.jpg)
Wlaf1450TOP PHOTO: Dr. James Farris, right, is the 2021 Good Scout Award Recipient.
LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF) – Dr. James “Jim” Farris spoke to a packed audience of 180 people at the 100th anniversary scouting event on Thursday night at the Ball Farm Event Center. He was honored at the 13th annual Boy Scouts of America Campbell County Good Scout Award Dinner underwritten by Peoples Bank of the South.
Dr. Farris said he was “honored and surprised” by being selected for the Good Scout Award. Farris recalled those who had been in Scouts with him and the other scout groups when he was a young man. “Jack Reynolds group was the most mischievous,” Farris said, telling stories.
“When I was growing up, life was not as complicated as it is now… we were playing sports, going to school and Boy Scouts and shooting marbles at recess,” Farris said.
He spoke of scouting memories that stood out to him.
“My experiences in scouting…three things I recall distinctly; one was a knot tying contest, the first knot to tie was a square knot. I was the only one in the whole bunch who could tie it. My Second memory was a trip up the valley on a camping trip with David Earl Rogers. And most interesting was going to Boy Scout Camp…camp Sequoia. There was one of the leaders who was all Indian or 90 percent Indian named Judd… one night around the bonfire he came running out with his war bonnet on and his tomahawk,” Farris said.
Farris graduated from La Follette High School in 1957, left for college and was headed toward becoming a big city doctor. “I was offered opportunities in Birmingham and Knoxville, but I didn’t want to be a big city doctor,” Farris pointed out. His reason for returning to his hometown was that he thought it would be a good place to raise his children not to mention the community badly needed an internal specialist. He spent 50 years in medical service to the community.
Farris said his time in scouts had made an impression on him throughout his life.
“Boy Scouts is on the right track in their core values and relationships. Continue your good work,” Farris said.
State Representative Dennis Powers attended the event and read a proclamation honoring Farris. Many others were honored at the special 100th anniversary Boy Scout Dinner, including two scouts Eric Matthias and Stewart Thacker who recently achieved Eagle Scout rank.
Eagle Scouts from over the years were also recognized and honored. John Troutman of Eagle Scout Class of 1975 was a guest speaker who traveled back home to LaFollette from Atlanta. Bill Neal drove to LaFollette from North Augusta, South Carolina to speak at the event. Both spoke on what scouting had done for their lives and the importance of scouting to communities. “We are who we are today because of scouting,” Troutman said.
During the event, husband and wife Larry and Sue Ellen Nidiffer received the Fretwell Outstanding Educator Award for all they have done in their careers for Campbell County schools. Combined, the Nidiffers spent 88 years in education. Staples in the school system, Sue Ellen taught in the same classroom for 29-years at West La Follette School while Larry coached, taught, served as principal and was director of schools.
Great Smoky Mountain Council president Logan Hickman spoke about the importance of the community supporting scouts. During the event nearly $9,000 was raised pushing it near its annual goal.
“You’re supporting the future leaders of tomorrow,” Hickman said. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 04/23/2021-6AM-PHOTOS COURTESY OF WLAF’S CHARLOTTE UNDERWOOD)
Congrats to a great man.