Eagles by the Dozen

As I mentioned earlier, the highest rank a boy can achieve in Scouting is Eagle. This award can take from 2 to 6 years to accomplish. While the ratio of boys who join the Boy Scouts and achieve Eagle is about 5-7 percent, in Dad’s troops, those that ratio seemed much higher. It is likely that in his 16 years as Scoutmaster Dad has lost the exact count of those who achieved this rank under his leadership, none of us will ever forget the day he had 12 Eagles at one Court of Honor.

This milestone was not a planned event. Dad did not sit with his troop and intimate that 12 of them should be Eagles at the same time. Rather, it was a happy coincidence that so many boys of diverse ages were able to coordinate their advancement to Eagle at the same time.

Danny Harris was probably barely 14 and the youngest of the bunch to achieve Eagle. Pat Gillett or Brad Fullenbach was probably nearing 18. 

There were two sets of brothers, Danny and Jim Harris and Scott and Lyle Seavers. 

Perhaps most important to Dad was his own son Matt having been one of the 12.

As Dad was planning the date for the massive Eagle Court of Honor, parents contacted the Fremont Argus, the local newspaper, and they were present at the Court of Honor to take his picture and write up a brief article.

But more important than the press coverage was the opportunity to have Elder Marion D. Hanks, a member of the 70, in attendance. Elder Hanks was already in the Bay Area organizing a stake somewhere and word got to him of the great accomplishment of 12 Eagles. He asked if he could attend and the ward was thrilled to have him there. 

With one of the Eagles was David Nicolaysen, our Stake President’s son, Elder Hanks was not only invited to attend, be us consented to speak as well.

When word got out that a General Authority would be speaking at this Eagle Court of Honor, the cultural hall filled with ward and stake members, and representatives from other troops and the Mission Peak Scouting District. This was one of Dad’s finest moments and a tribute to his years of leadership and caring for so many boys.