Published: March 11, 2006 12:07 am      

Scouts meet a ‘Survivor’

Johnstown mayor honored at Harry E. Mangle dinner

Citizenship, service and leadership are the values that Dave Zucco said most remind him of his father, Johnstown’s mayor.

Zucco told nearly 250 people at the Boys Scouts’ 36th annual Harry E. Mangle Memorial Dinner on Friday night that his father followed many principles that Boys Scouts are taught.

The banquet, the biggest fundraiser of the year for the Penn’s Woods Council of the Boy Scouts of America, was held at the Frank J. Pasquerilla Conference Center in downtown Johnstown.

Don Zucco was awarded the 2006 Distinguished Citizen Award for his leadership and community service.

“If I look back, a bit of all of the qualities and characteristics that Scouting builds for young people is invaluable,” Zucco said.

Zucco was not a Scout, but Cletus J. McConville Jr., executive director of the council, said the mayor embodies those values of service.

Ian Rosenberger, who was one of the final three contestants on the CBS reality show “Survivor Palau,” was the keynote speaker.

“One of the great things about Scouting is I am now at an age that I am able to call on some of the things I learned with Scouting,” he said. “I had Scouting as a foothold to make decisions.”

Rosenberger, an Eagle Scout, left the tropical reality television show, choosing friendship over $1 million.

“ ‘Survivor’ teaches you a lot about life,” he told the crowd.

Rosenberger, who now lives on the North Side of Pittsburgh, said he had a moment of clarity during his 12-hour stint on a buoy during “Survivor Palau.” It was one of the last efforts to win immunity from being voted off the reality show.

He chose instead to repair a friendship with eventual winner Tom Westman of Sayville, N.Y.

“It wasn’t a question of if I could beat him,” Rosenberger said. “The thing that was nagging me was how I was going to beat him.”

He told the crowd the Scout oath and law came into mind.

“A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly ...” he said.

In addition to the Scout law, the words of Penn State’s alma mater – “may no act of ours bring shame” – played in his mind.

“Here I had a platform that 30 million people were going to see,” Rosenberger said.

Instead of coming home with $1 million, Rosenberger came home with a Corvette and is teaching kids that there are greater things to believe in.

The night included the raffle of a football signed by Steelers great Jerome Bettis, a Super Bowl hat signed by Steelers running back Willie Parker and a cruise for two.

In all, the event could raise more than $50,000.



Colleen Freyvogel can be reached at 532-5055 or cfreyvogel@tribdem.com.