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Bill Lanier - loves Havre, Scouting

When he was in high school, in Great Falls, Bill Lanier earned his Boy Scout Eagle Scout badge by helping out in rural blood drives.

It was natural for him to be involved in Scouting, His father was a Scout when he was young and became a Scout leader as an adult. Two of his brothers were Eagle Scouts, the top rank a Scout can reach.

When he came to Montana State University-Northern, he took a vacation from Scouting. But when his kids got old enough, they enrolled in Scouts, and it wasn't long before Lanier got involved again.

Saturday, he was teaching a merit badge course at Havre-Hill County Library in how to work with people who have disabilities, a subject that interests him because of his childrens' disabilities.

He's been involved in every aspect of Scouting at the local and district levels, but his community involvement doesn't end there.

For years, he was on the board of the Northern Alumni Association and is still active in it. He is a founder of and has been active in the Northern Athletic Hall of Fame.

He was on the board of the HELP Committee and served on the board of Havre Hill Crime Stoppers. He's a member of the board for Bullhook Community Health Center.

He laughs when he thinks about his community involvement, which has taken place while he raises his family.

"I get so upset when people say there is nothing to do in Havre," he said.

His love for the community and his interest in youth are two things that drive his community involvement, he said.

His grandparents lived in Havre, and he thoroughly enjoyed visiting here.

"In eighth grade, I knew I wanted to go to Northern and live in Havre," he recalled.

His grandparents were so enthusiastic about the town. They moved to Great Falls, but Lanier never looked back.

His support for the Scouts is still what gets him most enthusiastic.

He points to the value of Scouts in what they offer young people and the community.

For instance, Gracie's Place park on Havre's North Side was designed and constructed by a Scout, and Havre's first dog park is being designed by an Eagle Scout candidate now. Another Scout worked to renovate Feed My Sheep Soup Kitchen.

If Lanier is enthusiastic about Scouting, Scouts seem to have the same kind of faith in him.

"He's been a good father figure," said Aarron Thompson, a Scout who attended Saturday's session.

"He's a good leader," said fellow Scout Dartanion Kaftan. "He is respected.''

 

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