Gardener earns Eagle Scout honors
James Gardner, son of Wendell and Beth Gardener received Boy Scouting's top honor on Nov. 12 at Bullard Southern Baptist Church Family Life Center.

Gardner, who is a junior at Bullard High School, has been in scouting since the first grade and has recently completed all of the requirements to obtain Boy Scouting's highest rank - that of Eagle Scout.

Research by the local troop reflects that Gardner is the first Eagle Scout from Bullard Troop 366 since 1989 when Perry Speaker earned the award.

The troop dissolved shortly after Perry received his award and was only re-chartered about nine years ago - with the assistance of many local people.

According to Wikipedia, an online information source, "Eagle Scouts are expected to set an example for other scouters and to become leaders in life . As such, they are disproportionately represented in the military, service academy graduates, major professions, business and politics."

Only five percent of all scouts who begin scouting reach the level of Eagle Scout. Some who have reached the rank include: Ellison Onizuka, who was an astronaut on the 1986 Challenger mission; Stephen Spielberg; Lloyd Bentsen; William McCool, astronaut on the Columbia shuttle; Donald Rumsfeld, Former President Gerald Ford; Neill Armstrong, Apollo 11; H. Ross Perot; and James Lovell Jr., Apollo 13.

Part of obtaining the Eagle Rank requires completion of a community service project. James chose his as one to lead a group of 40 people - over the course of one Saturday - to paint 21 fire hydrants in Bullard's downtown area.

This repainting was at the request of the Bullard Volunteer Fire Department, making it easier for the department to identify the location of hydrants.

James is in the Bullard High School band; was a member last year of the Bullard junior varsity basketball team, is currently ranked number one academically in his class and is active in his church, Vanderbilt Baptist.

He plans to attend the University of Texas, majoring in engineering, after he graduates BHS.