[HEATH – Sept. 12, 2013] Earning an Eagle Scout award from the Boy Scouts of America has always been quite an accomplishment for a young man and his parents. It requires a great deal of hard work, discipline and a comparatively few Boy Scouts actually ever achieve the rank.
So it is absolutely remarkable when all six sons in one family earn their Eagle Scout awards, which was achieved Aug. 25 when the youngest and sixth son of Heath City Manager Ed Thatcher and his wife, Debrah, received his Eagle at a Court of Honor at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon).
Logan Thatcher, 18, a recent Rockwall-Heath High School graduate and former varsity golf team member for several years, earned 22 merit badges, was a Venturer member of Crew 157 and attended Camp Constantin on Possum Kingdom Lake on his way to earning his award. For his required service project, he installed warning plaques on storm drains in Heath.
He will attend Brigham Young University-Idaho in Rexburg ID this fall and plans to serve a voluntary two-year mission for his Church after completing two semesters there.
His friend and Heath High senior, Barrett Thompson, 17, also received his Eagle in the ceremony. His service project was to gather and donate movies and video games to help build a media game room for children who are patients at Medical City Children’s Hospital in Dallas. Barrett said his father is a physician there and Barrett frequently saw kids who were bored and had too much time to think. He felt inspired to complete the project to make them happy.
Logan said he knew one day he would be an Eagle Scout because his five brothers earned their Eagle rank and he always had the same expectation of himself.
“I have learned leadership skills that will go with me and help me on my mission and in college and throughout life,” he explained. “One of the important things I learned is how to work with others to accomplish things. I also learned how important others are to me in order for me to progress and actually earn the Eagle Scout award.”
“If all of my Boy Scout friends and adult leaders who showed up and helped me with my Eagle project had not participated, it would have been next to impossible to accomplish the service project. I am really grateful for all the help and I have committed to help others when they do their projects.”
His five older brothers earned their Eagles while in their teens between 1992 and 2013. The Thatchers said they raised their six sons to become Eagle Scouts because the Boy Scout program teaches hard work, leadership, and the importance of staying active, being involved in good activities and keeping themselves morally and physically clean. It is also the adopted activity for the boys of their church.
“As the boys parents we felt it was important for our boys to be Cub Scouts and then Boy Scouts and to work hard to attain the rank of Eagle,” they said. “The Boy Scout program helped our boys increase their confidence – they learned they were able to accomplish hard tasks. What they learned and the experiences they gained by being a Boy Scout has helped them obtain college degrees, learn foreign languages and ultimately succeed by getting employment and becoming a contributing citizen of our country.”
“As each one of the boys earned their Eagle Award, that award served as motivation for the younger brothers to also attain the award. The Boy Scout program is the adopted activity for the young men in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and, as active members in this Church, our sons were presented with the challenge to earn their Eagles.”
The Thatchers said they encouraged and participated with their sons to help them stay active and motivated in scouting.
Mother Debbie served as a Cub Scout den leader, while father Ed served as Scoutmaster for several years and attended many of his sons’ camp-outs, as well as each of the boys’ week-long summer camps. He is a Woodbadge-trained adult leader, served on the Tawakoni District Committee for several years and currently serves on the East Trinity Trails Committee. As an adult scout, he has earned the Silver Beaver Award and District Award of Merit.
Besides earning Eagle Scout awards, Logan’s five older brothers all served two-year missions for their Church, graduated from college and are now working professionally and raising their own families.
Benjamin Thatcher was the first son to earn his Eagle, Oct. 4, 1992, at the age of 14. At the time he was a freshman at Greenville High, a member of Troop 326, a member of the Order of the Arrow, earned 23 merit badges and attended Camp Strake, Camp Cherokee and Philmont Scout Ranch in NM. For his service project he provided age-appropriate educational material and toys for the nursery program of his church.
He served a two-year church mission to France, obtained a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Utah, a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of North Texas and works currently as Assistant City Manager in Southlake TX.
Current Rockwall County Assistant District Attorney Jonathan Thatcher was the second son to earn his Eagle, Jan. 3, 1997, when he was 16 and a junior at Greenville High. He was an Explorer Scout of Post 326, a member of the Order of the Arrow, earned 24 merit badges and attended Camps Grayson, Cherokee, Constantin and Philmont. He acquired and installed a permanent lighted flag pole and plaque at his church in Greenville for his service project.
He served a two-year mission to Switzerland – Geneva, obtained his Bachelor’s Degree from Brigham Young University in Provo UT and his Doctor of Juris Prudence or law degree from Texas Wesleyan Law School in Ft. Worth.
The third Eagle Scout was Christopher Thatcher, who received it in a joint Court of Honor with his brother, Jon, in 1997, at the age of 15 when he was a freshman at Greenville High. A Varsity Scout member of Team 326 and member of the Order of the Arrow, he earned 28 merit badges and attended Camps Cherokee, Constantin, Grayson and Philmont. He coordinated a Christmas tree recycling program for the City of Greenville (Greenville Recycles) in 1995.
He next served a two-year mission to Mexico – Tampico, earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Phoenix and currently works as a Municipal Court clerk in Plano TX.
Joshua Thatcher, the fourth son to earn his Eagle, was also 15 and a freshman at Greenville High when he received his award Jan. 10, 1998. He earned 24 merit badges, was a Varsity Scout member of Team 326, belonged to the Order of the Arrow, plus attended Camps Cherokee, Constantin, Grayson and Philmont. He acquired and placed reference books and materials in the Greenville Family History Library of his church.
He served as a missionary for two years in Italy – Catania, obtained his undergraduate degree from BYU and then his medical degree from Texas Tech University School of Medicine. He is now a doctor in residency at Boston University Hospital.
Fifth son, Cameron Thatcher, received his Eagle May 14, 2003, when he was 17 and a senior at Greenville High. He was a Venturer member of Crew 326, a Member of the Order of the Arrow, earned 21 merit badges and attended Camps Cherokee, Constantin, Grayson and Philmont. For his service project he provided appropriate educational materials and toys for the nursery program of his Church.
He served a two-year mission to the Ukraine -Kyiv, received his undergraduate degree from BYU-Idaho and is currently an investment banker for Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) in Dallas.
By J.J. Smith, TheRockwallNews.com.
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