MARQUETTE — Dean Williams, a graduate of Marquette Senior High School and Michigan Tech, was recently honored with the Boy Scouts of America Great Smoky Mountain Council’s Silver Beaver Award. It is presented upon recommendation of the council for “outstanding service to youth by an individual residing within the council,” organizers said. “It is the highest national award that a local council may bestow upon adult volunteers.”

Williams and his wife, Angela, have two sons, Adam and Andrew, who are Eagle Scouts, according to a biography provided by the council.

“Dean has been very involved serving his pack and troop,” the biography states. “After serving as a den leader in Cub Scouts, he crossed over to serve as an assistant Scoutmaster for 10 years, Scoutmaster for six years, and troop committee chair for five years.”

Within the Great Smoky Mountain Council, Williams has also served as a Winter Camp instructor, as an instructor and dean to the College of Scouts BSA at the University of Scouting, a National Jamboree Scoutmaster in 2017, a Wood Badge troop guide, a Wood Badge scribe and the ScoutFest Scouts BSA activities chair. He earned the Sea Explorers Bosun as a youth, the Scouter’s Key Award, Scout Leader’s Training Award, Unit Leader Award of Merit and the District Award of Merit. Outside of Scouting, he has been signing at Morning Point Assisted Living Facility for Alzheimer’s patients monthly for the past 10 years. He is currently serving as the Mount Le Conte Short-Term Camp Administrator. Williams resides in Clinton, Tennessee, but continues to have Upper Peninsula roots, as his father, Royce Williams, resides in Alger County.