Devon 50 Court of Honor Salutes Eagle #270
Malcolm Phelan

The Devon 50 Court of Honor was convened October 20, 2007
by Roland Smith, Devon 50 Alumnus

Charge given by J. B. Rettew, Devon  50 Trustee

Malcolm Phelan – #270

            Malcolm was born on October 1^st, 1989 in Bryn Mawr Hospital. Two months later, he moved with his family to England, where they lived for the next six years. Before moving back to the states he moved again, but this time to Ireland where they lived for six months with his grandmother. The bags were packed again and they set off to live in Connecticut for the next three years, where Malcolm first got involved in Cub Scouts. Moving around prevented him from getting his Arrow of Light, but his favorite memory of Cub Scouts were the box-wood derbies – he never won a race, but his monkey-driven crocodiles and his “greased lightening” piloted by half an action figure always managed to grab some wacky award.

            Malcolm and Co. moved to Pennsylvania sometime in the early 21^st century. They lived in Devon with his (American) grandmother for the next three years, at which point he attended Haverford middle school. It was around this time that he first joined Devon 50. The Levis, the Scotts, the Sauters, the Mannings, and the Coonleys were still all in the troop all those decades ago and were the big scouts that introduced him to fire and defied natural law by bringing Jeff Colquitt’s video-game consoles miles into the woods and play it with battery power. One of Malcolm’s earliest memories was staying half-way up Elk Mountain on the troop’s annual ski-trip. Ramen noodles, Monty Python, and sleeping on tables; needless to say, this was a great start to his scouting experience.

            Malcolm has gone to Horseshoe about 4 and half times. He first attended when he was still a Tenderfoot, and survived Trailblazers, rising two ranks to First Class within those two weeks. His enthusiasm also led him to become infamously known for doing extracurricular merit badges during siesta, once earning three times the amount of badges that he was supposed to! However, surviving the camp experience had a great effect on Malcolm and he was crazy enough to go back after two years as a CIT. This was another of the hardest, yet most rewarding scouting experiences for Malcolm. He made a lot of new friends, taught merit badges that he didn’t even have, discovered the inner workings of Camp Horseshoe, and he discovered a passion for First Aid and Emergency Care that has led him to consider a career in the medical field from working in the First Aid lodge, that just happened to be air-conditioned.

            A few camping trips and some time at summer camp might sum up some scout’s experiences, but that is not how it is done in Devon 50. During the time between stays at camp, Malcolm went on caving excursions, white-water rafting trips, incredible canoe trips and 35 mile backpacking trips led by Mr. Manning, unbelievable hikes up and down Mount Washington run by Mr. Pioch, and many other timeless outings that Devon 50 has managed to put together.

            Outside of scouts, Malcolm is involved in more activities than is safely recommended. Apart from being the SPL of Devon 50, he is the instructor of the Rosemont School 6^th Grade Band, he is the Academic Challenge Team Captain of Devon Prep, he is the vice-president and keyboardist of the school’s Jazz Band, and he is an editor of the school year book. As if that was not enough, he is also a recovering magician, a starving artist, and a lapsed athlete. He attempts to play piano, guitar, drums, bass, and harmonica, but is presently failing. He is in the Devon theater program, the National Honor Society, and is part of St. Norbert’s Youth Group. He is in just about as much as he can handle without pulling out all of his hair, but he loves every minute of his activities.

            Malcolm’s grandfather and his uncle were both Eagles in Devon 50 so attaining this coveted rank means a great deal to him and his family. Malcolm knows that he owes his continued involvement to many different people, but first and foremost, to his wonderful parents. Supporting him in (just about) everything he does, they are the greatest people in the world, whether it was driving him to and from camp to ever-so-gently prodding him to get his Eagle project done, Malcolm would not have made it past Tenderfoot without their help. They said that he would thank them one day, so they were right just this once. Thanks for everything. To his godparents, Maria and Kilian, thanks for the wisdom and music. To his grandparents, thanks for his parents, the chats, and the ice-cream you always have in the freezer. To the many leaders that have been a part of his scouting experience, thank you for being glad to see me at meetings and for making Devon 50 the finest scouting troop around. To the scouts of Devon 50, there is so much opportunity ahead of you; go on every trip you can, learn all the skills, earn every badge, rise up through the ranks and then best of all – help someone else do the same. Thank you.