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Robert McKay has 133 merit badges, soon to have 135
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Eagle Scout Robert McKay and his father, Trumbull County Common Pleas Judge W. Wyatt McKay, at the Arrowhead District’s Friends of Scouting Breakfast Monday at Leo's Ristorante in Howland. Robert, 17, is one of fewer than 200 in Boy Scouts of America history to earn 133 merit badges — and he expects to complete requirements for his final two in a few weeks.
WARREN
Eagle Scout Robert McKay’s biggest booster as he earned the highest number of merit badges possible was his father, Trumbull County Common Pleas Judge W. Wyatt McKay.
Robert, a junior at Cortland’s Lakeview High School, is one of fewer than 200 in Boy Scouts of America history to earn 131 merit badges, previously the highest possible number.
But, because of a nine-month window, April 1 to Dec. 31, 2010, Scouting’s centennial year, Boy Scouts could earn four vintage merit badges, making 135 the highest number possible.
Robert, 17, has 133 merit badges in hand and expects to complete requirements for his final two in a couple of weeks, which would, according to the Arrowhead District of the Greater Western Reserve Council, give him the first- or second-highest number ever.
He was recognized Monday and applauded by a room full of Scouting supporters, including his dad, who was keynote speaker at the Arrowhead District’s Friends of Scouting Breakfast, “A Second Century of Scouting,” at Leo’s Ristorante.
Some badges took time, sometimes more than a year, to complete — plus the endurance to overcome inclement weather and other obstacles, said Judge McKay, who accompanied his son on most of his merit-badge adventures.
For example, while they were at Algonquin Lake in Ontario, Canada, working on Robert’s canoeing merit badge, there were very large, voracious mosquitoes at the toilet, which was basically a box with a lid, Judge McKay said. The mosquitoes seemed to sense when someone was there and attacked — making it imperative to leave in a hurry. The noise of the lid slamming down led to the nickname “Thunder Clapper,” he said.
“On that same trip, we got to watch a moose feeding from about 20 yards. That’s what Scouting is all about,” Judge McKay said.
When does Robert have fun when he is working all the time on merit badges?
Judge McKay said Robert has been snowboarding, camping in many venues, water skiing, canoeing in Canada and whitewater rafting in West Virginia. That’s fun, his father said.
Robert, a member of Boy Scout Troop 4050 sponsored by Bazetta Christian Church, also has received 12 Palm awards. A Palm is an award for Eagle Scouts who stay active in their units for at least three months and have earned at least five additional merit badges beyond those required for Eagle or their last Palm.
“It’s unbelievable,” his father said.
Robert, who had played clarinet in middle school, said during a question-and-answer period that his bugling merit badge was “by far” the most difficult to achieve.
“It was also long and loud,” his father said.
Among his favorite merit badges are scuba diving, astronomy, space exploration, surveying, environmental science and electricity, Robert said.
He said his father was “very instrumental in my achieving my goal. He drove me all over and participated in most of my merit-badge requirements.”
His mother, Andrea, and sister, Casey, 14, both said they are very proud of their son and brother.
Robert, who plans to study astrophysics in college, is a member of his high school drama club and National Honor Society and the St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Church in Cortland.
Robert said Scouting has given him a chance to inspire others, as his Scoutmaster, Steve Brown, and Cub Pack 50 Cubmaster, Jim Jastatt, did for him.
He said his father and Brown have been the greatest influences in his life.
Working together on the merit badges has drawn father and son closer together.
“I draw a lot of my inspiration from him. He is a very good father and moral compass,” Robert said.