In November 2006 at the meeting of the Board of Trustees, Boone and Peggy Powell and Dave and Carol Eaton were recognized by unanimous consent of the Board’s Executive Committee with the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
Boone Powell and Carol Eaton have served on the Board of Trustees for more than two decades. In partnership with their spouses, Peggy Powell and Dave Eaton, these couples have “consistently demonstrated what it means to be faithful stewards in Christ by using their time, treasure and talent, selflessly and wisely to advance the cause of Christ,” said Young Life President Denny Rydberg in his commendation.
Boone and Peggy Powell
A “lifetime” award is no exaggeration of the Powells’ life-long love of Young Life. In 1952, when Boone Powell was 15 years old, a professor at Southern Methodist University offered to pay half of his $35 fee and deliver him to camp if his parents consented. Boone and so many other boys accepted the offer that this professor made two trips driving boys in his station wagon from Dallas to Frontier Ranch, then in only its second year of operation.
And so began Boone’s relationship with Young Life. He returned to camp five more summers in leadership roles, and later he led a club in Waco, Texas. Since that time, Boone, retired president of the Baylor Health Care System and former Young Life Board chairman, and wife, Peggy, have supported Young Life in Texas and throughout the world.
“Boone and Peggy have been investing in this mission for longer than many of our staff have been alive,” Rydberg said. “Their roots run deep in Dallas, and their arms reach wide around the world. Crooked Creek Ranch would not exist without them, and you’ll find their generous fingerprints on many other properties as well.”
The Powells’ son, Mark, shared remarks on behalf of his wife, brother-in-law and sisters, Crystal and Cari, Mark said of his parents, “The ultimate role model is our Lord and Savior, but to the extent there are strong, earthly examples, we couldn’t have asked for better ones than Mom and Dad.”
The Powells have no plans of retiring from the ministry of Young Life even after more than 50 years of service. “You never ‘out-age’ Young Life. There’s always a place for someone who loves teenagers in Young Life,” Boone said.
Carol and Dave Eaton
Carol and Dave Eaton are examples of people who love teenagers — so much so that for 23 years, the Eatons held the Sunnyslope High School club in their Phoenix, Ariz., home. Tens of thousands of kids and leaders have come through the doors of the Eatons’ home.
Carol and Dave began dating as high school seniors in Phoenix, and their involvement with Young Life began at Wheaton College where they participated in Young Life leadership. After college, Carol served on staff for two years in Minneapolis, Minn., while Dave attended Stanford Law School.
When they returned to Phoenix, the Eatons continued their ministry and service to Young Life. Rydberg said of them, “Dave and Carol are two of the reasons the Sunbelt is so bright. For decades, they have helped anchor Young Life in Arizona, starting and serving on numerous committees, hosting club, bringing Lost Canyon from conception to reality and impacting more lives than we could possibly count.”
The Eatons’ personal ministry through Young Life will continue over the next years as they launch another committee in a growing community outside of Phoenix. “Seeing the need of the kids draws me back,” Carol said. “In every generation, kids are looking for the same thing. They are sheep without a shepherd.”
Young Life is profoundly grateful for the service and sacrifice of Boone and Peggy Powell and Dave and Carol Eaton, and these great friends of the mission accept the honor humbly. As Carol said, “We think Young Life has added much more to our lives than we’ve been able to give to it.”