fordaward

Ford Award

The Robert M. Ford Award for Excellence

by Scoutmaster Douglas Aykroyd

Robert M. Ford moved to Hampton in the early 1930's from Newbury, Massachusetts where he had earned the Eagle Scout Badge in 1931. In February 1933, when the First Baptist Church of Hampton applied to Daniel Webster Council to charter a Troop of Boy Scouts, Mr. Ford was listed as the Troop's first Scoutmaster. Over the years, Mr. Ford continued to contribute to Scouting in Hampton. In 1943 Jack Boozer, the Scoutmaster, was called to active military service and Mr. Ford came back as Scoutmaster. He remained interested in Scouting and in his Troop until his death in 1996.

In 1997, in conjunction with the Troop's 65th birthday, the Troop committee decided to commemorate Mr. Ford's service to the youth of Hampton by establishing an award for Scouts and Scouters in his honor. The award, which is given to both youth and adults, recognizes achievements in the areas of service, camping, and advancement. The initial award is a 3" circular patch with the silhouette of a Scout taken from the Boy Scout Handbook used in 1933. Around the edge of the patch are the words, "ROBERT M. FORD AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE". A Scout can earn this award by performing five hours of service, spending 12 nights camping, and earning the Tenderfoot Badge and either the Wilderness Survival or Family Living Merit Badges. Additional awards are recognized by tabs which form a ring around the basic award. The tabs read: Hampton; New Hampshire; Duty to Others; Duty to Self; and, Duty to God and Country. The Duty to God and Country tab is intended to reflect the importance of religion in Mr. Ford's life. To earn this tab the Scout must earn the religious award for his faith as well as the Citizenship in the Nation Merit Badge.

The Robert M. Ford Award is awarded only once a year, normally during Scout Week in February. The first awards were made on the 12th of February 1998 at a Troop Court of Honor. Bud DesRochers was selected to receive the first award in recognition of the many years of service he has given to Troop 177. Mrs. Ford made the presentation. The Troop was honored to have Ansell Palmer, Ashton Norton, and Abbie Young present at the Court of Honor. They were all members of the Troop in 1933. They presented the award to the following Scouts and Scouters: Peter Argue, Ryan Booth, Nicholas Bridle, Eric Goethel, Eric Kulberg, Nicholas McClung, Brian Paul, Andrew Ryan, Sean Tracey, Adam Yuse, Douglas Aykroyd, Rusty Bridle, John Kulberg, and Scott McDonald.

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