Eagle badge 30 years in making

OREM — Stacks of toilet paper, napkins, paper towels and other disposable goods lay piled in the driveway, the fruits of one morning's work and the culmination of nearly 30 years of effort for one Orem man.

David Tolson, a 43-year-old special-needs Scout, has Down syndrome. He finally finished his Eagle project Saturday morning by collecting paper goods from his neighbors. Most Boy Scouts must complete work for their Eagle badge before their 18th birthday. Special-needs Scouts, though, may take as long as they need and can modify merit badges to fit their abilities.

Karen Frost, a professional scouter who helped Tolson with his project, said scouting has provided many opportunities for Tolson.

"The work he has put into and the things he's learned from scouting have made him part of who he is," Frost said. "He did everything to his best physical and spiritual and intellectual capability. He just gives his all."

On Saturday morning, members of Tolson's special-needs Scout troop paired up with Scouts in a regular troop to collect the goods from willing neighbors. Each donor received from Tolson a handwritten thank-you note with his photo attached.

Merrill Farley, who lives a couple of streets away from Tolson, donated a bag of goods to what he termed a worthy cause.

"I admire him for making that effort," Farley said. "He's getting his Eagle Scout. I only made it to Tenderfoot."

The donations of Farley and many others created an impressive pile and will be given to Recreation and Habilitation (RAH) Services, a nonprofit organization in Provo that provides assistance for individuals with disabilities.

RAH hosts Troop 717, of which Tolson is a member, with the support of the Provo and Timpanogos Lions Clubs. RAH receives many donations, but Frost said paper goods are rarely donated.

"David's project is such a meaningful project," she said. "He chose an organization, RAH, that had a tremendous impact in his life and is giving back a personal and significant service to that organization."

The 26 merit badges on Tolson's sash attest to his love of scouting, and his efforts have inspired some of the teenage Boy Scouts who assisted in his service project.

"Even though he's handicapped, he can still get his Eagle, and some other people can't even do it," said Michael Mehner, a Scout at the service project.

Tolson's mother, Arlene, has helped her son with scouting since he was a teenager. She said they have found ways to help him adapt, given his limitations.

While a member of a standard Boy Scout troop several years ago, Tolson was required to make a report about the Pony Express to earn a medal.

However, Tolson can't write, so his mother took him to the library and photocopied pictures of the Pony Express. He then cut them out and pasted them on paper, copying captions his mother had written for each one.

In the end, Tolson was the only scout who put in the effort to make a report.

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E-mail: rwestenskow@desnews.com