North Florida Council event raises more than $12,000 to support Scouting in Bradford County
BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Telegraph Staff Writer
As a child, Gordon Smith didn’t know he would one day become elected as Bradford County’s sheriff, but he was preparing for the role all the same, thanks to his involvement in Boy Scouts of America.
Smith was the honoree at this year’s Starke American Values Dinner, a fundraiser for the North Florida Council, Boy Scouts of America, which was held April 14 at the Gov. Charley E. Johns Conference Center. In his introduction of Smith, Col. Brad Smith, Bradford’s undersheriff, said, “An honoree of the American Values Dinner is someone who’s provided exemplary service to Scouting and our community and is someone with character and integrity.”
Gordon Smith opened his remarks by saying, “Thank you to the (American Values Dinner) committee for even considering me. It is very humbling. This is one of those things you don’t expect.”
Smith talked of being in Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts, noting that one of the regrets he still has in life is that after achieving the ranks of Star and Life, he didn’t follow up with earning the rank of Eagle. While admitting it was just an excuse, he said he got involved in sports and things other than Scouts.
However, what he learned in Scouting stayed with him. If he needs confirmation of that, all he has to do is look at the Boy Scout Manual he still has in his possession.
“It sat in my office when I was (Starke) police chief, and it sits in my office as the sheriff,” Smith said of the manual.
In flipping through the manual, he can read about the qualities of leadership and working with others that he relies upon in his role as sheriff. The manual also includes public speaking, which Smith admitted was a skill he never thought he’d be using.
Smith brought the manual with him, displaying it as he said, “This book, 40-plus years later, still holds true.”
Smith, a Bradford native, graduated from Bradford High School in 1985 and began his law enforcement career in 1986 with the Florida Department of Corrections. He joined the Starke Police Department in 1987 and moved to the Bradford County Sheriff’s Office in 1990.
In 1999, Smith was selected to be the assistant chief for SPD. He was elected as SPD chief in 2001 and reelected in 2004.
Smith made a successful run for sheriff, winning the 2008 election. He was reelected in 2012, 2016 and 2020.
The sheriff earned his A.S. degree at Vincennes University in 1999. He’s a graduate of the FBI National Academy’s 204th session and completed Harvard Kennedy Schools Executive Education in State and Local Government. Smith is a state-certified instructor in Firearms, Chemical Weapons, Officer Survival, DARE (Drug and Alcohol Resistance Education) and PPCT (Pressure Point Control Tactics) Impact Weapons.
Smith has completed numerous hours of executive training in leadership and management, including Florida Sheriffs Executive Training (2008), National Sheriffs Institute of Executive Management and Training (97th session), Florida Criminal Justice Executive Institute Advanced Chiefs Training (2005), Florida Police Chiefs Executive Development (2002), Florida Criminal Justice Executive Institute Chief Executive Seminar (class 26) and Federal Executive Development Training (1999).
In addition, Smith has advanced training and certificates in such areas as Homicide Investigations, Criminal Interviews and Interrogations, Hostage Negotiations, Sex Crimes Investigations and National Incident Management Systems.
Smith and his wife, Stefanie, are the parents of Hailey Coffey and Hayden Smith. They have three grandsons: Coby, Cayden and Hudson.
Get involved
As Smith described how the Scout manual of his day is still relevant today, he talked of how he’s used it for the benefit of his grandsons with such things as tying certain kinds of knots and building pinewood-derby cars. Smith said his grandsons needed cars for a church event, which prompted him to joke, “I’m NASCAR rules. If you’re not cheating, you’re not trying. I watched about 10 to 15 YouTube videos.”
In all seriousness, Smith used the fact that he devotes time to his grandsons to demonstrate that Scouts are in need of the same thing — adults who are willing to give of their time.
“Everybody can participate,” Smith said. “Get involved. Make a difference. If you really care about your future and who’s going to be taking care of us, get involved.”
Jack Sears, Scout Executive/CEO of North Florida Council, BSA, echoed that same sentiment. He shared a statement that he’s been starting his days with for the past 30 years: “Somewhere out there, there’s a young person that’s going to take your place in this world. That is not a choice. That is a fact. Now why don’t you go out today and do something about your replacement?”
“You see, your attendance here tonight — your donation of time and talent and treasure — is helping the Boy Scouts of North Florida to work on our replacements, replacements who believe in duty to God, country and others,” Sears said.
Bob Milner, a member of the Starke American Values Dinner leadership team, said it’s difficult today to get adults to volunteer with Scouting. After dinner attendees watched a video that showed the different activities Scouts are involved in, Milner said, “None of the things you saw up here happen without people like Walt Westcott.”
Milner knew Westcott was in attendance and asked him to stand and say how long he’s been a Scout leader. The answer was since 1966.
“The man has been a Scout leader for a half century,” Milner said, adding, “That’s what we still need. I encourage any of you who have just a little bit of spare time or who can make some spare time — help be a volunteer for a Cub Scouts pack or for a (Scouts BSA) troop.”
Stepping up and supporting local Scouting with dollars doesn’t seem to be a problem. Those who attended the dinner had the opportunity to pledge to give certain amounts over the course of the next year. Some who didn’t attend made donations anyway.
In all, this year’s Starke American Values Dinner raised $12,400.
Alluding to the dinner’s theme of “Keeping the Fire Burning,” Dinner Chair Scott Roberts said, “These funds will help keep the fire burning with Scouting and its timeless values for another 100 years.”
Fire burning
Roberts talked of how the fire has been kept burning, describing how the North Florida Council put a plan into place 22 months ago to streamline operations and enhance programs.
“Despite challenging landscapes, we have already begun to see several encouraging outcomes, which will positively shape Scouting for years to come,” Roberts said, adding, “We keep the fire burning for our Scouts by developing and implementing new and creative experiences. After a successful pilot program and high demand, we continue to expand our unique and world-class programming at Camp Shands by offering an ATV fun day outside of summer camp in addition to a frontier day — shooting-sports events for all ages.
“Last fall, our two Cub Scout family camping weekends at Camp Shands reached capacity as over 800 families shot bows and arrows and BB guns, played sports and, of course, ate s’mores at a campfire.”
Roberts said more than 825 Scouting families are planning to attend this year’s summer residence camp at Camp Shands, which is south of Melrose in Hawthorne.
Roberts shared how monies have been used to complete $150,000 worth of renovations, including such projects as the Taylor Dining Hall at Camp Shands and the swimming pool at St. Johns River Base at Echockotee in Orange Park. An additional $250,000 has been earmarked for the installation of a new floor in Taylor Dining Hall and to purchase sailboats and outboard motors for St. Johns River Base at Echockotee, Roberts said.
Renovations of North Florida Council facilities also include replacing five roofs and purchasing new kitchen equipment for Ashley Lodge at St. Johns River Base at Echockotee.
Regarding the monies pledged at the Starke American Values Dinner, Roberts said, “One hundred percent of each dollar raised is leveraged locally to ensure that the Scouting program grows and thrives right here in Bradford County. Your gift tonight allows us to maintain our camps, create scholarships and uniforms and activities, and provide resources and training and guidance to volunteers and leaders to assist them in continuing the perpetuation of Scouting in generations to come.”
