Hawkins celebrating long journey with Scouts
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ELIZABETH -- A man involved in scouting for 73 years is participating in his 63rd summer camp at Camp Kootaga with Troop 203.
Leroy "Butch" Hawkins was 9 when he became a Cub Scout with Norwood Methodist Church's Troop 203 in 1948. His birthday was Thursday.
He never imagined he would still be part of the troop 73 years later.
Hawkins, who lives in Waterford, is marking over seven decades not only with Scouts, but with Troop 203 this year.
When Hawkins was in the Air Force and stationed in Turkey, he found a Boy Scout troop he could lead.
He's been to several national jamborees. The first was in 1953 in California.
Hawkins received the Silver Beaver Outstanding Volunteer award in 1975 and was a Scout master for over 30 years.
He and his wife, Betty, have three sons who were Scouts and four grandchildren who are Scouts.
Camp Kootaga will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2022. The Kootaga District Buckskin Council serves Wood, Wirt, Jackson, Roane, Ritchie and Calhoun counties, Belpre, Little Hocking and Coolville.