Darden Gala

The Citizen Scouter of the Year award is named for a great Virginian who gave of himself to the community and through public service throughout his life.  Colgate W. Darden, Jr. accepted the responsibility of public service gladly and served as Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, as delegate to the General Assembly, as United States Congressman, and as Delegate to the United Nations. Committed to education, he was Chancellor of the College of William and Mary and President of the University of Virginia.

Governor Darden loved Scouting. Twice he served as President of Tidewater Council, Boy Scouts of America (1938-1941 and 1960-1961), the only man ever to serve two nonconsecutive terms.

Over the years, he was a major benefactor of Scouts, Scout camps, and the Scouting program. He believed that exposure to Scouting makes a difference in the life of a young person. The development of leadership for the future of the Commonwealth and the Nation was one of Darden’s hopes. In his view, Scouting gave young people the opportunity to develop those leadership skills so necessary to successful public service.

For his services to youth, Darden received the Southern Region, Boy Scouts of America, Silver Antelope Award and the Council’s Silver Beaver Award. It is in his honor and memory that the Colgate W. Darden, Jr. Award for Citizen Scouter of the Year is presented to a leading citizen annually.