Local businesses man Paul Waldrop, Jr. was honored Tuesday night by the Boy Scouts of America.  The Texas Trails Council of the BSA presented Waldrop with the 2022 Distinguished Citizen Award at a banquet held at the Coggin Connection Center of the Coggin Avenue Baptist Church.

Paul Waldrop, Jr. was born in Brownwood in 1951 and as a young boy was a Scout in the then Comanche Trail Council.  He was graduated from Brownwood High School in 1969, married Lynda Cross and attended Howard Payne University.  He also served in the Texas National Guard from 1972 to 1978.

Waldrop joined his father, Paul Waldrop Sr., as a partner of Waldrop Construction Company in 1972, and they worked together for forty years until the passing of his father.  Paul has since been in partnership with his son Sam Waldrop.  Paul and Lynda also have two daughters, Michelle Brasher and Becky Warner, and eight grandchildren.  Paul and Lynda are members of the Coggin Avenue Baptist Church.

Paul Waldrop Jr. has served on boards of the Brownwood Area Chamber of Commerce, the Brownwood Industrial Foundation, the Brown County Youth Fair Association, the local Girl Scouts, the Brown County Boys and Girls Club, New Horizons Ranch and Home for Children, and the B.C. Drinkard Foundation.  He is currently a member of the board of directors of the Brown County Hospital Authority, Texas Bank, Central Texas Foundation, West Texas Chapter Associated General Contractors, and Texas Building Branch ABG.  Also, Waldrop is currently serving as a trustee on the board of Hendrick Medical Center in Abilene, Texas.

After the ceremony Waldrop commented:  “I am just overwhelmed.  It’s been such a great honor, and we are just so blessed to have had a great life here in Brownwood, a great family, a great business, and a great opportunity to give a little back.”

Event Chairman Dennis Graham said the event raised $75,000, an all-time record, for the Texas Trails Council of the Scouts BSA, as it is now known.  The Texas Trails Council, based in Abilene, covers over 18 counties, and has 1,500 boys and girls in the program plus about 400 adult volunteers.  “Scouting in Central Texas in alive and well, and thriving!” said Graham.

Boys and girls both can join Scouting now, and indeed Brownwood does have a separate Scout troop for girls.  For more information, contact the Texas Trails Council at 325-677-2688.