The 85-year-old Overholt started volunteering for the Boy Scouts to fill a need -- her eldest son had just signed up for Cub Scouts when the leader quit in late 1958.

”I was involved with the program before, but nothing like that,” she said.

Her husband, Orval Overholt, was already volunteering and working with the local Boy Scouts group when she filled the vacant spot left by the leader. That began a long dedication to the local Boy Scout troops and the national Boy Scouts of America association.

She has led scouting troops, been an active commissioner, trained volunteers, served on several national scout committees, helped develop Boy Scout troops in the remote areas of Humboldt County and on American Indian reservations, and volunteered for many other activities.

In appreciation of her efforts, the Redwood Empire Boy Scouts Council honored her with the Whitney M. Young Jr. Service Award last week at an awards ceremony. She was selected for the award by a national committee.

Helen Overholt is the second person in this area to have received the honor -- the first was awarded to Ron Fritzchi about 20 years ago soon after the award was created, according to the Eureka Boy Scouts office.

Helen

”It's been quite a challenging experience,” she said.

She was not entirely surprised she was given the service award because she had previously served on the small national committee that chooses who receives it.

”I did kind of wonder when they sent back my application,” she said. “I didn't know what they put on it.”

Helen Overholt said she enjoyed the challenge of working with children and also training others to lead from the guidelines listed in the Boy Scout handbook, or “the book.”

”The main thing is to follow the book and you can't go wrong,” she said.

Helen Overholt and her husband are tapering down their volunteer efforts currently for personal reasons, but the two would travel up and down the coast and across the country for their efforts with the Boy Scouts.

”It was good to work together,” she said.

Professionally, Helen Overholt is a registered nurse and was responsible for starting numerous blood pressure clinics in remote areas.

The Redwood Empire Boy Scouts Council has appreciated her work throughout the years. Executive Director Ken Swanson has only worked with this council for eight months, but has already come to know the Overholts very well.

”You can feel the compassion they have for this community,” he said.

Swanson said he was glad they could honor Helen Overholt with an award that is designed to recognize outstanding service in the development and implementation of scouting in rural areas. She has done that and much more for the community, he said.

”Here's a lady out here who has been a mover and a shaker at her own expense and her own time,” Swanson said.

Council President John Friedenbach has worked with Helen Overholt nearly his entire Boy Scout involvement. He has volunteered since 1988.

”In that time, I've served in different roles in the volunteer ranks and Helen has always provided support, guidance and advice,” he said.

She has an “obviously intense passion” for scouting, teaching troops and volunteers to go by the book, which she helped to revise for current generations, he said.

Friedenbach said he is one of many individuals she has influenced through her work.

”I credit her a lot for my involvement,” he said.

Helen Overholt has also received the Silver Fawn and Silver Antelope awards through her work with the Boy Scouts.

Helen Overholt said she has worked to have the groups she trained be self-sufficient because she won't be volunteering as much soon and she is optimistic for the future of the local council and the children it supports.

”They were a little scared with all that responsibility, but they can do it,” she said. “They just have to follow the book.”