Scoutmaster retires after 15 years | Charlotte Observer

Tim Morgan retired Nov. 3 as Scoutmaster of Troop 119 at South Mecklenburg Presbyterian Church.

He held the post for 15 years.

If you’ve been to Elon Park lately, one of the benches you sat on may have been built by a Boy Scout trying to earn Eagle Scout status.

“Scouts from my troop have earned Eagle badge recognition, for taking on projects at Elon Park,” said Morgan, who is 47 and lives near Ballantyne. “They have built bridges, stair steps, concrete tee pads for the disc golf course.”

They also have done several Eagle projects on the campus of South Mecklenburg Presbyterian.

Taking Morgan’s place as Scoutmaster is Larry Unferth.

The Cub Scout program at South Mecklenburg Presbyterian, led by Scott and Kelly Nowokunski, is where it all begins. Over 100 boys participate. The church also is home to 13 Girl Scout troops.

Freda Smith, church administrator, said, “We are very blessed with all of our scouts. Annually we have ‘Scout Sunday’ to recognize this outstanding program and their contributions to the community.”

It takes hard work and dedication to become an Eagle Scout, the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scouts of America program. A Boy Scout must earn at least 21 merit badges (13 of which are required).

Eagle Scouts have been in Morgan’s family for three generations, he said. His father, Buddy Morgan, a retired Charlotte police officer, earned his Eagle status in Concord and went on to be a troop leader. Tim and his brothers all were Eagle Scouts and the tradition continues.

Tim’s son, Taylor, 20, a junior at UNC Chapel Hill, earned his Eagle Scout rank working with his Scout buddies on some of the Elon Park projects.

Tim Morgan still remembers his Eagle project. He remodeled a 16-by-20-foot building on the campus of Hickory Grove Presbyterian Church.

“I scraped, painted, repaired the floor, rewired and reroofed a building,” he said. “I was in charge of the project but there were other kids helping, too.”

Tim Morgan said he has been an outdoorsman for as long as he can remember. He enjoys camping and backpacking. He and his wife, Janet, married 24 years, also have a daughter, Bryce, a sophomore at the University of South Carolina.

Morgan has retired as Scoutmaster but said he plans to take on more responsibilities at the council level while continuing as vice chairman of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Board of Education.