Rangely’s Stults earns Eagle Scout award

RANGELY I Joseph Duane “JoD” Stults was presented with the Eagle Scout Award, which is scouting’s highest honor, at an Eagle Scout Court of Honor on May 18 at the Rangely First Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Stults is a member of Boy Scout Troop 189, sponsored by the Rangely LDS Church.
As his Eagle Scout project — a required major community service project planned, organized and conducted by the scout — Stults chose the Town of Dinosaur to benefit by fixing, cleaning and refurbishing logos and icons within the town.
Stults noticed that many of the signs were badly worn, weathered and in need of major renovation. The project involved removing and collecting the signs then sanding and refurbishing them. Connectors and attachments required repair, lettering needed to be rerouted and the signs needed to be stained and painted.
Stults recruited fellow scouts, friends and family members, who contributed more than 200 hours all together to finish the project.
Paint and supplies were donated by the Town of Dinosaur, Guy Stults, Clayton Gohr and Dan Gibbs.
Stults also coordinated efforts between the mayor of Dinosaur, Benny Lujan, the Dinosaur Maintenance Department, his scout leaders, scouts of Troop 189 and their families. He said he had hoped to repaint some of the dinosaurs, but their condition will require repairs that are beyond the scope of the Boy Scouts. Once that is done, Troop 189 hopes to return and finish painting the actual dinosaurs.
The second phase may serve as a possible Eagle Scout project for another Eagle Scout candidate from the troop.
Stults spoke of some of the most meaningful experiences he has had in scouting, which has included snow caving, winter Klondikes, kayaking on the Salmon River and priesthood encampments.
He said scouting has given him great opportunities to bond with family and friends through challenging activities such as swimming and high adventures.
Stults has exceptional performing arts talents and joined the Rangely High School Drama Club, where he starred in two plays. He is equally outstanding in athletics and has lettered each year for four years in varsity football and wrestling; he has also lettered in baseball and track.
Stults particularly enjoys wrestling, and he was a first-round pick for the 2012 Colorado State Wrestling Team. He was a CHSAA academic all-star in wrestling and football. He placed eighth at the Colorado State Wrestling Tournament during his sophomore year, and he placed second in regionals.
A football injury and shoulder surgery prevented his returning to state his senior year, but he hopes to wrestle in college. He has also worked for the past two years at the golf course.
After graduation, JoD will work for the Deserado Mine and then serve a mission for his church later this year. After the mission, he will attend college to become an electrical engineer, wanting to design and engineer military technology.
Stults loves to spend time outdoors. He is also fond of pyrotechnics, shooting, hiking, camping and making things happen.
He is the son of Guy and Cindy Stults of Rangely and he joins his four brothers, who have all earned the Eagle Scout award, which is a tribute to this fine Scouting family. It is an exceptional record to have so many Eagle Scouts in a single family.
Stults expressed his appreciation to the scoutmasters and leaders who have helped him along the way. He said he is also appreciative of his teachers, coaches, family and friends for the encouragement and support throughout his scouting and school career.
Fewer than 5 percent of all scouts become Eagle Scouts. More than two million young men have become Eagle Scouts since scouting’s founding, more than 100 years ago. Among those Eagle Scouts are many famous individuals such as: Astronaut Neil Armstrong, the first man to reach the moon, as well as corporation chief executives, physicians, lawyers, professors and college presidents, congressmen and senators, former President Gerald Ford, military generals and admirals as well as many more distinguished professionals and outstanding citizens.