On May 12, 1977, 30 members of the Cayuga County Council Boy Scouts of America gathered at Riordan's Restaurant in Auburn for the council's annual business meeting. Some of those present included Robert H. Contiguglia, Dr. Gordon A. Eadie, Frank A. Eldridge, Dr. Joseph F. Karpinski Sr., Roger S. Morse, Wilbur L. Townsend, John E. Yurco and Harold J. Short. Among other things the group discussed plans for local scouts to participate in the 1977 National Scout Jamboree at Moraine State Park in Idaho, which was held Aug. 3 through 9, and noted that 14 scouts had reached the rank of Eagle Scout that year.

Upon the recommendation of the Councils Nominating Committee, chaired by Karpinski, Harry W. Beardsley was nominated and elected president of the Cayuga County Council, a position he would hold for three consecutive terms.

If all good scouts are suppose to “be prepared,” Beardsley was certainly prepared for the office he would hold. Beardsley joined scouting in 1923 earning his Eagle Scout Rank in Troop 9 Auburn where he was a member and assistant scoutmaster for seven years. From there, he went on to serve as Scoutmaster for Troop 11 Auburn for another 19 years, and in 1949, he began 28 years of service on the council's executive board that led to his election as council president. Beardsley went on to serve another 16 years on the council's executive board and 13 years as an honorary board members for a total of 83 years of service to local scouting #- so far.

Beardsley currently holds court at his apartment at Boyle Center, celebrating his 97th birthday this past Dec. 30. Needless to say, given the opportunity, Beardsley could tell a lot of great scouting stories that could span generations. I'm sure he could write a book about local scouting and how it has changed and how it has stayed the same over most of this past century. He also has some great NASCAR stories from the winters he spent in Port Orange just a few miles from the Daytona Speedway.

Years ago, Beardsley found this great beaver log near his camp at Eagle Bay. It was about 2 1/2 feet long and expertly sharpened at each end by an industrious beaver. He held on to it for years despite his wife's urging him to get rid of it. She was sure that he would never find a practical use for it. Beardsley finally decided to have it mounted and made it into the “Eager Beaver Award” that is still given out each year to the troop that has done the most work at Camp Rotary. I think it weighs about 200 pounds, but it sure is a unique award.

Scouting will be celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2010 and prides itself on the legacy that it passes on from father to son from generation to generation.

On May 30, 30 years after his dad assumed the same office, Don Beardsley of Owasco, Harry's son, was elected president of the Cayuga County Council, BSA. I know he'll do a great job. Of course he'll have to or he'll hear about it from you know who.

Don Grillo is the scout executive for the Cayuga County Council, Boy Scouts of America located at 7235 Mutton Hill Road in Auburn