John D. Warnick, Farmington, and George M. Blessing Jr., Murray, have chalked up a total of 110 years service in Scouting - and have loved the opportunity to work with boys and leaders.
The two men were recently presented 55-year veteran pins by the Great Salt Lake Council, Boy Scouts of America.
Warnick served a total of 38 years as a professional Scouter, retiring in 1988 after 12 years as director of Mormon relationships for the Relationship Division, Boy Scouts of America, Irving, Texas.He was Scout executive of the Oreida Council, Boise, and of the Teton Peaks Council, Idaho Falls. Previously, he was district executive of the Los Angeles Area Council. Warnick was a member of the LDS Young Men LDS General Board from 1976 to 1987 and is an ordinance worker in the Ogden Temple.
"One of the greatest thrills I had in Scouting was when I served as a Scoutmaster to young boys in east Los Angeles. That is what got me into Scouting," Warnick said.
Blessing is a retired district director for the U.S. Department of Commerce. He is assistant district commissioner for other than LDS units in the Granite Trail District (essentially the Murray city limits), a member of the Medical Explorer Post Committee at the Veterans Administration Medical Center and a member of the executive board, Great Salt Lake Council, BSA. The council presented him a Silver Beaver Award in 1990.
Blessing was a Lewis and Clark District Scouting commissioner in Portland, an Explorer Scouting leader in the Fort Vancouver (Washington) District and helped form law Explorer and medical Explorer posts.
"I have enjoyed every minute (of my time in Scouting)," Blessing said.