Estey receives Eagle Scout honors

    Dr. Wellington (Wes) Estey, Eagle Scout and Oakfield Community High School graduate of 1960 was presented the NESA Outstanding Eagle Scout Award at the central Florida Council Recognition Banquet on June 10 in Orlando
    The Outstanding Eagle Scout Award is a new Boy Scouts of America award being presented for the first time to Eagle Scouts who have demonstrated outstanding achievement at the local, state or regional level. Dr. Estey was one of three individuals in Central Florida who was presented the award this year.
    Dr. Estey, or better known as Welly or Westy as a youth, joined Boy Scout Troop 200 in Oakfield at the age of 11. During his six years with Troop 200 he served as a patrol leader, quartermaster and senior patrol leader and was selected for the OA at Katahdin Area Council’s Camp Roosevelt in 1955. He was a Camp Roosevelt staff member for the summer seasons from 1956-59.
Wellington “Wes” Estey
    He received the God and Country medal and Eagle Scout medal in 1956 and ‘58 respectively. During high school, he lettered in three sports, was the president of his class, active in drama productions and public speaking which culminated in him receiving the “Spear Medal” for public speaking.
    After graduating with honors from Oakfield Community High School in 1960, he joined the U.S. Navy in pursuit of a career as a naval officer.
    Since leaving Oakfield, Westy has continued his affiliation with the Boy Scouts of America in every community that he has lived during his career as a naval reserve officer and college administrator. He has served in numerous leadership positions including being a BSA council board member and council commissioner in two councils, district commissioner, and district chairman. He has been recognized with a number of awards from the Boy Scouts, U.S. Navy and Higher Educational institutions including: District Award of Merit, Distinguished Commissioner Award, James E. West Award, Silver Beaver Award, International Scouter Award, Community Service Award and the Hornaday Gold Badge Award. He has served on two National Jamboree staffs including the 2010 Jamboree this past year at Ft. A.P. Hill, Va., as well as taught and attended classes at Philmont, N.M. He is the recipient of three Wood Badge beads and has completed the Powder Horn and Sea Badge training courses.
    Dr. Estey created a Forest Service partnership in Florida which resulted in 300 Scouts completing several conservation merit badges and getting 60,000 trees planted at the Ocala National Forest over a three-year period. He designed one military patch that became the N&MCRC Orlando Command emblem and 59 BSA special activity patches for Pine Burr Area Council in Mississippi. In 2010, he designed one BSA patch for Central Florida Council to commemorate the BSA’s 100th anniversary and a special tribute to the BSA Founder, Lord Baden Powell, who is buried in Kenya, Africa. His design has been painted on the side of the school building in Kenya, which was supported by special CFC program.
     Dr. Estey retired as a Naval Reserve Captain with 40 years of service in 2004 and as Vice President of Lake Sumter Community College in Leesburg, Florida 2008 with 48 in higher education. He as his wife Dora Mae live in Mount Dora, Fla., and have four children and nine grandchildren living in Florida.