Staff Report
Michael Turney is Boy Scout Troop 665’s newest Eagle Scout. He was recently honored at a Eagle Scout Court of Honor ceremony.
Michael Turney, son of Edward “Joe” Turney and Angela Turney of Valrico, received the highest rank of the Boy Scouts of America, Eagle Scout, during an Eagle Scout Court of Honor in February. He is a member of Troop 665 which is sponsored by Oakwood Baptist Church in Brandon. His Scoutmaster is Clarence “Lucky” Wade.
For his Eagle project, Michael renovated part of the Oakwood Baptist Church Youth Leaders House/Youth Meeting Area in preparation for the new Youth Minister. Renovations included installing a new door frame and screen door, painting and repairing multiple interior rooms, doors, closets and installing a complete storage room shelving system. Michael said “Giving back to the community, and in particular to Oakwood Baptist Church Youth program, was very important to me.”
Michael is currently a senior at Durant High School and a Cadet Major of Durant High School’s Air Force JROTC unit. He is very active in the JROTC program including his position as Vice Corp Commander and member of the Color Guard Unit. He will graduate in the spring of 2014 and plans to attend college and continue on with the Air Force ROTC unit at USF.
Michael began his scouting career as a Tiger Cub in Pack 92 where he earned every Cub Scout rank up to and including the highest award, “The Arrow of Light”, before continuing on as a Boy Scout in Troop 665. Less than seven percent of the scouts go on to earn the rank of Eagle Scout. In his troop, Michael continued his progress towards Eagle Scout as well as holding multiple leadership positions along the way and belonging to the Boys Scout Honor Society “The Order of the Arrow.”
Joe said, “Both I and Michael’s mother are extremely proud of him and all of his accomplishments.”
Troop 665 meets every Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m. at Oakwood Baptist Church located at 540 S. Oakwood Ave. in Brandon. For more information on the troop, visit www.troop665.net.
