| | Published November 12th, 2008
| Troop 212 to Honor Tom "Mac" McIntosh - "A Man Among Boys"
| | Submitted by Trish Piatt |  | | Tom Macintosh Photo provided
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Tom "Mac" McIntosh, assumed leadership of Troop 212 in Moraga for what he thought would be a four-year commitment. Thirty-seven years later, Mac is stepping down as scoutmaster and leaving a lasting impression on the lives of hundreds of young men, sons and grandsons included.
Mac dedicated his adult life to mentoring young boys while honing their transformation into confidant, self-assured leaders. More than 250 of these young men attained Eagle Scout, the highest award scouting has to offer, and many have gone on to leadership roles of their own.
With the scouts, Mac has accrued a travelogue that would make many seasoned travelers green with envy: backpacking in the high Sierras, the Grand Canyon, British Columbia, New Mexico, and the Yukon Territory of Canada; biking in Oregon, Canada, and Bavaria; canoeing on the Yukon River in Alaska, the Green River in Utah, and the Bowron Lakes of Northern British Columbia.
For his scouting services, Mac has received many distinguished awards including the Silver Beaver Award and the BSA Distinguished Citizen Award, both from the Mt. Diablo Silverado Council. He was the recipient of Moraga's Citizen of the Year Award in 1995 and The National Presbyterian God and Service Award.
Mac has a favorite proverb that he feels sums up what he and the troop are all about: "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." Mac says, "For over thirty-seven years I have had the pleasure and honor of working with some fine men and enjoying the company of some outstanding boys, men and women - a marvelous blessing."
Fortunately for the boys in Troop 212, the energetic 78 year old Mac plans to stay active in troop activities. He is determined not to retire, but only to pass the reigns to the next leader, Rainer "Rhino" Del Valle, who was himself a Troop 212 Eagle.
Those associated with Troop 212, past and present, feel the pleasure and honor have been theirs. A Tribute Reception to honor Mac for his dedication and service to the troop will be held on Saturday, November 29, from 2:30-5:00pm at the Moraga Valley Presbyterian Church.
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA