Local man highlights service during Boy Scout centennial

Friday, Jan. 22, 2010
Local man highlights service during Boy Scout centennial + Enlarge
Don Ellefsen, who has been involved with scouting for almost 50 years, assists his grandson in the Boy Scouts troop at Saint Vincent de Paul Parish.

SALT LAKE CITY - Don Ellefsen has been in scouting for almost 50 years. He began his scouting career in 1962 when his oldest son wanted to become a scout at age 7. Ellefsen became the leader at Saint Ann Parish because there was not a scouting program at Saint Vincent de Paul Parish where Ellefsen and his family have been members for many years.

The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4 million youth members in its age-related divisions. Since its founding in 1910 as part of the international Scout Movement, more than 110 million Americans have been members of the BSA. The BSA will celebrate its centennial this year.

Ellefsen has served on the National Catholic Committee on Scouting since 1989. His term in Region 13 will terminate in 2012.

"I have appreciated all the help I have received from various people and volunteers over the years," said Ellefsen. "I could not have done what I have done without them. Scouting has been an important part of my life for most of my life. It has been fun. I have met a lot of nice and wonderful people. It feels good to see the scouts advance in rank, achieve their merit badges and earn their Eagle Scout awards.

"I have been involved in both the Boy and Girl Scouts as my children have grown up. Scouting is good for a child's spiritual and personal life," said Ellefsen. "To encourage members to grow stronger in their faith, the scouting program has developed religious emblems for the various religious groups. Scouts are encouraged to learn more about their faith and to recognize adults who provide significant service to youth in a religious environment. The religious awards are administered by each religious organization, not by the BSA.

Ellefsen said boys and girls learn how get along with each other in scouting. Throughout the years, he has watched his children and many other scouts grow up and become responsible, mature adults. Ellefsen's father died when Ellefsen was only 4 years old. When Ellefsen was in high school, he became a member of the Sea Scouts and sailed in the SS Bonneville. This led to his desire to join the U.S. Navy, where he served four years during the Korean War. When he returned from the war, he met and married Kathleen. They have been married 56 years and have seven children, 14 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. His trade throughout his life was as an electrician.

Throughout Ellefsen's scouting career, he served on many councils and committees and earned many awards. He served as cub master from 1963 to 1971. He served as a commissioner on the Salt Lake Council, the District Council and as a Round Table commissioner, before serving on the National Catholic Committee on Scouting from 1989 to present, as well as the NCCS executive board from 1994 to present. Ellefsen established the scouting program at St. Vincent Parish in 1965, which had 80 scouts and 8 scout troops.

Ellefsen received the Scouter Key Award in 1967, the Scouter Training Award in 1967 and the Commissioner Arrowhead Award in 1971. He received the District Award of Merit in 1966, the Saint George Award in 1971, and the Silver Beaver Award in 1974.

Because of his love for children, Ellefsen also coached girls softball for two years at St. Vincent, coached for five years in the Salt Lake County Recreation League for five years, and was president of the softball league in Salt Lake County for one year.

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