Harrison, Tennant, Leith recognized at ‘Breakfast with Santa’

 

COAL GROVE — More than 600 people cycled through the Dawson-Bryant High School cafeteria during the annual “Breakfast with Santa” sponsored by the Coal Grove Lions and Betterment clubs.

“This is one of the biggest we’ve had,” Vickie McDaniel, president of the Coal Grove Betterment Club, said. “We couldn’t do this without the Lions Club. We are a small community that works together and today, giving is what it’s all about.”

Kindergarten, first and second-grade students from Dawson-Bryant Elementary sang Christmas songs and child after child visited the cafeteria’s stage to sit in Santa Claus’ lap.

The breakfast lasted from 9 a.m. to noon and it was decided prior the clubs would honor two residents for their work in Scouting. Delbert Tennant for his decades-long involvement with Troop 110 of Coal Grove and Marion Harrison for his many years with Troop 103 in Deering. Both Tennant and Harrison were presented plaques for “Lifetime Service to Betterment of the Community” by retired history professor and lifelong Scout Bob Leith. Camp Oyo Staff Alumni Association President Steve Shaffer then made Tennant and Harrison lifetime members of the association.

What very few people knew, however, was Leith himself was getting recognized for his dedication and commitment.

Leith’s Scouting life began in 1956 and he has served in several different capacities such as Scoutmaster of the former Troop 111 in Ironton, merit badge counselor and director of Camp Oyo, among others.

“What Scouting teaches boys about survival skills and citizenship is invaluable,” he said.

Leith relinquished the microphone to his lifelong friend and Lawrence Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Dr. Bill Dingus after presenting Tennant’s and Harrison’s plaques.

“We knew we couldn’t tell him about this in advance because he wouldn’t come,” Dingus said before surprising Leith with a plaque of his own. “Bob Leith has changed hundreds if not thousands of lives. I take pride in calling him a friend. He is a community servant in every way.”