About the Author: Randy Smith Author of the Eagle Leadership Service Project Planning Guide

Randy Smith began his Scouting career in Huntington, WV at the age of eight, when his mother volunteered to serve as a Den Mother. He completed the Cub ranks of the day: Wolf, Bear, and Lion and then earned his Arrow of Light before graduating to Boy Scout Troop 55, in 1959.  Randy enjoyed camping and rarely missed a campout (or any troop activity) during his 7 years in the troop. In fact, he was kicked off the Jr. High football team for going camping and missing one practice (priorities!) He even had the opportunity to go on a Tri-state Area Council sponsored Philmont trek in the summer of 1965 – his first backpacking outing. He was also active in the Order of the Arrow, serving on the lodge dance team and as Lodge Vice-Chief. After enjoying all aspects of troop activities, Randy earned his Eagle in 1965, just prior to his 18^th birthday.

While staying registered in the troop as an ASM during his college years, Randy was essentially inactive for many years – until his only son was Cub Scout age. He re-joined Scouting in the Longhorn Council (Ft. Worth, TX) as an Assistant Den Leader, but was soon recruited as Pack 389’s Cubmaster; a position he held for two years.

When his son earned his Arrow of Light and transitioned to Boy Scouting, Randy was persuaded to take over as Troop Committee Chairman, to fill the vacancy of the outgoing CC. As the only member of the troop’s sponsoring church, Randy also served as the Chartered Organization Representative.

As the COR, he was asked to help the troop’s first Eagle candidate with his project, which was being done for the church. This is the conception of the Eagle Scout Project Planning Guide. As several more charter members of the troop approached their 18^th birthdays, they also faced the dreaded Eagle Project and Randy was the natural choice to help these young men with that requirement. His son earned his Eagle in 1996, but Randy remained to guide several more boys through their projects, before fading from routine troop activities.

While serving as Troop Committee Chairman & COR, Randy re-discovered his love of camping and attended nearly every campout during the years his son was in the troop. He also attended the basic leader training course (Scoutmastership Fundamentals) in 1989 and was invited to take Wood Badge in the fall of 1990. He was in the Beaver patrol on course SC-401. As a Wood Badge ticket item, Randy agreed to serve on the staff of the Tejas District Scoutmastership Fundamentals course, which began his extended training staff career. He served on the district training staff for several years and, during that period, joined the District Committee as Training Chairman.

 While active in the troop during his son’s Boy Scouting days, Randy served as an adult advisor to the Charles L. Sommers Canoe Base (’90) and two Philmont Treks (’92 and ’94). He also attended the Philmont Training Center in 1998.

Randy continued serving on the district committee as both Training Chairman and Advancement Chairman, several times, each.  As Advancement Chairman, he was responsible for approving the Eagle Project plans for all Scouts in the district, as well as conducting their Eagle Boards of Review. These district positions also got him involved with the Longhorn Council’s Training and Advancement Committees. 

In 1997, Randy was invited to serve on his first Wood Badge staff (SR-210), and has staffed 7 Wood Badge courses; the last as Scoutmaster / Course Director on SR-632 in the fall of 2004.  He served on the council Wood Badge Sub-committee for two years.

Randy has held many positions in the district and council, primarily focusing on training and advancement. He has staffed various courses at the University of Scouting, Commissioner’s College, Merit Badge Colleges, Trainer Development Conference, and several supplemental adult leaders’ courses. His most recent training adventure is serving as an adult mentor on the Longhorn Council’ Twin Arrows NYLT (National Youth Leader Training Course), in summer 2008. He was presented with the District Award of Merit in 1995 and the Silver Beaver in 2000. Randy is a member of the National Eagle Scout Association. In his non-Scouting life, Randy is a project engineer for a major aircraft manufacturer.

His Eagle Scout Project Planning Guide -- which had its origin as a troop-level document with the troop’s first Eagle candidate in 1989 -- has evolved into an Internet resource available to all Scouts. The guide was first posted on the Internet in 1997 and, with input from Scouts, parents, and Scouters, has been evolving since. There are links to his website on literally hundreds of troop, district, and council websites around the country and he has received many hundreds (thousands?) of e-mails from Scouts, parents, and Scouters asking about the Eagle project.

Updated 18 May 2008