Like father, like son

COLUMBIA BASIN — Ty Morrow was 8 years old when his father started him in Boy Scouts to share the experience.

Now 18, Ty is achieving the organizations' highest honor by becoming an Eagle Scout, an experience shared by father and son.

Ty built a retaining wall around a propane tank at the Civil Air Patrol base in Ephrata to become an Eagle Scout. His father Paul built a bridge at a golf course in Aberdeen, Idaho, to achieve the same rank.

In order to become an Eagle Scout, members of the Boy Scouts must plan and complete a project in the community. Ty drew up plans and with the help of about 10 others, built a safety wall around a propane tank. It was deemed a fire hazard before the project began.

Ty said he wasn't nervous presenting the project before the Eagle Scout Council for approval. The most challenging part was laying the concrete for the wall, which he found difficult because it was a race to smooth it out before it dried.

Paul came away with a positive experience from his project.

He said he is proud the concrete challenge didn't stop Ty from achieving his goal. Quitting would have been easy but Paul said he is glad Ty finished the project because it teaches dedication, coordination and a commitment to finish what you start.

"The thing I like about his project is that he learned so much about life," Paul said.

The Eagle Scout project cultivated skills to stay with Ty for the rest of his life, Paul said.

"He got his first experience leading people," he said.

Ty doesn't talk as much about what he learned as he does who helped him. He thanks his grandfathers Robert Kirkland, on his mother Resa's side of the family, who was a scout himself, and Steven Morrow, on his father's side. He is grateful for the help from his younger brother Cody and his father.

"(Without them) I don't think I could have done it at all," Ty says.

Next up, Ty is studying to attend Utah State University, pursuing a degree in an area of science.