We all have heroes, people to whom we look for exemplary qualities and behavior. As a boy growing up in North Lewisburg, I had my share of heroes. In the past, I have written here about many of them. Now, I am taking this opportunity to write about two others. In this blog, and in  others of a similar nature yet to come, I hope to be able to express my gratitude for those folks who have been inspirations to me.       Robert Eldon "Skipper" Lantz, was a tall guy - tall at least to my pre-teen eyes as we encountered each other on Sycamore Street, or at school. We lived just five houses apart as we were growing up 'back in the day.' I saw him quite often, especially after I was 8 years old. His mother, Mary Jane, became one of my Cub Scout leaders. Our den met in her house, and  she accompanied us on our various outings and activities around town.  Skip was generally close-at-hand.       He was about a year older than me, and taller in stature. He had a full head of wavy, blonde hair, and a perpetual smile on his face. There was a gleam in his eyes, which probably came from the thoughts which were circulating in his mind. He was a fun-loving guy, known for his humor and also for his practical jokes. As a boy, he was the natural leader of those of us who lived in the neighborhood. More than once we followed him on excursions through the woods and creek beds of town. He led us on many spontaneous assaults through the water and onto the sandbars which abounded in Spain Creek. We were victorious in each encounter.       Skipper and I developed a close kinship through our activities in Boy Scout Troop 87, let by Scoutmaster John J. Tomlin. One year, Skipper and I were "tapped out" as candidates for the prestigious Order of the Arrow organization. There was an elaborate ceremony, with Native American dances around a large bonfire on the old Shawnee grounds in Logan County. As part of the ritual, all of the boys who were "tapped out" were led away from the crowded...