Brother keeps Eagle Scouting a family tradition
Robert Henning is walking in his brother’s footsteps.
Next week, Henning will join the prestigious ranks of Eagle Scouts — the highest rank that can be earned by Boy Scouts.
Henning, 16, a junior at Tabernacle Christian School, has been involved in scouting for a decade. His brother Carl Benefield, now 27, earned his Eagle Scout rank in 1999.
The brothers both earned their Eagle rank while members of Boy Scout Troop 413, which meets at Mt. Olive United Methodist Church.
“I’m real proud of him,” said Benefield. “He carried on the tradition. It’s going to help him out a lot … It shows people he’s willing to stick with something and see it through.”
Benefield is a deputy sheriff with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. He is also a member of the 117th Air Refueling Wing with the Air National Guard, having enlisted 12 years ago. Since he earned his Eagle Scout before enlisting, Benefield went in at a higher rank — an airman first class, or E3.
Benefield and Henning’s mother, Teri Henning, is a strong supporter of Boy Scouts because she has seen the difference it has made in her sons.
“It gives him a very strong work ethic and makes him less reliant on (us),” said Teri about Robert. “It made him become more independent as a younger child. And of course we like the morals and character the scouts teach.”
When Carl was younger, Teri said she watched the scouts develop his character as well.
“Carl had natural leadership,” she said. “It was brought out by the scouts.” She said Carl’s friends always followed his lead; she thinks being involved in scouts helped the young man stay on a good path and help take his friends along that path as well.
Even Teri’s daughter Laura is close to scouting; she married Eagle Scout Justin Dickinson.
Robert Henning can see the changes in his own life because of being involved in scouts.
He is an honors student, a member of the drama class and a left guard and center for the Tabernacle Torches football team. But when talking about what has shaped his life, Henning talks about scouting.
“It has promoted leadership in all aspects of my life, including football,” he said. “I did it because I wanted to be like my brother. … But it’s about building yourself. You’re always going to need that. I did it to prepare for my future. I’m pretty sure scouts have made me ready to take on the world.”
Eagle Scout candidates are required to earn 21 badges. Henning said earning various badges exposed him to things such as law, space exploration, aviation and veterinary medicine.
“It has overall broadened my spectrum of life,” he said. “It has given me insight to things I would have never thought of before.”
Henning’s Eagle Scout project was to organize and supervise a landscaping project at a canoe launch and campground in Graysville in March 2010.
Henning will receive his Eagle Scout medal Jan. 7 during a ceremony at Tabernacle Christian School. Benefield said he is looking forward to being a part of the ceremony.
Rob’s father is Ronnie Henning; the Hennings live in Trussville. Larry Benefield of Gardendale is Carl’s father.