Yocona Boy Scouts to honor Grisham with citizen award
The Yocona Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America will host its ninth annual Distinguished Citizens Dinner on Feb. 6 in honor of Mississippi native and bestselling author John Grisham.
“We don’t just honor celebrities, we honor people that have done positive things. This is a great place to be and we want to honor people that have made it great,” said Scout Executive Brian Steger.
Grisham will receive the Distinguished Citizen Award, whose previous winners include Gov. Haley Barbour, Archie Manning, former Gov. William Winter and Jack Reed Sr.
The purpose of the event is twofold, according to the latest edition of Trail Signs, the Yocona Area Council’s newsletter. The council hopes to increase awareness of Scouting and kick off the Friends of Scouting campaign.
Friends of Scouting supporters who participate in the Leadership level and above will be invited to the event. University of Mississippi Chancellor Robert Khayat, a former recipient of the honor, will preside as dinner chairman.
Reed, the Tupelo businessman and civic leader, will introduce Grisham, the University of Mississippi law school graduate who has achieved worldwide acclaim for his writing over the past two decades.
About 8,000 boys participate every year with the Yocona council, which serves 12 counties.
Source: Daily Journal
