At the request of his parents, Scott and Denise McGillis, the teen will be joined at the ceremonies by longtime local Scoutmaster Roger Gabrielse of Wenona. That's an appropriate step to recognize the important role that scouting and Gabrielse have played in his life, Denise McGillis said in an e-mail. "Both my husband and I feel that Roger has been such an inspiration and role model for our son that this is a privilege for the two of them to share," she wrote. Gabrielse, who is retired from IBM, said he had been involved in Scouting for 48 of his 62 years. An early Scoutmaster of his own implanted that dedicatetion, he said. "Since he did so much for me and thought so much of the boys, I wanted to carry that on," he said. McGillis said he plans to remain involved as an adult as well. A home-schooled high school junior, he said he hopes to become either a physician or veterinarian in the future.

After a ride as a Marshal in the BSA’s Centennial Parade in Washington, D.C., Tayler and three other inductees – each representing one of the four BSA Regions across the U.S. – will be honored in a National Hall of Leadership induction ceremony for making a significant difference in the life of another by the extraordinary service they have given … and the Scouting virtues they have modeled.

Presiding over that ceremony will be Ernest G. “Ernie” Green, who earned a place in America’s civil rights history as one of the “Little Rock Nine” – the first nine African-American students to attend an all-white high school in Little Rock, Ark. in 1957. A Distinguished Eagle Scout, Green served as Chairman of the National Hall of Leadership program.

“The National Hall of Leadership epitomizes everything I have always respected about Scouting, because Scouting’s values help mold our young people to be the great leaders our country needs,” Green said. “I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to the inductees receiving this one-time honor in Scouting’s history.”

Joining Green is the National Commissioner of the Boy Scouts of America, Tico Perez, will share each inductee’s nomination story during Sunday’s ceremonies.

“This is a historic opportunity to honor, recognize, and thank Scouts, leaders, and any living person who has served as a Scouting volunteer from across the country for the extraordinary difference they have made in the lives of others through their leadership,” said Perez.

“What better way to help celebrate 100 years of Scouting in America than by giving the citizens of the communities we serve the opportunity to remember and honor these individuals who have made such a significant contribution to the lives of others and improved the quality of life for all,” he added.

Each person named to the National Hall of Leadership will have their name recorded as part of the BSA’s 100th Anniversary archives at the National Scouting Museum in Irving, Tex.

One inductee from each of the nearly 300 BSA councils across the country was named to the National Hall of Leadership. Each inductee is representative of all the nominations received by his or her council. Nominations to the National Hall of Leadership were submitted online in the form of a story about the nominee, written in 450 words or less.

Preliminary judging was conducted at the council level, followed by semi-finalist review by a group of Scouting professionals. Final inductees were selected by a national judging panel, which included professionals, community and business leaders from across the country:

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