By Mary Meaux

The News staff writer

GROVES — When hundreds of volunteers descended upon Sabine Pass to help Hurricane Ike victims clean debris from their homes and yards, Erney Hunt was there.

When children are in need of a guiding hand or a shoulder to cry on, Erney Hunt is there.

When a young man, born with no arms, wanted to learn to swim and needed someone to believe in him, Erney Hunt was there.

But for Hunt, 62, his good deeds are a way of teaching young boys leadership skills and respect for themselves and others in hopes they will one day “pay it forward.”

For him, the slogan of the Boy Scouts — “do a good turn daily” — is a way of life.

Hunt has spent the past 54 years in scouting and doesn’t plan on quitting any time soon. Little issues such as cancer, weekly chemotherapy treatments and the necessity for a colostomy bag don’t get in his way.

“His compassion,” his wife of 41 years, Melba Hunt, said describing what is special about her soul mate. “His loyalty to kids he can help and mold for the future. The strength he has. He has more strength than me.”

There’s no doubt Hunt has instilled values in others. At their home in Groves Melba walked to a shelf and brought back a framed poem written by one of the scouts of Troop 86 in Groves. The child called Hunt an inspiration; a person who mends broken hearts, handles problems and solves troubles.

Some of the scouts in his troop come from broken homes and what Hunt teaches them helps in their daily life.

“Here, they learn to work together, either with kids the same age or older,” he said. “And they learn respect for older people and for others.”

Outdoor activities such as cooking eggs and bacon in a paper sack and an egg on a stick are activities the boys will take with them and teach others.

“We teach them if you can cook on an open fire then you can help your mother cook at home,” he said.

The three promises of the scouting oath — “duty to God and country, duty to other people and duty to self” are important parts of Hunt’s teachings.