Scout Day returned to Kauffman Stadium on Sunday, April 10 and before the Royals faced off with the Guardians, our Distinguished Eagle Scouts took the field! The presentation of the Ewing M. Kauffman Distinguished Eagle Scout Award is a Scout Day at the K tradition that honors adult Eagle Scouts for their positive contributions to the Kansas City community. This year’s recipients were recognized on the field just prior to first pitch.
Honorable Gary Cover | Judge for the 27th Judicial Circuit, Clinton Municipal Division
Gary Cover earned his Eagle Scout Rank in 1969 as a member of Troop 707 in North Kansas City, Missouri.
Gary graduated from the University of Kansas with a degree in Business Administration and a masters degree in Personnel and Labor Relations. He holds a Juris Doctorate from the University of Missouri - Kansas City.
Gary has been practicing law in Clinton, Missouri and Henry County since 1980. Currently, Gary is a partner at Cover & Hilton Law. A strong advocate for his clients, he has an impressive track record that has resulted in millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts for those he represents. He also serves as a Municipal Judge for the 27th Judicial Circuit, the Clinton Municipal Division.
Through his career Gary has served as City Attorney for several Missouri communities including Clinton, Warsaw, Cole Camp, Deepwater, Mortrose, and Urich. He is a member of the American Bar Association, Missouri Bar Association, Henry County Bar Association, American Trial Lawyers Association, and the Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys.
Gary is a strong advocate for Scouting in the Heart of America Council most notably having served on the Heart of America Council Board of Directors for nearly three decades. He is the proud father of two Eagle Scout sons.
Honorable Sam Graves | US Congressman for the 6th District of Missouri
Congressman Sam Graves earned Scouting's highest rank in 1976 when he became an Eagle Scout as a member of Troop 88 in Tarkio, Missouri.
After graduating from Tarkio High School in 1982, Congressman Graves attended college at the University of Missouri-Columbia where he received a degree in Agronomy from the School of Agriculture. He began his career as a public servant in 1992 when he was elected to serve in the Missouri House of Representatives. He would later serve as a State Senator for six years until his election to the US House of Representatives in 2000.
Congressman Graves currently serves as the Ranking Member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure where he works in advocating for improvements for Missouri’s 34,000 miles of highway and 10,400 bridges. He also serves as a member of the House Committee on Armed Services where he works to protect Missouri’s military installations and advocate on behalf of service men and women from Missouri.
Beyond his public service, Congressman Graves is a small business owner and sixth generation farmer. As a lifelong resident of Missouri’s Sixth Congressional District, Congressman Graves has spent his life working to make Missouri a better place to live, work, and raise a family.
Rick Oddo | President & CEO of Oddo Development Co.
Rick Oddo earned his Eagle Scout Rank in 1980 as a member of Troop 160 in Kansas City, Missouri.
A proud graduate of Kansas State University, Rick has a degree in Engineering and Construction Science along with being a graduate of the Executive MBA program through the Harvard Business School.
Professionally, Rick is the President and CEO of Oddo Development Company. With over 35 years of experience in construction and development, he is primarily responsible for the strategic goals of the company focusing on land development and designing new communities.
In Scouting, Rick headed Troop 396 as Scoutmaster through the Church of the Nativity in Leawood, Kansas.
Rick and his wife are the proud parents of two daughters and an Eagle Scout son.
Ron Shaffer | Principal Architect of RLS Architects
Ron Shaffer reached the pinnacle of Scouting in 1967 when he earned his Eagle Scout as a member of Troop 46 in Kansas City, Kansas.
Ron attended college at Kansas State University where he earned a degree in Architecture. Professionally, he serves as the Principal Architect at his firm, RLS Architects and has more than 40 years’ experience in architectural design. As a registered architect in Kansas and Missouri, he has worked on projects ranging from residential to commercial to governmental and beyond in over 30 states and has been recognized by his peers in Kansas City as the Architect of the Year for his work. Ron is a leader in his field serving as a member of the National Council of Architectural Registration Board, the American Institute of Architects, and the International Codes Council.
Ron is a tested leader in his community, having served on the Prairie Village City Council for 10 years and as Mayor of Prairie Village for 16 years before serving as a Johnson County Commissioner. Through three decades of service in the region, Ron has worked to cultivate and enhance the communities in northern Johnson County.
Beyond his elected roles, Ron has been heavily engaged in his community serving on the board of directors for several organizations including as the Chair of the Mid America Regional Council, Chair of the National Association of Regional Councils, and Chair of the Johnson & Wyandotte Counties Council of Mayors.
Ron and his wife of 50 years, Jeannine, have called Prairie Village home for nearly four decades.
The Heart of America Council established the Ewing M. Kauffman Distinguished Eagle Scout Award in cooperation with the Kauffman Foundation in 2010. The award recognizes adult Eagle Scouts who have excelled in their careers and have provided exemplary service to their community within the Heart of America Council territory. Ewing M. Kauffman earned his Eagle badge in 1932 as a member of Boy Scout Troop and Ship 100 at Faxon School in Kansas City, Missouri. Mr. Kauffman was active in Scouting throughout his life.