Virginia Beach, Va. – Dr. Larry W. Ritter has been recognized as a Living Legend of Tidewater Council. He was honored by Tidewater Council, Boy Scouts of America, at its Recognition Banquet on May 15, 2024, at the Khedive Shrine Center in Chesapeake.

The Living Legends of Tidewater Council award recognizes well-known living volunteers who have generously given untold amounts of their time, resources, and talents to the Scouting program. Tidewater Council’s service area encompasses the Virginia cities of Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Virginia Beach, and seven northeastern North Carolina counties.

Ritter began his Scouting life as a Cub Scout in 1955 and achieved his Eagle Scout rank in 1962 in Hughesville, Pennsylvania. He also earned his Lutheran Religious Award, Pro Deo Et Patria. Ritter went on a trek to Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico in 1963. He was active in the Order of the Arrow (OA) and served on the waterfront summer staff at Camp Kline in Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania.

Ritter began his adult Scouting career while a student, serving as an assistant Scoutmaster in Philadelphia. In 1981, he became a unit commissioner in the Pine Tree Council of Maine, eventually becoming the council commissioner in 1997. During that time, he was a Cubmaster in Freeport, district training chair, district chair, associate lodge advisor for the OA’s Madackawanda Lodge, and High Adventure trip leader.

He served on staff at seven National Jamborees and a World Jamboree. He is a Wood Badge Fox and a Vigil Honor OA member. He has received the District Award of Merit and the Silver Beaver Award.

Since 2013, Ritter has been an assistant council commissioner at the Tidewater Council. He has served on several University of Scouting staffs. He completed the 21st Century Wood Badge course in 2017, earned the Doctorate of Commissioner Science,  received the Cliff Dochterman Award for service to Rotary and Scouting, and his BSA 50-year Veteran pin. A long-time Rotarian, He helped advance the Rotary Club of Hampton Roads’ improvement efforts to Cabin “C” at Pipsico Scout Reservation.

Ritter served in the U.S. Army, serving as a First Lieutenant and rising to a Captain. Since serving in the U.S. Army, Ritter has worked as a private practice optometrist. He practiced in Roanoke, Virginia, then Freeport, Maine, for 34 years and finally returned to Virginia in 2012. He is particularly interested in children’s vision and vision-related learning problems.

He holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Pennsylvania State University, a Doctor of Optometry from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry, and a Master of Science in Physiological Optics from the University of Houston College of Optometry. He is a Fellow Emeritus in the American Academy of Optometry and the College of Optometrists in Vision Development. He is a member of the Virginia Optometric Association and the Tidewater Optometric Society. He has two sons; one is a Life Scout, and the other is an Eagle Scout.

Ritter received the Living Legend of Tidewater Council honor alongside fellow Scout leaders Mick Meyer and Bob Robins, both of Virginia Beach.