Three rise to rank of Eagle

Ridley Culp

Ridley Anderson Culp earned the rank of Eagle Scout on Sept. 13. He is a member of Boy Scout Troop 63 at Canterbury Methodist Church, under the leadership of Harold Wells, Jr.

For his Eagle service project, Culp built two picnic tables and two park benches and provided a grill for Fairfield Community Garden.

He earned 23 merit badges, attended a high adventure trip to Sea Base, and served as a patrol leader and quartermaster for his troop.

Culp is a sophomore at Mountain Brook High School, where he plays on the varsity football and lacrosse teams.  He is a member of SGA and Key Club. Culp is an active member of Mountain Brook Community Church.

Culp is the son of Jenny and Sonny Culp.  He is the grandson of Margery Birdsong and Glenn Culp of Birmingham, and Dr. and Mrs. W.E. Birdsong of Jasper.  

Tillman Drew

David “Tillman” Drew, fellow member of Boy Scout Troop 63 at Canterbury Methodist Church, earned the rank of Eagle on Sept. 13.

For his project, Drew partnered with Red Mountain Park to complete the Ishkooda Mine Trails. The trail, forged and cleared by Drew, was more than 450 feet long and included 30 steps. In addition to the funds needed to complete his project, he raised more than $1,500 for Red Mountain Park to place markers at all Eagle Scout projects on site.

Drew has held the positions of Assistant Senior Patrol Leader, Patrol Leader (twice), Den Chief, Scribe, and Bugler. He is a member of the Order of Arrow Brotherhood, earned 28 merit badges and had 64 camping nights.

The Mountain Brook High School junior is a member of the Varsity Lacrosse Team, junior class SGA Officer, Youth Legislature, Latin Club, FBLA Officer, and Ambassadors Club Officer.

He is the son of Tricia and Mark Drew. He is the grandson of Patty and Larry Faulkner of Mountain Brook and the grandson of Mildred and Ed Drew of Macclesfield, N.C.

Thomas Skinner

Thomas Julian Skinner V, a member of Boy Scout Troop 28 at Independent Presbyterian Church, was awarded the rank of Eagle Scout on Nov. 18.

For his Eagle Project, Thomas designed and built two benches for the Alabama Wilds section of the Birmingham Zoo. The project was particularly meaningful to Thomas because he has been a Zoo teen volunteer for four years. He raised more than the funds necessary to cover the cost of the project, and presented a check for $1,200 at his Court of Honor to Zoo Volunteer Coordinator Brooke Estes.

As a member of Troop 28, Thomas earned 24 merit badges and served as Assistant Patrol Leader, Patrol Leader, Troop Guide, Historian and Senior Patrol Leader. He was also inducted into Order of the Arrow and received the Historic Trails, Conservation and God and Country Awards.

The Mountain Brook High School sophomore plays on the football team and is a member of both the Interact and French clubs. Thomas is a Zoofari Teen member at the Birmingham Zoo and a member of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church.

Thomas is the son of Kathy and Jay Skinner of Mountain Brook. He is the grandson of Nancy Skinner of Birmingham, and Becky and Hanson Couvillon of Huntsville.