U.S. Congressman Harold “Hal” Rogers’ (KY-05) District Director, Bob Mitchell was recently honored by the Mountain Laurel Boy Scouts of America with the first annual Daniel Boone Visionary Award during an annual banquet at the Corbin Technology Center. 

“The difference between stumbling blocks and stepping stones is how you use them,” said Rogers, describing the optomistic philosophy of his long-time friend and advisor for more than 30 years. “And Mitchell never quits. He always finds a way to get something done.”

Boy Scout Troop 572 kicked off the event with the presentation of colors, followed by presenations of Kentucky Senate and House Citations honoring Mitchell's dedication and service to southern and eastern Kentucky for three decades as Rogers' right hand in the Fifth Congressional District.

Rogers presented the first-ever Daniel Boone Visionary Award to Mitchell, crediting a large portion of the region's transformation to his leadership, ingenuity and tenacity. Rogers commended Mitchell for his leadership on projects like flood control along the Cumberland River, transportation enhancements, the Cumberland Gap Tunnel, economic development, job growth, as well as the region's environmental education initiative, PRIDE and the anti-drug intiative, Operation UNITE.

"Rogers' famous advice to local leaders is to 'plan your work and work your plan' and I'm honored to have worked through the plans of many monumental ideas that our great Congressman envisioned for the region," said Mitchell, crediting Rogers as the guardian angel of southern and eastern Kentucky. "He planted the seeds of progress and we have watered those seeds to help projects like PRIDE and UNITE grow into what they are today."

Together, Rogers and Mitchell commended the Boy Scouts of America's Blue Grass Council for its commitment to leadership and citizenship across the region.

The Mountain Laurel Boy Scout District serves more than 1,000 youth in 45 units in Bell, Clay, Harlan, Jackson, Knox, Laurel and Whitley Counties.