By April Rodgers | FreeWire Your News Your Voice
When Russell Gee walked into his Eagle Scout Court of Honor, he was not just accepting a rank. He was stepping into a tradition decades in the making.
Eagle Scout is the highest achievement in Scouting and only a small percentage of youth ever earn it. For Russell, the moment carried even greater meaning. He is now the third generation in his family to receive the award, joining an impressive line of five Eagle Scouts.
Scouting has shaped the Gee and Snyder family for more than forty years. His grandparents, Carl and Yvonne Snyder, entered the program with their twin sons, Jeremy and Jason, and both boys earned Eagle in 1994. Yvonne became the first female assistant Scoutmaster in their council and spent years helping train leaders and support Scouts in the community. The family’s Eagle tradition also includes Russell’s great uncle Mark Schneider, who earned Eagle in 1977, and his cousin Ryan Schneider, who earned Eagle in 2004.
Russell grew up surrounded by Scouting. His mother, Melissa Gee, has served as a den leader, camp staff member, camp director, and trainer for new parents. She now leads Troop 106 as Scoutmaster. His father, Joe, was also active as a den leader for Russell’s older brothers. Russell was attending Scout camp before he could walk, often riding in a hiking backpack as his parents volunteered.
Earning Eagle requires at least 21 merit badges including 14 required ones. Russell achieved a total of 36 merit badges. His very first one was Wilderness Survival which also happened to be the first badge earned by his uncles Jeremy and Jason.
For his Eagle Scout service project, Russell chose a project that reflects the compassion he has carried since childhood. He partnered with Broken Arrow, a nonprofit organization that supports individuals with disabilities. Russell proposed and built a half mile accessible nature trail on private wooded property used by clients and families. He created a new bridge, cleared the trail, and built picnic tables, benches, and a campfire ring. The trail offers a quiet and cost free place for families to enjoy the outdoors, and a golf cart provides access for those unable to walk the path.
The project required months of planning, budgeting, fundraising, and keeping detailed records. Russell led volunteers from Troop 6106 as they cleared brush and built the structures needed to complete the area. When the project was finished, he hosted a campfire program to thank donors, volunteers, and Broken Arrow’s clients. The evening included songs, skits, and a celebration of the work that brought the trail to life.
Not everything went smoothly. At one point, a large tree fell across a section of the trail that had already been cleared, forcing Russell to redo part of the path. He later said that the experience was part of the learning process and made the accomplishment even more meaningful.
Looking back on his journey, Russell said earning Eagle is difficult to put into words because it represents years of effort, leadership, and community service. It is something he says he has worked most of his life to achieve.
With his badge now earned, Russell becomes the fifth Eagle Scout in his family and the newest link in a legacy that continues to shape leaders and strengthen the community.
It’s a milestone that reflects years of commitment, service, and leadership.
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Congratulations Russell Gee!
Congratulations Russell! I was part of your Eagle Board of Review and you did an excellent job of conveying what Scouting has meant to you. However, I didn’t know the family history of Eagles in your family! Congrats again and remember, you’ll always be an Eagle!