The Texas Trails Council awarded Marie Wilson of Brownwood the Silver Beaver, the highest award a Boy Scout Council can award a volunteer.
The award was presented to Wilson at the Abilene Country Club on Saturday, February 22, 2014. According to the Boy Scouts of America, the Silver Beaver was established for local councils to recognize the tireless devotion of volunteers in the Scouting Program. Acting through the National Court of Honor, the Boy Scouts of America awards the Silver Beaver to recognize distinguished service to youth by a registered Scouter. The Silver Beaver Award is the highest volunteer recognition award presented by a local council.Marie Wilson was an assistant wolf den leader for Wolf Den 5 Pack 43 in 1996. She was an assistant bear den leader in 1997. She served as Cub Master for Pack 43 from 1998 until 2003. During 1998 and 1999, in addition to being Cub master, Marie served as Assistant Webelo Leader (1998) and Assistant Webelo II Leader (1999). The opportunity to help Troop 1 remain chartered came in 2002 and she became an Assistant Scoutmaster. She served as Scoutmaster of Troop 1 Brownwood from 2003 to present.
Wilson remained Scoutmaster even after her son, who is an Eagle Scout, moved on. Marie is a Brotherhood member of the Penateka Lodge of the Order of the Arrow. She was awarded the 2002 District Award of Merit by the Comanche Trail Council, Kickapoo District. She has been a Troop Guide for Timber Tag and a participant of Wood Badge SR1020. Along with continuing as Scoutmaster for Troop 1, she is Cubmaster for Pack 121 at the Pearl Griffin Memorial Latch Key Program and assists with the newly formed Pack 273 at Boys and Girls Club, both in Brownwood.
Marie agreed to be the Program Director for Texas Trails Council in May of 2010. She used all of her 2010 vacation to attend eight days of Program Director School at the Boy Scout National Camping School and summer camp in 2010. Marie only receives four weeks of vacation from 3M. In 2010 she used one week for Camping School, one week for Staff Week and two weeks summer camp. She was out of vacation for Webelos week; however, she did come on all of her days off. In 2011, Marie again used all of her vacation for Staff Week, two weeks of summer camp and one week of Webelos camp, as well as several weekends of staff training. Marie once again used all of her vacation as Program Director for 2012. For three years in a row, Marie used 100% of her vacation in direct service to the youth of Texas Trails Council.
Starting in 2010, Marie volunteered to be the Program Director for Texas Trails Council Summer Camps, which is not a paid position.
Marie is a Lead Operator at 3M Brownwood, where she has worked for over 17 years. As Program Director, Marie got almost all of her staff to volunteer. Most of the ones that were paid were only paid enough for gas to get them to camp and back. According to her scouting peers, Marie did a wonderful job as Program Director.
Marie continues to serve faithfully as Scoutmaster of Troop 1, Cubmaster, and mentor for others. She has done all this in direct service to the Texas Trails Council, which explains why she was a recipient for the Silver Beaver Award.
