By By KEVIN SCOTT CUTLER
Lifestyles & Features Editor
BLOUNTS CREEK — The generosity of one eastern North Carolina family was recognized by the Boy Scouts of America Saturday when the former Camp Bonner South was officially dedicated as Camp Boddie.
The name change honors the Nash County family that has been supportive of Scouting for generations.
“Nick Boddie and Mayo Boddie Sr. serve as vice chairman and chairman of Boddie-Noell Enterprises, which operated the largest Hardees chain in the United States, with 338 stores and more than 12,000 employees,” according to H. Ray Franks, Scout executive of the East Carolina Council. “In 1989 the Boddies founded the Hardees’ Classic BSA Golf Tournament. The annual benefit has raised over $2.4 million with the help of their many business partners.”
The Boddie family established a temporary dining hall at the Scout camp after the original one burned in 1995; they later made a generous donation toward the construction of a new, permanent building, which was named the Boddie Family Dining Hall.
Scouting is a longtime tradition in the family, according to Bunn Boddie, a grandson of Mayo Boddie Sr.
“I know the Boy Scouts have always been held in very high esteem in the Boddie family. My grandfather was always supportive,” the young Boddie remarked.
Mayo Boddie Jr. and Bill Boddie, sons of the elder Boddie, as well as Bunn Boddie and his brothers, Pen and Bill Jr., all achieved the highest rank in Scouting, that of Eagle Scout. Each attended camp at Blounts Creek in their youth, having been active as Scouts with Troop 40 in Rocky Mount.
As for the elder Boddie, who became involved in Scouting in 1941, he joked that he was distracted by “gasoline and perfume” and missed making the high rank.
“There goes the ‘perfume’ now,” he said with a grin, as his wife, Jean, walked past.
But the family patriarch is serious about Scouting and the impact it has on youth.
“The important thing they’ve always done is instill a sense of values and morals,” Boddie said. “That’s stayed with us and that’s why Scouting is so important.”
Boddie said the family tradition of Scouting is destined to continue; he’s looking forward to seeing his three young great-grandsons, not quite old enough for Cub Scouts, become active in the organization.
“The Boddies will be here for the future,” he said.
He added that he’s pleased to have the camp renamed for his family.
“It’s a very high honor, no question,” he said. “We’re very proud and appreciative of this.”
Saturday’s festivities were to include speeches and presentations by James A. Hackney III, Herman E. Gaskins Jr., William G. Daughtridge Jr., Benjamin E. Moore Jr., Al Patrick and the Rev. William Sherman, according to Franks.
Also planned were a luncheon, presentation of colors and a Camp Boddie flag raising ceremony.