Dates

• Existence: 1911 - 2010

Biography

Leonard A. "Woody" Woodward (1911-2010) was an active member of the Boy Scouts of America association for 87 years and a ham radio enthusiast.

Leonard A. "Woody" Woodward was born on October 14, 1911, to Carrie Esp Woodward and Landis Woodward in Coffeyville, Kansas. They later moved to Sand Springs, Oklahoma. In 1918, at age 8, Woody built his own radio out of scrap automobile parts. After discovering a Boy Scouts of America pamphlet and registering as a Pioneer Scout (since he lived too far away from any organized troop), he and a friend organized one of the first Cub Scout packs in the United States, getting their materials from the parent organization in the UK. This pack was influential in the process of the Cub Scout program being implemented into the existing National Boy Scout Association. Woody married Rhoda Mae Simpson of Raton, New Mexico on May 1, 1934. They had three children. Their marriage was later solemnized in the Manti Temple in 1957. Rhoda passed away in April 1987. Leonard later married Sarah Ann Hawkins who also preceded him on February 18, 2006. On February 20, 2008, Woody married Doreen Buttery at age 96. They both made statewide and national news when she was kept from leaving Canada after their honeymoon there due to complications with the immigration office. She was allowed to return to the United States just before Christmas of that year. Woody worked at Brigham Young University as an administrative supervisor until the time of his retirement. He continued to be a ham radio enthusiast for his entire life, making connections all over the world until he was known all over the world as an unofficial ambassador of America and Scouting through his radio contacts. Woody remained a registered Scouter for 87 years, making him the longest continually registered Scouter ever. In 2010, as the oldest Boy Scout in America, he opened and closed the ceremonies of the largest Eagle Scout court of honor ever. It was held during the Stadium of Fire showcase in Provo, Utah, on Independence Day, honoring over 260 new Eagle Scouts.

Woody passed away six months later, on December 25, 2010, in St. George, Utah.

Citation:

Find a Grave, via WWW, 3 February 2015 (Leonard A. "Woody" Woodward was born on October 14, 1911, to Carrie Esp Woodward and Landis Woodward in Coffeyville, Kansas; married Rhoda Mae Simpson of Raton, New Mexico on May 1, 1934; had three children; marriage was later solemnized in the Manti Temple in 1957; Rhoda passed away in April 1987; later married Sarah Ann Hawkins who also preceded him on February 18, 2006; passed away on December 25, 2010, in Saint George, Utah). American Radio Relay League, via WWW, 3 February 2015 (Leonard Woodward built his own radio in 1918; helped bring the Cub Scout program to the U.S.; organized one of the first Cub Scout packs which was influential in the process of the Cub Scout program being implemented into the National Boy Scout Association; was the “longest continuously registered Scouter"; "was known all over the world as an unofficial ambassador of America and Scouting through his radio contacts"). Qcwa.com, via WWW, 3 February 2015 (Woody and Doreen Buttery were married February 20, 2008). UPB files, 3 February 2015 (In 2010, as the oldest Boy Scout in America, he opened and closed the ceremonies of the largest Eagle Scout court of honor ever. It was held during the Stadium of Fire showcase in Provo, Utah, on Independence Day, honoring over 260 new Eagle Scouts).

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