<p>2012 Fort Clatsop District Award of Merit recipient Laurie Kautz, left, gives the 2013 Fort Clatsop District Award of Merit to John Tanksley.</p>

The 2013 Fort Clatsop District Award of Merit was awarded to John Tanksley of Knappa, by the 2012 District Award of Merit recipient Laurie Kautz of Seaside.

Tanksleys involvement in the scouting program began 23 years ago when he retired from the U.S. Army and moved to Clatsop County. While in the Army, he served in Vietnam, Korea, Germany and the U.S. During his Scouting career he has served as a volunteer in Cub Scouting and in Boy Scouting.

He serves as the Fort Clatsop District Roundtable Commissioner and the Knappa Cub Scout Pack 507 Committee Chairman.

Other awards he has received in Boy Scouting have been the Scouters Training Award, Commissioner Arrow and Commissioner Key.