It's pretty pristine here in the Woods. No highrises, no houses, not even any outhouses, hence the need to do our "business" outside. So there certainly isn't anything like a Hall of Fame for the many Valorous Bruins and Notorious Ursids out there. But there is a place where the trees have been scratched and, uh, marked, in honor of those worthy individuals who have done the most to uphold the Bear Necessities. Naturally, the singer of that song should be the first to receive such a tree.
Phil Harris was a modestly famous singer and radio performer back in the 30s, but he is best remembered as the voice of Baloo in Disney's adaptation of The Jungle Book. He also played another Disney bear, Little John from Robin Hood. As if that wasn't enough, he had a song called The Preacher and the Bear, about a preacher who skips church to go fishing and gets himself chased up a tree.

"Oh, Lord, didn't you deliver
Daniel from the lion's den?
Also deliver Jonah
From the belly of the whale and then,
Three little children from the fiery furnace,
So the Good Books do declare.
Now Lord, if you can't help me,
For goodness' sake, don't you help that bear!"

He also performed one of my favorite old-timey tunes, a hilarious song called The Thing, about a thing in a box. Seriously. Of course, The Bear Necessities is one of the greatest tunes of all time, and Baloo the epitome of bearhip.

"Wherever I wander, wherever I roam
I couldn't be fonder of my big home
The bees are buzzin' in the tree
To make some honey just for me
When you look under the rocks and plants
And take a glance at the fancy ants
Then maybe try a few"

Phil Harris passed away in 1995.