A new chairman has been named for the Moore District Boy Scouts of America.

Bill Eastman is taking over from Jim Whitlock, who served in that capacity for four years.

"Bill has been a longtime supporter of Boy Scouting here in Moore County," Whitlock said. "In fact, his son, Will, was Moore County's first Eagle Scout recipient during my term as chairman."

Whitlock said Eastman is uniquely qualified for the position and underscores his track record of community service.

"Bill brings a wealth of leadership ability and community goodwill to our program and I have every confidence he and or adult leaders will continue to lead Moore County's Boy Scout program to great things," he said.

Eastman said, "I am very excited about my new role as chairman of the Moore District. I intend to build on the solid foundation of the organization establish by Jim Whitlock. As a former Scoutmaster in Troop 7, I have many fond memories of the scouting experiences I shared with Will."

Eastman is a certified financial planner and a founding partner of Eastman Palmer & Davis Wealth Management Group of Wachovia Securities. He was recently recognized by Kiplinger's Personal Financial Magazine in a feature article identifying leading North Carolina certified financial planners.

He is a native of Indiana and moved to the Sandhills in 1992 following several years in the investment banking industry in New York and San Francisco.

"I have really enjoyed the many opportunities I've had to serve this community," Eastman said.

Eastman is currently an elder at Brownson Memorial Presbyterian Church and serves on the boards of the Sandhills Children's Center and Pinetree Community Services. He is also a member and past chair of the Foundation of FirstHealth Professional Advisory Council. He and his wife, Jeanie have two children.

Richard Becker, the newly named district director, will assist Eastman in day-to-day operations. Becker served as district director in Falls District in Wake County for fours years and for three years in the Tidewater, Va., area prior to that.

He is a retired Navy veteran who served in Desert Storm. Becker and his wife, Norma, are in the process of moving to the area.

"I look forward to working with Bill," Becker said. "We will be focusing on actively growing our membership, Eagle Scout attainment and adding to our business sponsorship outreach."