Tooker earns Eagle Scout rank

With an album by Barry Bauer

Bradley Raymond Tooker obtained the highest rank awarded through the Boy Scouts of America, the Eagle Scout Award on December 17, 2009. Bradley is 16 years old and is a sophomore at St. Johns High School. He is a member of DeWitt Boy Scout Troop #77 under Scoutmaster Bob Wegener.

Bradley joined scouting in 1st grade as a Tiger Scout with Cub Scout Pack #515 at Riley Elementary in St. Johns MI. There he obtained his Arrow of Light and Religious Emblem of Faith, he then crossed over to Boy Scout Troop #77. During his years as a Boy Scout Brad completed 28 merit badges and was inducted into the Order of the Arrow. He camped a total of 63 nights, hiked a total of 25.6 miles and did 45.1 hours of service hours. Other honors were obtaining the World Conservation Award, Historic Trails Award and an International Activity Award. Brad held several positions of rank including Troop Librarian, Patrol Leader, Patrol Quartermaster, Assistant Senior Patrol Leader and Troop Historian. In July of 2008 he attended the Michigan International Camporee where he camped with other Scouts from around the world including Africa and England. There he learned and participated in scouting heritages from around the world and obtained many life long friends.

Brad is a member of the First Congregational Church in St. Johns. He is active in their Senior High Youth Group, where this summer he will be going to Alaska for mission work and attending a Congregational Youth Meeting with other congregational peers from around the United States. Brad enjoys the outdoors including fishing, gun hunting, bow hunting, hiking and camping. He enjoys traveling with his family. Brad is a member of the St. Johns High School Marching Band and plays the trombone. He took his freshman year off of sports to focus on the completion of his Eagle project, he is looking forward to spring where he will participate in high school track.

For his Eagle Project Brad designed and built a “Bulletin Board / Display Case” for the St. Johns City Park. This project was needed for the entire city and visitors, now they can see what is scheduled at the park and how to participate in upcoming events and activity’s. Brad spent a total of 54 hours and 30 minutes planning and building this project. He obtained help from many fellow scouts, family, friends and a local builder Dave Feldpausch, a local landscaper Greg Frankmann, and the support of MPC Lumber in Lansing, to complete this successful project. He began the planning by asking for and earning donations to purchase the items needed, met with the builder and landscaper several times to design and discuss this project, met with the city officials including park director Bill Schaefer, and attended several city meetings to obtain the right to go ahead with the project. He then scheduled 2 different build dates to construct his project and enlisted and supervised a crew of 13 workers. His project can be seen at the entrance of the city park in front of the main pavilion and performance shell.

Bradley is the son of Raymond and Karen Tooker, sister Sierra, and Grandson of Dick Weber (the late Virginia Weber) and Janice Tooker.

An Eagle Scout Court of Honor is scheduled for February 28, 2010 at the First Congregational Church in St. Johns at 3 PM. The public is welcome to attend.

photos by Barry Bauer