Gross, Apy, Davidson honored by Boy Scouts

The Monmouth Council, Boy Scouts of America, held its 90th anniversary volunteer recognition dinner recently at the Buttonwood Manor, Matawan. During 2007 Monmouth Council is celebrating 90 years of service to youth and families and a tradition of participating citizenship, character development and community service throughout Monmouth County.

Numerous volunteers were recognized including Andrew Lennert, who was honored for his 50 years of outstanding leadership as scoutmaster of Troop 110 in Lincroft. Also, Thomas Sullivan, a 7-year-old Cub Scout from Shrewsbury, was feted for his heroism in helping to save his father's life when his dad was stricken with a severe allergic reaction.

The feature awards of the evening, the Silver Beaver Awards, were presented to Chester Apy, Carl Gross and Frank Davidson. The Silver Beaver is the highest recognition that can be bestowed by a Boy Scout Council for exceptional and distinguished service to youth over many years.

Davidson is scoutmaster of Troop 72 in Neptune, committee chair of Pack 96 in Neptune City, campmaster, member of the Thunderbird District Committee,

member of the council finance committee and chairman of the council camping committee.

In this capacity, Davidson is responsible for developing the operating budgets for the Forestburg and Quail Hill Scout reservations, preparing the work activities for camp builders weekends at both camps, as well as making sure both camps continue to receive the rating as a "quality camp."

When not volunteering in one of his scouting positions, Davidson is a supervisor for NJ Transit.

For his many years of service to scouting, Davidson has been recognized as the Thunderbird District Scoutmaster of the Year; for his distinguished service to the Thunderbird District, he was awarded the District Award of Merit.

Gross, a graduate of Rutgers University with a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering, went on to Suffolk University, where he earned a juris doctor. He has been a member of the bar of New Jersey and Massachusetts for more than 35 years. Currently, he is active in a real estate management and investment company in Freehold.

Gross serves as scoutmaster of Troop 1 in Monmouth Beach; member of the Joshua Huddy Committee; council finance committee; council nominating committee; and the golf classic committee. He has just started his tenure as the council president.

Gross has been a cubmaster, den leader, Webelos den leader, chairman of the Friends of Scouting Committee, and a member of the council executive board. As a result of his previous contributions to scouting, Gross has received the Den Leader Award, Webelos Leader Award, Cub Scouter Award, Cubmaster Award, Scouters' Training Award, and for his distinguished service to the Twin Lights District he was awarded the District Award of Merit.

For his contributions to the endowment trust of the council, Gross has received the James E. West Fellowship Award, as well as the 1910 Society Award.

Apy started his scouting career as a Cub Scout in Pack 3 in Red Bank, and he completed the requirements for the Arrow of Light. He joined Troop 67, also in Red Bank, and rose through the ranks of scouting to the rank of Eagle Scout. In 1996, the National Eagle Scout Association advanced Apy to the rank of Distinguished Eagle Scout.

He has served as a cubmaster, Webelos den leader, member of a Troop Committee, Explorer adviser, and he currently serves as a member of the council advisory committee. Most recently, he chaired the council fiscal recovery committee.

A graduate of Princeton University, and the Columbia School of Law, Apy has been an attorney for 50 years. He has served as a member of the state Assembly and as a judge on the Workmen's Compensation Court.