NATCHEZ — Terry Estes of Natchez was honored recently for his contribution to Boy Scouts.

Estes, also a member of the Copiah-Lincoln Community College Foundation Board of Trustees, received the Distinguished Citizen Award recently during a dinner in his honor at Co-Lin.

“Being involved in Scouting has always been special,” Estes said. “It’s fun to watch a Scout develop and grow. As a Scout Master, I’ve had some fond memories. It’s been a joy.”

Floyd McCalip, himself a recipient of the award last year, said to Estes, “I’m proud of all you have done and all you continue to do.” McCalip presented Estes with his award, a statuette of a Boy Scout.

A local State Farm Insurance agent, Estes began his Scouting life as a Boy Scout, later as an adult becoming an assistant Scout Master, then Scout Master. He was Scout Master of Troop 161 in Natchez for more than 10 years.

He has also worked on the district and council levels serving as a member of the council executive board and the finance committee. He also served as chairman of the Natchez Trace District for several years.

He is a member of the Order of the Arrow and received the District Award of Merit. In 1993, Estes was awarded the Silver Beaver Award — the highest award given by a Boy Scout Council.

Estes has always been very active in the community and has been associated with many organizations. He is an active member of the First Baptist Church where he serves on many committees and is a deacon. He is vice president of the Natchez Football Foundation Hall of Fame, member of the executive board of the Andrew Jackson Council of the BSA, member and past president of the Natchez Lions Club, past member and past president of the Natchez-Adams County School Board 10 years, State Education Accreditation Board, and a patron of the Festival of Music and Natchez Little Theater. In 2007 he was given the Distinguished American Award by the Mississippi Chapter of the National Football Foundation.

He and his wife Paula are parents of one son, Brett, who is an Eagle Scout, and a daughter, the late Hailey Estes.