Mackly twins earn Eagle Scout rank

HAMILTON — Twin brothers Jacob and Caleb Mackly earned the rank of Eagle Scout last year by completing a project to build picnic tables and benches at two locations in Hamilton.
Jacob and Caleb said they both joined the Boy Scouts to have something to do and learn valuable skills.
“I was at school one day, and they put up this flyer to join Scouts,” Caleb said. “Similar to my brother, I didn’t have much to do, so it seemed like something fun and good to get into to learn some stuff. So that’s what I did. It really proved to help me out.”
Troop 56 Scoutmaster John Sims spoke highly of their involvement in scouting over the years.
“They’ve done pretty well everything together all through scouting,” Sims said. “Sometimes, one will lead out, sometimes the other will be more of a leader. They kind of take turns each year. It’s kind of funny to watch them as twin brothers.
“But they’ve gone all the way up through the program. They’ve been active in all the service work that we do. They’re always there to help. Jacob is still active even as an assistant scoutmaster. They’ve been normal guys who’ve gone through the program, through the ups and downs.”
Sims said their projects both focused on bringing comfortable places to sit and eat to public spaces around Hamilton.
“Their projects were similar, but at different places,” Sims said. “We built tables and benches. Caleb did most of his over at the duck pond by the old SITEL building in the industrial park. They put tables and benches over there.
“Jacob did picnic tables at the canoe run at the top of the hill by the pavilion, which had gotten overgrown, so we also cleaned it up. We put another one down at the take-out place.
“They built nice tables and stained them with waterproof stain, then anchored them in the ground so if the water got up it wouldn’t carry them away or vandals wouldn’t mess with them. It was a good public works project on both accounts.”
Jacob said going through Scouts with his twin brother made things easier, albeit with a little competition.
“Having my brother in scouts made it feel a bit easier doing things because we were both together all the time when we were young,” Jacob said. “Sometimes we would compete against each other to see who could get done with something first.”
Sims said it could be tough to tell them apart, but not to tell them what to do.
“I’ve known them for years, and I can sometimes tell them apart, but most of the time, we just holler, ‘Mackly!’ and whichever one comes first, we give them a job to do!” Sims said.
Both brothers said the leadership skills they have learned have proven to be immensely beneficial in their careers.
“I need those leadership skills to work with my coworkers,” Jacob said. “I wouldn’t be able to do what I do if it wasn’t for the Scouts teaching me that.”
“That (project) was one of the main things I’ve had to lead people in, and it was fun,” Caleb said. “I enjoyed doing it, and it helped me a lot. It helped me become a better leader.”