Well-known educator and Scoutmaster Dennis Freeman was humbled when his name was called as one of recipients of the 2015 Green River Distinguished Citizen of the Year award.
This year, two of these awards were given out, and both recipients were humbled to be in company with each other for this prestigious award.
Freeman said he knew he was nominated for the award, but had no idea he was going to receive it.
“Because I am out in the community a lot, I see those other people out there,” Freeman said. “I know many of the people who have received them in the past. It’s humbling to be included in that group.”
He said there are some real dedicated volunteers in this community that are just as deserving of this award.
Freeman has worked for Sweetwater County School District No. 2 since 1990 and is currently the assistant principal at Green River High School. Freeman was instrumental in organizing the senior hallway at the high school and was the Student Council Advisor when the Student Council adopted Make-A-Wish as a primary service and charity program. Freeman started teaching in 1984 and remained a teacher until 2007 when he entered school administration.
“I didn’t think I’d go to administration. I expected to retire as an art teacher,” Freeman said.
It was his art background that inspired the senior hallway. He said the whole purpose behind the senior hallway is to leave a legacy for each class. Each class comes up with a design based on the design requirements and then they set to work. Most of the designs include a wolf and the year of graduation.
“Every senior gets to leave their name on the wall,” he said.
These are wonderful things for the school, but the nomination focused on his work with Boy Scout Troop 312.
Freeman was nominated by Joanna Kloepper, whose son is a member of Boy Scout Troop 312.
“Anything Dennis does is first class. Dennis does a nice job of bringing the school into the community. I also can’t say enough about his scout group, Whenever, Dennis does something it is done well. Dennis has a lot of legacies and you couldn’t be giving this award to a better person,” GRHS principal Darren Howard said.
Even though her son is new to this troop, she is quite impressed with Freeman’s leadership, Kloepper said.
“He guides them,” she said. “He doesn’t tell them what to do. He develops youth to think for themselves.”
Freeman joined the Cub Scouts when he was a kid, but he eventually dropped out because the troop he joined no longer did all of the things it used to.
“I got into scouting as an adult when my son said he wanted to be a Cub Scout,” Freeman said.
He just continued to move through the various ranks of scouting with his son. They started out in Troop 11, but Freeman said his son wanted to do more so they moved to Troop 312.
“I’ve been with 312 ever since,” he said.
In 2006, his son, Alex, became that troop’s first Eagle Scout; and he then moved onto chapter advisor, lodge chief for a three-state area and section chief for a five-state area.
Once Freeman’s son was done with scouting, Freeman also took a break. That is until in 2010, when the boys in Troop 312 wanted Freeman to come back because they felt they were not getting to do all of the activities they wanted to do and needed his backing.
Freeman re-entered Troop 312 as its scoutmaster and he has been doing it ever since. He said their troop is different from other scouting troops, they not only dress better, but they strive to become better people.
This troop camps 12 months out of the year, for at least two days each month; and they take their scouting activities very seriously. They have been to seven different states and Canada for scout camping adventures.
Freeman was proud that unlike other troops, most of their scouts stay until they turn 18.
“This unit is really run by the boys,” Freeman said. “They take pride in who they are.”
Freeman spends hours organizing activities and assisting the scout leaders. He spends a lot of time on the weekends and evening with scouting activities.
“Dennis makes the kids feel like they are important. Dennis is different than other scout leaders because his scout group is very involved in organizing their own events. Dennis makes sure that the kids help with the organization of the events,” Kloepper said.
“His scout troop volunteers for all types of community events including the River Festival and Clean-up Day.”
Freeman was proud of all the eagle scout projects that have been completed over the years. He said most of them were completed for GRHS, including flags in the commons area, wooden benches in the hallways, recycling bins and metal lids for outside garbage cans. He said the district has always been supportive of the scouts projects.
“Dennis does not do what he does for the glory; he is in it for the improvement of the kid’s experience. He gives credit to the scouts and the student council and shows extreme humility,” Kloepper said. “He continues to work behind the scenes improving the lives of Green River students and residents every year. He is an asset to our community and we are thrilled to be able to present him with this award.”
Freeman is also involved with the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church serving on the Parish Council, Master Planning Committee, Liturgy Commission, Lector, RCIA teacher and other volunteer roles. He also served as a Chapter Advisor for the Seedkadee Chapter 15, Awaxaawe’ Awachia, Order of the Arrow.
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