Bill Peel

My friend and fellow board member at the Sam Houston Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America is an exemplary leader, both personally and professionally.  In addition to countless other business and community leadership roles, Frank currently serves as the President of the National Eagle Scout Association. I'm privileged to have had him present me with my NESA Outstanding Eagle Scout Association award in 2016, fifty years after achieving the rank of Eagle. Recently Frank wrote in his column in "Eagles' Call" (NESA's national magazine) that "earning the Eagle Scout Award greatly improves your ability to succeed in life." I can certainly attest to that. A study conducted by Baylor University (2010) indicates that "Eagle Scouts are more likely to: Have higher levels of planning and preparation skills  Be goal-oriented Network with others Be in a leadership position Have closer relationships with family and friends Volunteer their time...

There is no greater honor than being asked to write a eulogy.  Following is one that I wrote for my dear friend, and client, Blake Tartt, III, to deliver at the funeral of his dear friend, John Henry Kirby.  Blake was masterful in telling the story of his friendship with John Henry and bringing a celebration of life to the tribute to John Henry's life. From its earliest days, Kinkaid emphasized academic achievement and  character  development.  And, boy was John Kirby ever a character.  He loved people and most notably his Kinkaid friends.  And, I loved John Kirby.   He was like classic vinyl - old school music – Journey, Boston, Bachman Turner Overdrive, the Eagles, and like Neil Young said, John had “a heart of gold.”   John affectionately referred to the girls by their first name but us guys were always known by our last name.  To John I was BT3 and he was John Henry.  He was my fi...

Becoming an Eagle Scout is a milestone to which many young men aspire, but few achieve.  It is certainly a memory that has lasted a lifetime for me. I fondly remember my days at Highland Heights Methodist Church and my experiences as a member of Pack, Troop and Explorer Post 93, all sponsored by the church.  Friendships made during those formative years are still alive today, and the life lessons learned through Scouting have been a profound influence on my personal and professional life. My first “real” job came as a result of being an Eagle Scout.  As a college student with few credentials to put on my resume, I fell back on my Scouting achievements (Eagle, God & Country, Order of the Arrow) to enhance my qualifications.  Applying for a highly competitive Graduate Assistantship at Texas A&M University, I needed a resume that would differentiate me from “the crowd”. Little did I know that the individual making the selection ...