Preaching Institute at Aquinas Institute of Theology, St. Louis.  I am also a Master Catechist in the Diocese of Grand Rapids.

I have always strived to serve others in one capacity or another.  Many of the Scouting principals have stayed with me and have served me well.