Boy Scouts of America honors Northern Nevada leader Jim Rogers with Silver Buffalo award
Submitted by editor on Wed, 09/07/2016 - 12:31pm
The American Buffalo did not roam in Northern Nevada more than a century ago as the West was settled, but Nevada does lay claim to its own Silver Buffalo in 2016. That “Silver Buffalo” is Jim Rogers and the national honor was bestowed upon this Nevadan by the Boy Scouts of America at its 2016 National Annual Meeting held in San Diego.
Rogers was honored during the recent BSA National Convention in San Diego. Today, there are more than 800,000 adult volunteers in BSA, and Rogers has been an active volunteer leader for over 35 years.
Rogers’ Scouting assignments have ranged from being a Cub Scout Den Leader of 8 boys to Western Region President overseeing 600,000 Scouts from Texas to Montana to Guam. At the 2010 National Jamboree at Fort AP Hill, Virginia, he was Western Region chief overseeing the activities and management of 8,000 Scouts. He led summer camp trips for his three sons’ Scout troop.
Today, he serves on the National Executive Board of the Boy Scouts of America, is the national VP of BSA brand marketing, and has assumed a variety of leadership roles for the Nevada Area Council headquartered in Reno.
So it is no wonder this highest honor for adult members was bestowed on the Reno resident. Fewer than 800 men and women have received this award since its inception in 1926, and those include Boy Scouts founder Robert Baden Powell, 14 U.S. presidents, astronaut Neil Armstrong, Microsoft founder Bill Gates, race car driver Jeff Gordon, Archie Manning, Donald Rumsfeld and more. Rarified air, indeed. Recipients are civic-minded adults who have made invaluable contributions to Scouting. Honorees’ service must be national in scope.
Rogers is the former chairman and CEO of Kampgrounds of America, Inc. As a board member of KOA Care Camps for Kids, Rogers has helped raise more than $10 million to help young cancer patients and their siblings enjoy camping and outdoor experiences. He also has developed partnerships with organizations such as Cabela’s, the Children’s Oncology Camping Association and the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association so more children can enjoy the outdoors.
Besides his volunteerism, Rogers’ Scouting accomplishments are many. After attaining the rank of Eagle Scout as a teen, he also is recognized as a Distinguished Eagle Scout as an adult and Vigil Honor member of Order of the Arrow. He has been honored with the Silver Beaver and the Silver Antelope awards. He is a James E. West Fellow and has attended Wood Badge.
And Scouting is a family affair. Wife Sandy Rogers was president of the Nevada Area Council prior to Jim Roger’s presidency of NAC. She also has been honored with the Silver Beaver. Jim Rogers credits his parents for making Scouting a priority for him and his two brothers. They set the bar at the Eagle rank as Rogers attributes the personal values he holds to his parents and Scouting as his role models. Rogers acknowledged his mom and dad in accepting the honor.
Following his parents’ example, Jim and Sandy made Scouting an example for their three sons, all of whom attained the rank of Eagle.
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