Eagle Scout Announcement

Robert A. Zeller Jr., 15, son of Robert and Barbara Zeller of Newport has achieved Boy Scouts highest rank, that of Eagle Scout. He began his scouting career in Pack 2 Fort Adams and achieved Cub Scouts highest award the Arrow of Light in 2012.

Bobby is a very active member of Boy Scout Troop 82 chartered by St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Portsmouth. He has held numerous leadership positions including Asst. Patrol Leader, Patrol Leader, Librarian, Historian, Instructor, Asst. Senior Patrol Leader, Quartermaster, Leave No Trace Trainer 2x and is serving his second term as their Senior Patrol Leader. He has served as a Den Chief for Pack 2 Fort Adams, Pack 77 Middletown, Pack 1 Portsmouth and Narragansett Council Summer Camps for multiple years. He earned the Den Chief Service Award in October 2014. He worked as a Counselor in Training at Deer Lake Scout Reservation with Connecticut Yankee Council.

Bobby has earned 123 merit badges working towards his goal of earning all 137. He has earned numerous BSA awards. His Patrol has earned the distinction of National Honor Patrol four times. He was honored with the Troop 82's Paul "Trey" Houtchens Camping Award in 2015, 2016 & 2017 and the Edward R. Judge Scoutmaster Award for Leadership in 2015.

He has completed Totin' Chit & Firem'n Chip Certifications, CPR & First Aid Certification, became a Leave No Trace Certified Trainer and completed National Youth Leadership Training. He was just asked to return as a staff member helping to teach this very important youth led week-long course.

Bobby was inducted into the Order of the Arrow --- Boy Scouting's National Honor Society in 2014 where he proudly serves as a Brotherhood Member either as an Elangomat or Staff Member providing cheerful service at nearly every event since that time including the Arrow Corps Program providing countless hours of service to Camp Yawgoog, Cachalot and Cub World. He earned the Centuries of Service Award in 2015.

Bobby earned the rank of Eagle Scout at Camp Yawgoog on July 4th 2015 at the age of 13 years and 3 months and has gone on to earn eight Eagle Palms.

His Eagle Project was a labor of love at the Fort Adams Historic Post Cemetery --- a Historic Landmark. His great-great grandparents were stationed at and are buried there. Bobby led a team of 50+ volunteers of all ages for 540 hours to install a memorial garden, re-rig the flagpole, individually photograph before and after, map and restore the 285 gravestones removing 100+ years of neglect and lichen growth.

Each year in May along with members of his Troop, his Pack, and local area veterans he works to re-flag the cemetery along with others on the island for Memorial Day.

His Eagle Court of Honor took place on August 7th, 2016 at St. Mary's among family and friends from the scouting community. Among the guests were State Senate President Teresa Paiva-Weed, Narragansett Council Chief Scout Executive Tim McCandless, Jack McCormack of the Fort Adams Trust and Reverend Canon Anne Marie Richards of Trinity Episcopal Church in Newport.

Bobby was twice inducted into the Junior National Honor Society while at Thompson. He was also a member of the Police Explorers Unit out of Newport Police Department this past year.

He is currently attending Rogers High School and the Culinary Arts Program at Newport Area Career and Technology Center as a Sophomore. He is an active member of the cross-country, indoor and outdoor track teams and stage crew.

Congratulations to Portsmouth Boy Scout Troop 82's Youngest Eagle Scout!