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Founder's Award

In 1981, the national committee established a new award to memorializa founder Goodman and cofounder Edson, in response to frequent requests from lodges. The Vigil Honor, once a very rare award, was now given much more frequently. With the growth of the Order over the years, many youths chosen for the Vigil Honor continued service in the Order as adults, with adults being inducted as well. Even though the ration of Vigil members remained at two percent annually, lodges continued to look for additional ways to recognize exceptional service carried out over an extended period of time.

With the death of E. Urner Goodman, the national committee decided that the time was righ to reinforce the values first established by the founders. They created the Founder's Award. It was to be available for a maximum of one arrowmen for every 500 in a lodge annually. This low number limits the award to those truly deserving.

Blue Heron is permitted to present up to two awards annually. (Each lodge is guarenteed at least two awards without regard to total membership.) If multiple awards are presented, at least one must be a youth and Blue Heron has usually presented the Founder's Award to one youth and one adult each year.

Past Founder Award Recipients:

1986 Nicholas M. Cordovana, III H. Wayne Everett
1987 Robert S. McGhee John C. Barnes, Sr.
1988 Linwood Phelps Bill West
1989 None Awarded
1990 Ronald Ehlers Si Simons
1991 William Hutchings Curtis Gibbs
1992 Robert Loftin Jeff Irving
1993 Steven R. Crawford Bill Thompson
1994 Tony Babb, Jr. John Matroni
1995 Ike Tucker Tim Parker
1996 Ben McGinnis Mike Coley
1997 David Torbert Mike Scott
1998 Troy Valos Dave Beedie
1999 Andrew Trent Al Crawford
2000 Chad Wacker G. W. Detterman
2001 Kyle Olcott Danny Hansen
2002 Matthew Goff Adam Hillard
2003 Wilfred McNiel Bill Stine
2004 Michael Clasing Terry Tucker
2005 Andrew Linke Dale Ward
2006 Wesley Parker Dennis Stewart
2007 Jerry Kane Calvin Whealton