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Section Sentinel: Remarkable contributions by two Arrowmen, Paul Siple and Dave Moody

  Kyle Brendel             Section Sentinel

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Paul Siple and Dave Moody are Arrowmen and Distinguished Service Award recipients. Their lives represent a snapshot of the incredible things done by Arrowmen around the country every day by living out the principles of our Obligation and the Scout Oath and Law. Their success in and out of Scouting is truly inspirational, and we should be very proud of all they have accomplished.

Paul Siple

Paul SipleBorn two years before the Boy Scouts of America's founding, Paul Siple was a devoted Scout. When Siple was nineteen years old, there was a search for an Eagle Scout to accompany Rear Admiral Richard Evelyn Byrd on his Antarctic expedition. Thousands of Eagle Scouts applied nationwide, and after first whittling down the submissions to 88 and then to the final six, Siple was chosen to spend a year and a half in the polar region.

That trip turned out to be the first of what would become a life-long career. After his first expedition, Siple joined Byrd for a second trip in 1933. He went on a number of additional excursions throughout his lifetime. He received his Ph.D. from Clark University and went on to spend most of his career in the Army Scientific Office. Siple was involved in developing cold weather gear for the Korean War and was the first scientific leader at the United States Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station in 1956-1957. Siple is perhaps best known for coining the well-known term "wind chill factor."

Scouting was a big part of Siple's life as it opened up his career path. He was a decorated Eagle Scout, earning 60 merit badges. For his work and Scouting career, Siple was bestowed the Silver Buffalo Award in 1947 and went on to become a recipient of the Order of the Arrow's Distinguished Service Award in 1958.

Dave Moody

Dave MoodyBorn in 1962, Moody was very successful in Scouting and in his work. In his youth, Moody was SE-3B section chief from 1981-1982 and SE-7 chief the next year. At the National Planning Meeting held in 1982, he was elected national conference vice chief of training for the 1983 NOAC. For his service to the Order of the Arrow, Moody was awarded the Distinguished Service Award in 1986.

Moody did not just have an impressive Scouting career; he was also successful professionally, too. He and his brothers became regular performers at the Grand Ole Opry and later sang nightly at Disneyland Paris. Moody went on to become a solo artist, producer, and songwriter. He was nominated for and won many awards, earning recognition for composing, directing, instrumental performance, producing and songwriting.