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JUNE 14, 2012
Vol. 5 No. 47
Claar named Distinguished Citizen Bolingbrook Mayor receives honor from Boy Scouts of America By Laura Katauskas Staff Reporter
While calling attention to the values and tradition of the Boy Scouts, the organization brought the supporting efforts of Bolingbrook Mayor Roger Claar to light by naming him the 2012 Distinguished Citizen. A celebratory evening, the Rainbow Council of the Boy Scouts ofAmerica,focused on the merits of the scouting tradition for more than 100 years—it’s goal to make the world a better place. And locally the scouts are doing just that with scouts and scouters completing 11,052 community service hours; 59 local young men earning the rank of Eagle Scout; 4,172 local boys advancing in rank; 8,605 merit badges earned; and 85,000 pounds of food collected to help those in need. Talk show host Steve Cochran hosted the evening, summing up in part that scouting is about teaching boys how to be giving and that there was no other
better example at how to be charitable than Mayor Claar. Executive Director Marc Ryan echoed those comments, explaining that the tradition of the scouts is simple. It centers on integrity, loyalty and respect, and should amount to the journey of a lifetime. Ryan said Bolingbrook is a shining star for the council. More and more scouts from the area are taking on endeavors, and Ryan believes that stems from the support of a leader like Claar. “He is a good and wonderful man and has given so much,” Ryan said. “…Seldom have I seen a public official believe so deeply in scouting and believe in the supporting the success of the scouting. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.” One of his youngest challengers, 11-year-old Colin Stuart of Troop 75, spoke of how his scouting has made a difference in his life. Not into sports, he joined scouting and found a world of other
Laura Katauskas/Bugle Staff
Mayor Roger Claar receives the Boy Scouts of America Distinguished Citizen Award, presented by Bolingbrook Scouting Volunteer Mike Milam.
activities such as community service. Within his first week of fund raising for St. Baldricks and cancer research, he raised more than $1,000 and to date has raised more than $4,000.
He attests that his journey has helped him believe he can do anything—like some day being mayor of Bolingbrook. Rather humbled by the award, Claar said he was not as deserving
as those who are in the trenches as leaders and volunteers. They make the organization he said. He shared the credit with those See CLAAR, page 3