Cape man recognized for dedication to Boy Scouts

It's all about dedicating yourself to something worth the while for Joseph Russell of Cape Girardeau.

"The Boy Scouts are an institution with very high ideals, and I believe it is worthwhile to spend time instilling these ideals in young people," Russell said.

Russell recently received the 2002 Whitney M. Young Jr. Service Award at a ceremony in St. Louis. This national award recognizes individuals for outstanding accomplishments in implementing Boy Scouts of America programs in rural and low-income urban areas.

The award is named for the late Whitney M. Young Jr., a civil rights spokesman and executive director of the Urban League from 1961 to 1971. Nominations for the award are made within local Boy Scout councils, approved by a local and national committee.

Russell has actively served as president of the Southeast Missouri Council and executive board member of the Greater St. Louis Area Council. He has also served as Exploring/Venturing Chairman in the Shawnee District, which includes the Cape Girardeau and Jackson area, Bollinger, Stoddard and Perry counties.

Helping urban youth

After a merger of the Greater St. Louis Area and Southeast Missouri councils several years ago, Russell's mission was to expand scouting opportunities to distressed areas of rural communities.

"He's been generous with his time and devoted it to scouting unselfishly," said Stacy Huff, field director with the Boy Scout office in Cape Girardeau. "He has a genuine concern for helping underprivileged youth in this area receive the scouting program."

Russell served as scoutmaster of Troop 10, which is sponsored by the First Baptist Church of Cape Girardeau, for 13 years. His wife, Hertha, volunteered as a Girl Scout leader for 11 years. Both of the Russells' boys, John and Kensey, achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. The Russells' daughter, Carol Eighmey, attained the Gold Award in Girl Scouts.

"I have been involved in scouting since I was a 9-year-old boy, and that's about 70 years now," Russell said. "We have had good family times as a result of scouting. It has just been a good thing for us."

In addition to Russell, the Greater St. Louis council awarded the Young award to three other people, all of St. Louis, and the St. Louis School District. There are approximately 17,000 volunteers in the Greater St. Louis council, according to Huff.

"It's all about having quality leadership and without that this program couldn't exist," Huff said. "Joe has provided that leadership for so long. This award was long overdue."

jgosche@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 133