May 7, 2010 | By Gary D. Myers
NEW ORLEANS - Paul Gregoire, dean of admissions and registrar at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, was honored with the Silver Beaver service award by the Southeast Louisiana Council of the Boy Scouts of America March 11.
Established by the Boy Scouts of America in 1931, the Silver Beaver award recognizes the local, distinguished service of adult leaders.
Gregoire, who also serves as pastor of St. Bernard Baptist Church in Chalmette La., received the award for his work as chaplain and committee member with Boy Scout Troop 84 in Chalmette. He served as a chaplain for the National Scout Jamboree in 2005 and in will serve in that capacity again this coming summer.
Gregoire and his wife, Mae, have two sons, Ryan and Chad. Both sons, who are now in college, earned the rank of Eagle Scout during their time in Scouting.
As a Boy Scout, Gregoire earned the Eagle Scout in 1966 and began service as an assistant Scout master in 1968. He served in various leadership roles through 1976. Due to his work schedule, Gregoire left Scouting leaders until 1997.
Gregoire began volunteering again when his sons entered the Cub Scouts. In 2000, when his sons moved into Boy Scouts Gregoire began his role as troop chaplain. Gregoire's service as troop chaplain is unique because the group was sponsored by Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Chalmette at the time he took on the role. However, Our Lady of Lourdes did not reopen in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Since then, St. Bernard Baptist Church has served as the troop sponsor.
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