S I LVER BUF FALO AWA R DS S I L V E R BU F F A L O AWA R DS For Distinguished Service to Youth on a National Level Created in 1925, the Silver Buffalo Award for distinguished service to youth is awarded to those persons who give noteworthy and extraordinary service to youth. This award is Scouting’s highest commendation of the invaluable contributions that outstanding Americans make to youth. The service must be national in scope and can be independent of, or directly through, the Boy Scouts of America. 2020–2021 National Court of Honor Committee Keith Clark, chair Steve Bradley John Brown Chris Grove Mike Hoffman Ken King Carol McCarthy Frank Tsuru Jim Turley Patrick Sterrett, staff advisor Debbie Dyson, NCOH support 2021 Silver Buffalo Recipients Scott R. Berger Charles D. Holmes Scott R. Christensen Dabney Kennedy Reid A. Christopherson Jeffrey J. Kosik Joe R. Crafton Jr. Brother Kevin Dismas Moshier fsp Gary E. Crum Norbert Anthony Steinhardt III Thomas C. Edwards Thomas Richard Yarboro Jennifer Hancock 2 3 SCOTT R. BERGER REID A. CHRISTOPHERSON Guttenberg, New Jersey Garretson, South Dakota Distinguished Eagle Scout, Scouting Program Influencer, TV Newsman Lieutenant Colonel, USAF (retired); Eagle Scout As chair of the National Scouts BSA Committee Exhibits and Displays in 2017, team leader of new merit The World Jamboree and National Scout Jamboree Christopherson spent more than 39 years as a from 2018-2021, Scott Berger moved the program badge activities in 2013, and arena show talent coordinator are massive events, and neither could happen without member of the U.S. Air Force and the South Dakota Air forward in many ways; namely, by helping to welcome in 2010. the dedication and hard work of volunteers like Reid National Guard, including serving as Deputy Director young women. A registered member of the BSA since Christopherson. The Eagle Scout and retired Air of Public Affairs for the Air Force Central Command As an associate director at ViacomCBS, Berger he was 8 years old, Berger is a Vigil Honor member Force lieutenant colonel has staffed three World in Southwest Asia. He also served as National Guard helps run the CBS Evening News, the network’s of the Order of the Arrow and earned the rank Jamborees and seven National Jamborees. For Bureau’s Chief of Public Affairs in New Orleans flagship evening news program. His team was of Eagle Scout. As an adult volunteer, he the 2005, 2010 and 2013 National Jamborees, for the organization’s response to Hurricane responsible for a 7-part series that earned was awarded the Silver Antelope Award, Christopherson served as subcamp Katrina. a 2015 Emmy Award for Outstanding Distinguished Commissioner Award, chief and was responsible for 2,000 Continuing Coverage of a News Story Christopherson has held volunteer Distinguished Eagle Scout Award, and Scouts, adult leaders, and staff. In in a Regularly Scheduled Newscast. leadership positions at the unit, district, Silver Beaver Award. 2017, he served as basecamp chief The series told the story of the National council, area, regional, and national for the National Scout Jamboree. Berger has served on the National Guard’s Youth Challenge Program, levels. He says his proudest achievement Christopherson is currently preparing Operations Committee, the Program which aims to give at-risk youth the in Scouting came when he was 15 and to serve as logistics chairman for the Development Committee, and the skills needed to succeed as adults. he used his Scouting skills to save a next National Scout Jamboree. Youth Protection Committee. He led close friend during a near-drowning Berger is also a leader in the the team that developed the Cyber Chip Christopherson has also served incident on a canoe trip. entertainment industry, serving on the award and currently helps lead the BSA’s on the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Board of Directors of the Directors Guild Christopherson currently serves diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, America’s National Executive Committee, of America, which represents the interests of as executive director of the South Dakota with the goal of recruiting new parents “who Global Churchwide Council, Joint Leadership film and television directors. Wheat Commission, an organization dedicated would have never considered Scouting for their Table, and Planning and Evaluation Committee, to stabilizing and improving the South Dakota wheat family in the past.” Berger says his favorite pastime is taking scenic where his servant leadership has made a lasting impact industry through research, market development, and walks with his wife, Maura. The couple has one daughter, on millions of Lutherans across the globe. He also served Berger served as a member of the 24th World education. He and his wife, Ruth, have two children and one Eagle Scout son and one grandson. as the liaison for the ELCA to the National Lutheran Jamboree program staff and worked at multiple National one grandchild. Association on Scouting. Scout Jamborees, including serving as team leader of SCOTT R. CHRISTENSEN JOE R. CRAFTON JR. Manhasset, New York Dallas, Texas Distinguished Eagle Scout, Longtime Volunteer Eagle Scout, Conservationist Scott Christensen has volunteered for more than Foxtrot subcamp chief. All the while, he continued to serve Conservation has been part of the BSA from the Crafton founded two wildlife conservation groups two decades at the council, area, regional, and national on the Theodore Roosevelt Council Executive Board. very beginning, and few volunteers have done more that have donated more than $18 million to wildlife levels of Scouting. But it’s the eight years he served as to pass along those values to each new generation research and education. He currently serves as president After spending 25 years in finance, banking and real Scoutmaster that he’s most proud of. During his tenure, of youth than Joe Crafton Jr. Crafton created the Joe of the Rolling Plains Quail Research Foundation, a estate, Christensen moved into the non-profit sector in 13 youth from Troop 71 in Plandome, N.Y., became Crafton Sportsman’s Complex at the Summit Bechtel nonprofit focused on understanding and managing the 1994. As the president and CEO of The Glaucoma Eagle Scouts, including his son, Peter. Reserve, where Scouts learn about gun safety, bobwhite and scaled quail populations in West Foundation and the president of the World marksmanship, and the importance of Texas. Christensen was awarded the District Glaucoma Patient Association, Scott became a wildlife conservation. The complex Award of Merit, Silver Beaver Award, nationally recognized figure in increasing He also serves as vice president of and shotgun range is dedicated to the Silver Antelope Award, Distinguished awareness of glaucoma, an eye condition Texan By Nature, a non-profit founded memory of Crafton’s late father, Joe R. Eagle Scout Award, and the Order of that is the second-leading cause of by Laura Bush to unite conservation Crafton Sr. the Arrow Vigil Honor. He has served blindness and affects more than 70 and business leaders who believe their on the BSA’s national Executive Board million people worldwide. Christensen In addition to serving as state’s prosperity is dependent on the and the national Finance Committee. has presented on this subject to president of the Circle Ten Council conservation of our natural resources. As president of the Northeast Region, audiences in Singapore, Hong Kong, and as the BSA’s national vice Crafton retired as chief executive Christensen provided sound and Vienna, and South Korea. He has also president, Crafton served on the BSA officer of CROSSMARK Inc. in 2014. reassuring leadership to nearly 400,000 served in senior positions in management, National Executive Committee and During his 26-year career, the company Scouts in the Northeast and Puerto Rico, development and fundraising with New was Vice President of BSA’s Supply grew from a regional food broker with the Virgin Islands, and the Transatlantic York Medical College, the Juvenile Diabetes division. He continues to serve on the BSA 110 employees to an international sales and Council. Christensen has also volunteered Research Foundation, and his alma mater, National Executive Board and the BSA Office marketing services company with more than at multiple Jamborees, including leadership Colgate University. of Development. He attended the 2007 and 2015 40,000 associates across five different countries. For 10 positions in base camp and subcamp support operations. World Jamborees as a member of the U.S. contingent’s Christensen credits his love of Scouting to his father, years, Crafton served as assistant Scoutmaster for Troop 70 During the 24th World Scout Jamboree, he served as management team and was a Scoutmaster at the 2010 Eagle Scout S. Robert Christensen. Scott and his wife, Pam, in Dallas. Crafton has earned his Wood Badge and served National Jamboree. have two children and four grandchildren. on Wood Badge staff. He has three Eagle Scout sons and lives in Dallas with his wife, Amy. 4 5 GARY E. CRUM JENNIFER HANCOCK Laramie, Wyoming South Lake Tahoe, California Eagle Scout, Scouting Leader, Former Football Player and Referee Youth Advocate, National Venturing Leader, Attorney As president of the Western Region, Gary Crum volunteers. Within a matter of weeks, he had a full staff. Jennifer Hancock has devoted much of her life to Committee. She also serves as a member of the National was tasked with preparing councils to be successful after being a servant leader and youth advocate on both the Executive Board and a member of the National Operations Crum played college football at the University of the departure of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- national and international stages. Though Hancock has Leadership Committee. In her current role, her broad Wyoming, where he was all-conference and team captain, day Saints as a Scouting sponsor.