Scouting, Volume 78, Number 3, May-June 1990 Page: 32
50, E1-E12, [76] p. : ill. (some col.) ; 28 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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An Award for
Excellence
BY NEWELL SCHINDLER
Photograph by Manny Rnbio
Life often takes
interesting twists in
bringing people to-
gether to satisfy var-
ious needs in their lives. This
seems to be the case with Rich-
ard "Rich" Simmons and Boy
Scout Troop 12 in Atlanta.
You see, Rich, an Eagle who
left Scouting in the mid-'60s
had a desire to return. That
way he could give back some of
what the program had given
him.
As luck would have it, he
spotted an ad in an Emory
University publication asking
for volunteer leaders for a
nearby troop at The Davison
School for learning and emo-
tionally disabled children.
Fine. With a master's degree in
physical therapy, Rich's skills
would make him a perfect can-
didate for Troop 12. So he
joined up as assistant Scout-
master and later became
Scoutmaster, a job he's now
held for three years.
Davison School Director Lucille Presnell says,
"He understands these special boys, works
within their capabilities, and is very effective in
dealing with them."
"Rich's medical background gives him added
insight into the problems of these youngsters,"
says Lake Lambert, an assistant Scoutmaster.
"He has great patience. Much more than I have.
Rich's age and maturity also make him a role
model and father figure, often lacking in the lives
of these boys."
Lake is a senior ministerial student at neigh-
boring Emory University, one of several students
lending a hand with the troop over the years. "We
gain and lose assistants as they move in and out,"
he said.
"Rich provides a stabilizing effect the troop
needs by undertaking special training such as
Wood Badge. Most of us don't have time for that
because we're heavily involved with our studies."
Recognizing his work with the Davison School
32
Rich Simmons
received
the National
President's
Scoutmaster Award
of Merit
by excelling
in five areas of
troop leadership.
You can, too.
troop and his other contribu-
tions to Scouting, especially as
a leader in adult education pro-
grams, Rich was nominated
for and received the presti-
gious National President's
Scoutmaster Award, spon-
sored by the National Eagle
Scout Association. Among its
requirements: earning the
Quality Unit Award, complet-
ing Boy Scout Leader Fast
Start and Scoutmastership
Fundamentals, and having the
majority of his Scouts attain
First Class rank. More impor-
tant, meeting these goals is re-
flected in his troop's success.
Rich confides, "I was from
a broken home. My brother
and I were raised by my
mother. Scout leaders provided
a male role model I needed.
Under that leadership I earned
my Eagle badge in 1963."
Since Rich reentered as a
leader in Scouting, he's been
unstoppable. Besides leading
Troop 12, he's served on the
Wood Badge staff for advanced Scout leader
training, on the district roundtable staff, as a unit
commissioner, and is in his third year as chair-
man of the handicap awareness trail for the an-
nual Scout Show in Atlanta. Drawing 80,000
people in one day makes it the biggest single show
of the busy World Congress Center in Atlanta.
Sara Needs, Atlanta Council's director of special
Scouting, says Rich has done "a great job of
putting together that handicap awareness trail,
especially in getting outside help."
Duncan Locke, an Atlanta Council district ex-
ecutive, points out that Rich Simmons's boys also
regularly attend camporees. "This is difficult to
do, since it means maintaining the confidence of
the school leaders, the boys, and the parents, who
are naturally concerned about their children's
safety and well-being. Not only that, at the past
spring camporee Rich was in charge of 70 leaders
and 600 Scouts at Georgia's Camp Bert Adams."
Still, Rich's No. 1 enthusiasm is his troop.
May-June 1990 rj? Scouting
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Boy Scouts of America. Scouting, Volume 78, Number 3, May-June 1990, periodical, May 1990; Irving, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth353637/m1/76/: accessed May 1, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Boy Scouts of America National Scouting Museum.