On August 22,  Fisher Rector of Boy Scout 40 in Bridgeport  was awarded his final merit badges marking his distinction of having earned every merit badge available through the Boy Scouts of America.  Rector is also an Eagle Scout and a member of the Order of the Arrow – a national Scout Honor Society. 

 

Numbering 142 in all, the merit badges cover such diverse topics from American Business to Woodwork.  Included in the merit badges are four historical merit badges which the Boy Scouts brought out of retirement in 2010, in connection with the 100th anniversary of scouting in America.  These four badges include Carpentry, Path Finding, Tracking, and Signaling and they were retired at the conclusion of the centennial year of Scouting. 

 

Since becoming a Boy Scout in 2010, Rector has attended Merit Badge Universities and Colleges sponsored by various Boy Scout Councils and Troops all over the Eastern United States -- giving up many of his weekends and summer free time in order to pursue his goal.  Over the last three years, he has attended several weeks of Boy Scout Summer Camp to continue his goal to earn all of the merit badges.  Rector has also completed treks at all four of the Boy Scout’s National High Adventure Bases -- Philmont in New Mexico, Northern Tier in Canada, Florida Sea Base in the Florida Keys, and the Bechtel Summit in West Virginia.  In addition, he has participated in the National Advanced Youth Leadership Experience at Philmont and the National Boy Scout Jamboree in July of 2013, which was held at the Summit.  Rector attended the 23rd World Scout Jamboree last year in Japan.

 

While there are no official Boy Scouts of America records chronicling those Scouts who have accomplished this goal, there is a web page that has been dedicated to this singular achievement, http://www.meritbadgeknot.com.  According to its records, only 17 other Scouts have earned 142 badges in the 106 years the organization has been active in America -- this is the most merit badges a Scout has ever been able to earn.  Significantly, in order to achieve the Rank of Eagle, Scouting’s highest rank, 21 merit badges are required.  In addition to all of the merit badges, Rector has also earned several of BSA’s patches including, Kayaking, Mile Swim, Scuba, and Snorkeling.

 

Rector is 17 years old and a senior at Bridgeport High School.  In high school, he is a member of the National Honor Society, the Academic Team, the Spanish Club, and various other academic pursuits.  He is also a member of the cross-country team.  Rector is a Golden Horse Shoe winner.    

 

Rector was recognized Aug. 22 in a Boy Scouts Court of Honor held at Compton Park.