VIETNAM VETERAN RECEIVES SCOUTING’S HIGHEST HONOR

Lance Wickman to Receive Silver Buffalo Award From Boy Scouts of America

ORLANDO, Fla. – A lifelong Scouter from Utah will soon have something in common with 13 U.S. presidents, Hank Aaron, Neil Armstrong, Walt Disney, Charles Lindbergh, and Colin Powell. Lance Wickman will receive the Silver Buffalo Award, Scouting’s highest commendation for service to youth, at the National Annual Meeting of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) on May 22 in Orlando. Much of Wickman’s six decades in Scouting have been spent strengthening the BSA’s relationship with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The Silver Buffalo has been awarded annually since 1925 to civic-minded men and women for their invaluable contributions and service to youth. Wickman is one of 11 Silver Buffalo recipients this year, including NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon.

An Eagle Scout, Wickman has served as a Scoutmaster, an Exploring Advisor, a Varsity Scout leader, and president of the Desert Pacific Council. Wickman previously received the Silver Beaver Award for his service to Scouting.

“Lance has dedicated his life to serving young people through the Boy Scouts at both the local and national levels,” said Robert Mazzuca, Chief Scout Executive of the Boy Scouts of America. “The Silver Buffalo Award recognizes the immeasurable impact Lance has made on generations of young people in Utah.”
Wickman is a general authority and member of the Quorum of the Seventy of the Mormon Church. He also serves as the Church’s general counsel. Wickman received his undergraduate degree from the University of California—Berkeley and a juris doctor degree from Stanford University. He previously practiced law as a partner in the international law firm of Latham & Watkins.

As a U.S. Army Ranger, Wickman rose to the rank of captain. He served twice in Vietnam, receiving the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the Valorous Unit Citation, and the Combat Infantry Badge.

Wickman and his wife, Patricia, have five children and four grandchildren.

Joining Wickman as the 2009 recipients of the Silver Buffalo Award are Thomas Buffenbarger of Maryland, Kent Clayburn of California, Randall Cline of Pennsylvania, Larry Cunningham of Texas, Tommy Dortch of New York, Jeff Gordon of North Carolina, Ronald Migita of Hawaii, Nathan Rosenberg of California, James Turley of New York, and Charles Walneck of Illinois.

About the Boy Scouts of America
Serving nearly 4.1 million young people between the ages of 7 and 20 with more than 300 local councils throughout the United States and its territories, the Boy Scouts of America is the nation’s foremost youth program of character development and values-based leadership training. For more information on the Boy Scouts of America, please visit www.scouting.org.