Wayne was born in South Dakota but has spent the last 21 years in Abilene. He retired from the United States Air Force as a Lieutenant Colonel after 26 years of service. He and his wife Viola have a daughter, Amy, who is a Senior at Texas Tech, and a son, Eric, who received his Eagle Award in 1974 and is a businessman in the Dallas area.

He and his family have traveled a great deal because of his earlier career in the Air Force. But wherever he was stationed, he was involved in Scouting. From his earlier Scouting days as a youth, where he attained the rank of Life Scout in the mid 1940’s, to today he has been an active leader. From 1955-1957, he served as Assistant Scoutmaster of Troop 678 at Elmendorf A.F.B., Alaska and from 1968-1971, he served as a Pack Committee Member in Pack 407, Lockbourne A.F.B., Ohio. In 1971, the family moved to Abilene thus starting his tenure in the Chisholm Trail Council. From 1971—1973, he served as Assistant Scoutmaster of Troop 211 chartered to a Group of Citizens. At the same time he was also serving as the Institutional Representative of Pack and Troop 225 at Dyess A.F.B. In 1973 he agreed to serve on the Troop Committee of Troop 274 chartered to Heavenly Rest Episcopal Church. He remained on the Troop committee until 1975 where he then joined the Southern District Committee which is now the White Buffalo District. He has served as Scout Committee Chairman, Advancement Chairman, Camporee Chairman and as a member of the Finance Committee and Training Committee. He has remained active on the District Committee up to the present. He has completed Timber Tag, Wood Badge, and is a Vigil member in the Order of the Arrow, and a recipient of the District Award of Merit.

Not only has Wayne been an active Scouter, he has also been active in the community and his church. He served as Vice President of the Abilene Little league Association for 6 years, coached United Girls Softball for 6 years, and has worked with the Episcopal Youth Conference in his church in various capacities for years. He is a licensed Layreader for the Heavenly Rest Episcopal Church, former Director of the Brotherhood of St. Andrew Episcopal Church, former member of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars, current member of the Air Force Association and Retired Officers Association, and current Vice President of the Big Country Safety Association. He is a former Kiwanian and is credited with developing the first comprehensive Emergency Response Plan for Abilene.

Wayne has been a credit to Abilene and the Big Country since his arrival here some 21 years ago.

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Current as of 05/31/2003

Chisholm Trail Council Abilene Boy Scouts of America, Texas