Last night, The Boy Scouts of America Buffalo Trace Council held their 25th Anniversary Distinguished Citizen Award Banquet at the Huntingburg Event Center. Along with a performance by Nashville Recording Artist Colton James, the council honored Ray Schwenk, a prominent member of the Buffalo Trace Council for the past 50 years.
Ray Schwenk earned the Boy Scouts top rank of Eagle in 1968 as part of the Troop 183 and Explorer Post 183. As he reached adulthood, he served as Assistant Scoutmaster for the Troop.
After earning a teaching degree from Indiana State University, he taught at Vincennes, IN for three years before joining Jasper Engines and Transmissions, where he would stay for over 40 years. Ray was actively involved in the company’s 2010 transition to a 100% Associate Owned Company. He currently serves as company treasurer and Plan Administrator for the JET 401(K) Plan.
As a member of the Buffalo Trace Council, he currently serves as an Advisory Board Member and was an Executive Board member of the council for 10 years. He also served as a District Committee Member of Lincoln Heritage District for two years and as a council member at large of Buffalo Trace Council for one year. He provided new handbooks to new scouts as well as serving on two jamboree committees for the council. He served as Chaplain Aide on a trek to Canada with Holy Family Church Venturing Crew 185. In 2011, he was honored with the Silver Beaver Award by the council, an award given to those who implement the Scouting program and perform community service through hard work, self-sacrifice, dedication, and many years of service.
Outside the Boy Scouts of America, Ray served on many boards such as Jasper Junior Achievement, Dubois County Community Foundation, Providence Home/Cathedral Health and Anderson woods, inc. He is a Religious Education Teacher and a Hospitality Minister for Precious Blood Church. He is the father of three children and has five grandchildren.
