A Scout is a friend to all. He is a brother to other Scouts. He offers his friendship to people of all races and nations, and respects them even if their beliefs and customs are different from his own.
No one understands the need to be friendly like Reidsville's Dr. Paul Mabe. "I think it's one of the pillars of healing." Said Mabe. "We have to let each other know we are friends. How we react to each other is one of the most important things in the healing process."
Long before Paul Mabe was a doctor, he was a boy scout. He joined a troop at the First Baptist Church in Morganton, North Carolina. Sites such as Linville Gorge and Lake James lured his troop outside. "It's one of the most beautiful areas in the state," says Mabe.
Outings helped him develop a love of nature and Boy Scouts activities. While a difficulty in finding a qualified counselor for Lifesaving Merit Badge prevented him from receiving his Eagle Badge, he had laid the foundation that helped him build as a man. "Never a day goes by that I'm not in some way drawing on something that I learned in scouting. I have tried to base my directions in life on what scouting has laid down for being a good citizen and reaching out to one's fellow man."
After serving in World War 2, Mabe attended Duke Medical School and set up practice in Reidsville, North Carolina. He retired after several decades but never slowed down. In 1998 he organized and started a free medical and dental clinic in Reidsville. And he continues to exemplify the Friendly pillar of scouting. "I look back at those years and see former patients all over. It's like old home," says Mabe. "They are friendly."
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Dr. Paul Mabe is Friendly
