Staff Writer

For the first time in more than four years, Union County has a new Eagle Scout.

Chris Watts, a member of Troop 42, which is sponsored by Grace United Methodist Church, received his Eagle badge during a ceremony on Oct. 28 at his church, Trinity Baptist.

Eagle is the highest rank a Boy Scout can earn. Part of the requirements is to plan and implement a project beneficial to the community, a church or local surroundings. Chris' Eagle project was to convert a storage room at Trinity into a room to house the church's sound equipment.

Chris is the first scout to achieve the Eagle rank for Scoutmaster Paul Greer.

“It is certainly an honor and a privilege to recognize Chris for this outstanding achievement,” Greer said. “It has been a joy to have him as a member of the troop. I hope with the experience he has he will be able to contribute back to the group as an assistant Scoutmaster. He has a younger brother and I hope he will mentor him and help him along and also help others in the group. The younger members look up to the older members.”

Greer pointed out that achieving the Eagle rank is an important personal accomplishment, and also speaks well on a college application or job resume.

“It often means a lot in the way the future goes,” Greer said.

Assistant Scoutmaster Bill Weibley said Chris has worked hard for the award and displayed leadership skills while involved in the project.

“And it was an awesome thing to watch him go through that ceremony,” he said. “It was my first time seeing one or participating in one. It was good for the other boys to see it.”

Weibley pointed out that Troop 42 is active in the community and currently has 30 members, many of which are either Star or Life rank and well on their way to also achieving their Eagle award.

A 17-year-old Union County High School senior and tuba player in the band, Chris is the son of Tim and Karen Watts and big brother to Aaron, 13. Tim Watts is in the National Guard deployed in Afghanistan and the ceremony was held in October so Tim could attend while he was on leave. Chris said it was his father who got him interested in Scouting and he joined Cub Scout Pack 332 at Foster Park School under Scoutmaster Juanita McCullough when he was in first grade.

“I got started then and I've been hooked ever since,” he said.

Chris said he wanted to do an Eagle project that would benefit his church.

“That room (which initially was a restroom) wasn't being used at all and the sound equipment was in the way,” he said

Chris received approval for the project on Oct. 16, 2006 and began working on it on Nov. 21, 2006. Fixtures were removed from the room, a wall was knocked out and walls were sandpapered to remove wallpaper. The room was rewired and other modifications made.

“Timing was major issue,” Chris said. “You can't paint on Saturday afternoon and have church on Sunday morning.”

To help pay for his project, Chris had a yard sale at Greer's Wrecker Service. Items were donated by him and his family, his church and his fellow Scouts. He raised $300. The project cost around $250 and the remainder of the money Chris donated to his church.

Chris, who plans to attend USC-Union in the fall and later transfer to a four-year college, said he would like to major in history with a minor in forestry. He said he is undecided about his career plans, but whatever he chooses to do he feels like Scouting has helped him better prepare.