Two Clintonians receive Eagle Scout status

By Carole Kelly

Two Clinton Scouts have been recognized for reaching the highest achievement in the Scouting program. In an impressive Court of Honor ceremony, Lilly Grace Crawshaw and Gregory Terrell were awarded Eagle Scout medals and badges in the presence of family friends and fellow troop members.

To attain the Eagle Scout achievement, they have earned numerous merit badges and have completed rank requirements and significant service projects.  Only four percent of Scouts have earned the special award.

The Court of Honor held recently at Northside Baptist Church opened with the flag ceremony and the Pledge of Allegiance.

Former assistant scoutmaster for Troop 1475B David Smith delivered the invocation for Scoutmaster Greg Gearhart. Daniel Watson, who served as master of ceremonies, is scoutmaster for Troop 1475G, and Jenny Crawshaw is assistant scoutmaster.

The youngest female Eagle Scout in the state, Lilly Grace Crawshaw is the daughter of Brent and Jenny Crawshaw. Along with her parents’ support, her maternal grandfather Bill Edwards, her ‘Poppa,’ was an Eagle Scout and was not only her inspiration, but also her mentor. He became unwell, and her goal had been to receive the prestigious rank before he passed away; but, unfortunately he died June 8, 2024.   With the finalization of her Eagle board of review February 1, which was his birthday, she achieved the rank of Eagle Scout.

Her Eagle project, which took nine months of planning and completing, was an interactive mural painted on the side of Indian Lanes Bowling Alley in Clinton in November 2024, finished just before her thirteenth birthday on December 10.

Crawshaw’s mother said, “We have homeschooled Lilly Grace since she started school and always felt like something was missing.  That was until we found Scouting America.  The morals, values, life skills and goal-oriented activities that it provided was just what we were looking for.”

Born in Thames, New Zealand, she has a purple belt in karate and enjoys surfing, scuba diving, rock climbing, hiking, sailing and art, which influenced her choice to paint a mural as her special project.

Gregory (Greg) Terrell is the son of Tiffany Hardy and Greg Terrell of Clinton and the grandson of Laverne and Tommy Hardy of Newton. A 2024 Clinton High School graduate, he returned during spring break from Fisk University in Nashville for the Court of Honor ceremony.  He is studying business administration, with a concentration in finance.

Terrell’s mother reported that he has enjoyed the multiple activities associated with his Scouting experience, from how to fly a plane to skiing.

“We were so happy for him to be present for this Court of Honor,” she said.

A golfer, he became a Scout when he was ten, finishing his Eagle Scout projects before he went to college. She acknowledged that his scouting experience has served him well in leadership, communication and public speaking skills. His Eagle project consisted of a bridge construction project at Northside Baptist Church.

Crawshaw and Terrell spoke about their experiences, from their younger Pack days of Scouting, to expressing their thanks to their parents, grandparents, leaders and fellow scouts for their support as they worked through the steps and projects to achieve the coveted rank of Eagle Scout.

On February 8, 2025, the name of the program became Scouting America. The Scouting program was originally for boys ages eleven to eighteen, with an experimental camp organized by Robert Baden-Powell at the United Kingdom, Brownsea Island. The successful program grew over the years, and, in 2019, the program evolved from Boy Scouts to Scouts BSA, marking the official inclusion of girls in the program, allowing them to pursue the same path as boys to the highest rank of Eagle Scout. The inclusions have brought a steady increase in female membership. The same activities are held for all, from camping and hiking to community service and leadership training.