Parsons, Parker earn Eagle Scout rank

Jacob Parker

Brian Matthew Parsons and Jacob Riley Parker were honored for achieving the Eagle Rank in the Boy Scouts of America on Jan. 6 at the Whitehouse United Methodist Church.

The Court of Honor was attended by a host of family, friends, and members of Boy Scout Troop 359. Both scouts passed their Eagle Boards of Review Sept. 13, 2007

Brian Parsons, 16, joined Troop 359 in 2002 and has been active ever since. He has attended summer camp at Buffalo Trails Scout Camp in West Texas, Camp Alexander in Colorado, Camp Ben Delatour in Colorado, and Camp Pirtle in East Texas. He currently has 29 merit badges.

Parsons has held a number of offices while serving Troop 359, including assistant patrol leader, historian, patrol leader, instructor, quartermaster, assistant senior patrol leader, senior patrol leader, and is currently a junior assistant scoutmaster.

Parsons' Eagle ser vice project consisted of completely rebuilding the retaining wall of the children's playground at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church. He also made benches for teachers to sit on and provided umbrellas for shade.

Brian Parsons

Parsons is currently a sophomore at Whitehouse High School. He is a member of the Whitehouse Band, Drumline, Chess Team, and a member of the Whitehouse UIL academic team. He is also on the A-B Honor Roll and a member of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church.

Jacob Parker, 17, joined Troop 359 in 2001 and has also been active ever since. Parker began his career in scouting as a Tiger Cub 10 years ago. He went on to earn his Arrow of Light before bridging into the Boy Scout program.

As a Boy Scout, Parker attended summer camps at Camp Orr in Arkansas, Buffalo Trails Scout Camp in West Texas, Camp Alexander in Colorado, Camp Ben Delatour in Colorado, and Camp Pirtle in East Texas.

Parker has currently earned 25 merit badges. While a member of Troop 359, he has served as historian, guide, librarian, assistant patrol leader, patrol leader, assistant senior patrol leader, senior patrol leader, chaplain's aide, quartermaster, instructor, and is currently a junior assistant scoutmaster. For his ser vice project, Parker re-landscaped the Whitehouse City Hall.

Parker is currently a junior at Whitehouse High School. He plays trombone in the Symphonic Band at Whitehouse and is a member of the Whitehouse UIL academic team.

He is also active in his youth department at Pollard Methodist Church.

Both new Eagle scouts would like to thank all of the adult leaders, past and present, of Troop 359 for being giving their time, knowledge, and resources to scouting.

Parsons presented his mentor's pin, symbolizing the person who had a great, positive influence on his scouting career, to Earl Drott, one of the assistant scoutmasters. Parker presented his mentor's pin to his grandfather, Bill Powell.