Dolan Jones achieves Eagle Scout rank; Court of Honor is this Sunday

Dolan Jones, son of Gregg and Maura Jones of Waukon, has achieved Boy Scout’s highest rank, Eagle Scout. Jones is a member of Boy Scout Troop 64 under the leadership of Scoutmaster John Troendle and charter organization VFW Post 4117 in Waukon.

Only four percent of Boy Scouts are granted this rank after a lengthy review process. The requirements necessary to achieve the Eagle Scout rank take years to fulfill.
Community members are invited to attend an Eagle Scout Court of Honor, where Jones will receive his award, this Sunday, November 20 at 2 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Waukon.

Jones began his Scouting career as a Tiger Cub with Cub Scout Pack 64 in Waukon, and continued through Cub Scouting to achieve the highest award available to Cub Scouts, the Arrow of Light. As a member of Boy Scout Troop 64, he has held numerous leadership positions including chaplain’s aide, scribe, webmaster and senior patrol leader. He was inducted into Timmeu Lodge 74 in the Order of the Arrow in 2012 and earned Brotherhood Membership in 2014. He has earned 26 merit badges and has attended many camp outings at Camp C.S. Klaus in Colesburg, as well as local campouts with Troop 64.

This summer, Jones spent two weeks at Philmont Scout Ranch, a high adventure camp in Cimarron, NM, and provided one week of volunteer service, cutting 700 feet of new trail with other Order of the Arrow members from across the United States. His second week took him on a hiking trek, during which he clocked 75 miles of hiking and reached peaks of 11,000 feet above sea level.

Jones has always had his long-term Scouting goal set on the rank of Eagle Scout, and preparing for his required project became a reality in May 2015. In order to earn the rank of Eagle, Scouts need to plan, supervise and execute a leadership service project that is helpful to any religious institution, school or community. Through this requirement, Scouts practice what they have learned on their trail to Eagle and gain valuable project management and leadership experience.

After being approached by JoAnn Knipfer-Sherman, Waukon High School band director, Jones chose to build a shed that would help the Waukon High School marching band as his Eagle service project. Needing to obtain buy-in, approval and funding established from sponsors, Jones presented his project at board meetings for the Allamakee Music Boosters, Allamakee Community District School Board, the Waukon City Council and the Allamakee Athletic Boosters. With approvals in hand, a building permit ready to go and volunteers on-call, all Jones needed was a general contractor for his project coach.

With summer being prime time for construction, weeks passed providing no available contractors, until one day Russell Roth of Waukon asked about Jones’ project. Roth had attended the Waukon City Council meeting the same night that Jones presented his Eagle service project. When Roth heard a construction project coach was still needed, he stepped forward and volunteered.

“Russ stepped up to the volunteer job without being asked. His years of experience and construction knowledge allowed what was on paper to become a reality for me. Without his guidance and days of many volunteer hours, my project would never had started and completed, and for that I am forever grateful,” stated Jones.
Jones is also thankful for Ron and Jeremy Curtin of Tri-State Doors for volunteering their time to install the shed’s door. The entire project took approximately 165 hours of planning and building and was completed by scout, student and adult volunteers, all under the direction of Jones.

A senior at Waukon High School, Jones is active in concert choir, All-State vocal auditions, theater and speech.  He’s an active member at First Presbyterian Church and is employed at Fareway Stores, Inc. in Waukon.

For more information on Scouting in the Northeast Iowa Council, visit the Dellaykee District website at www.scoutsiowa.org/dellaykee-district.