This afternoon at the Golden Gate Area Council’s Volunteer Celebration, seven Eagle Scouts from the GGAC were recognized with NESA Outstanding Eagle Scout Award (NOESA). The NOESA was established during the BSA’s 100th Anniversary in 2010, with the first recipient to receive the award a year later. The award was created to recognize notable Eagle Scouts who had performed distinguished service at the local, state, or regional level or were known nationally but had not yet met the 25-year tenure as an Eagle for the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award.
This afternoon GGAC NESA Chairman Calvin Masuda (1973) and GGAC NESA Events Charmain Steve Rodriggs (1980) recognized: Mike Fujumoto (1960), Michael Lennox (1985), John Minney (1950), Colby Powell (1990), Steve Patrick Rodriguez (1987), Steve H. Rodriguez (1959), and Frank Starn (1976). These seven gentlemen make up the GGAC‘s third class of NOESAs. You can view the Golden Gate Area and its legacy councils NOESA honorees on eagles.ggacbsa.org.
Mike Fujumoto Eagle Class of 1960
Eagle Scout Michael “Fuji” Fujimoto is a legend and a gem in the Golden Gate District, due to his strong character and contributions as an Eagle Scout.
As a 2nd generation San Franciscan, Mike witnessed the impact his late father had on Troop 29 as one of their earliest Scoutmasters in Japan Town. However, Mike chose to be a scout in Troop 12 instead – another Asian-centric troop with deep roots in the City. It was in Troop 12 in 1960 where Fuji earned the rank of Eagle.
There are many worthy contributions that Fuji has made as an Eagle to the Golden Gate District, and to the legacy San Francisco Bay Area Council as well as to the National BSA. Mike made his mark at the Philmont Scout Ranch, New Mexico, because he was featured in a BSA national video that was filmed at the Philmont Training Center. Mike was a Wood Badge Troop Guide, and on Wood Badge staff, ready with his guitar, a booklet of Scout tunes and ready to sing with Rose Godfrey and Austin Graham at his side. In 2002, Mike received the District Award of Merit, and in 2005 he received the Council Silver Beaver Award.
Despite having been in a Japanese Encampment as a very young child, Mike shared with his community, Asian Troops, and Packs what it means to truly care about our youth. For many years, Fuji supported Asian troops that chose to go to Japan to climb Mt Fuji and do community service with a brother troop in Japan. Mike was instrumental in organizing local camping weekends with Asian Troops (T12, T29, T3 and T58). Mike supported the committee for the 100th Anniversary of Troop 3 in SF Chinatown with over 200 guests, as well as the STEM committee for the 2011 NorCal Jamboree.
As District Training Chair, Mike never said no when training staff was needed. His outdoor cooking techniques for new Cub Leaders became legendary, along with his help at roundtables and as an active Unit Commissioner.
Micahel Lennox Eagle Class of 1985
When Eagle Scout Michael recited the Eagle Scout Promise for the first time in 1985, he had no idea that those words would later describe who he is. He has made his “status and influence count strongly for better Scouting and his community.” Michael has spent the last fourteen years as a registered leader in the Golden Gate Area and San Francisco Bay Area Councils. His re-engagement with Scouting came as service to Pack 943, as Tiger Coach, Den Leader and Assistant Cub Master. He continues to give his time at the unit level as Scoutmaster of Troop 2998 and Troop 998. Michael was instrumental in starting Troop 2998, one of the first female troops in the council, which advanced four members of GGAC’s Inaugural Class of Female Eagle Scouts, one being his daughter.
Michael’s service is not exclusive to the unit level. He is a recipient of the District Award of Merit in 2014 and was a member of the Twin Valley District Operating Committee for twelve years. March 2023 will mark his ninth year as the District Training Chair. When the Council Training Committee called, Mike stepped up, giving time as a full-time committee member, and currently serving as the Council’s EDGE Chair.
Michael has done his “best to make his training an example” by earning multiple training awards, highlighted by the Scoutmaster’s Award of Merit, the Scoutmaster’s Key, and District Committee Key. He completed Wood Badge in 2012 and continues to serve on the Twin Valley’s Introduction Outdoor Leader Skills “Blue Oak” staff.
As is typical with many Eagle Scouts, Michael fails to add the word “NO” to his vocabulary. Not only does he serve as an Eagle Advisor within his units, but has recently taken on the responsibility of being Eagle Coordinator in the city of Pleasanton, doing his best to grow the Eagle’s Nest with quality candidates, while leading by example as a Lifetime National Eagle Scout Association member. Michael fully embodies the meaning of the Eagle Scout Promise.
John Minney Eagle Class of 1950
Eagle Scout Judge John Minney is an Oakland, California native, and earned his Eagle Scout award in 1950 as a member of Troop 56 when he was 17 years old. John’s way of living embodies the characteristics that Scouting seeks to impart to scouts. No matter where he goes, he seeks to be of maximum service, and do whatever needs to be done.
John graduated from Castlewood High School in Oakland and attended Yale University, and then attended Boalt School of Law (now known as UC Berkeley School of Law)After completing law school, John has held numerous position, including support to the California Franchise Tax Board, opening his private practice, becoming a partner in the law firm Wagoner, Lynch and Minney, appointed to the Municipal Court of Contra Costa County by Governor Ronald Reagan; and appointed to the Superior Court of Contra Costa County by Governor George Deukmejian.
Outside of work, John was involved in the Oakland Historical Society, and became the Society’s President supporting numerous restoration and preservation refforts in his hometown of Moraga.
After retiring, John became a deacon at his Church; and serves an alternate on the Contra Costa Civil Grand Jury, as well as a member of the Juvenile Justice Commission.
Lastly, Judge Minney is a member of Las Aguilas de Diablo, an organization of adult Eagle Scouts, and regularly attends the group’s annual Eagle Recognition Dinner where he sponsors new Eagle Scouts.
Colby Powell Eagle Class of 1990
Eagle Scout Andrew “Colby” Powell enjoyed scouting while growing up, during which, he attended the 1987 World Scout Jamboree. Fast forward to present day, Colby served as a Committee Member and Assistant Scout Master in Troop 219 and served as Merit Badge Counselor for five years. He also supported Troop 409, as Cubmaster of Cub Scout Pack 223 in Lafayette, CA for four years. Currently Colby serves as Scoutmaster of Troop 219 in Lafayette, CA.
At the council level, Colby serves Scouting as a member of the Golden Gate Area Council’s Construction Industry Lunch-O-Ree Steering Committee since 2006, which is the largest fundraising event in the GGAC. His commitment and involvement has led him to serve as Chair of this event for three years, being responsible for raising nearly $1 million for Scouting!
Outside of scouting, and in his work life, Colby serves as the Chief Operating Officer of the construction company, C. Overaa & Company.
Steve Patrick Rodriguez Eagle Class of 1987
Steve Rodriquez has been active in scouting since 1977, beginning with cub scouts, and earned the rank of Eagle in 1987. As an adult he has served in multiple unit and District positions including Den Leader, Cub Master, Pinewood Derby Coordinator, ASM, Unit Commissioner, and Scoutmaster. At the District and Council level he has served on multiple Wood Badge staffs as troop guide and ASM. Additionally, he is a member of the Order of the Arrow as an Ordeal, Brotherhood and most recently Vigil Honor Arrowman. He also serves in various advisory capacities to Council Lodges.
Steve is always willing to help scouting where possible (and time permitting), and as such will also be serving as Scoutmaster for one of our GGAC Council’s troops to the 2023 National Jamboree.
He has received both the District Award of Merit and Silver Beaver recognitions. He has been an active member of the GGAC NESA committee since 2020.
Steve H Rodriguez Eagle Class of 1959
Stephen Rodriguez has been in Scouting in the Peralta District since his days as a Cub Scout with Pack 11, then Troop 65 and finally with Post 425. To date his combined time as a Scout and Scouter has been 71 years and counting.
Stephen is the recipient of numerous awards including District Award of Merit in 1984, Silver Beaver in 1986, The Whitney M. Young Service Award in 2003, The Distinguished Commissioner Award in 2008, Doctor of Commissioner Science in 2009, and the BSA Hall of Leadership Award in 2010.
In 1969, Stephen was selected as an ASM for the 1969 National Boy Scout Jamboree, and in 1973 Stephen was again selected as an ASM for the 1973 National Boy Scout Jamboree.
Stephen’s service extends beyond Scouting. Even though he is not an artist, his wife is. As a result, Stephen has had a commitment to raise awareness and appreciation of art in his community, by chairing the Livermore Art Show from 1997 to 2012. He chaired the Livermore Library Show and served on the Livermore Art Association (LAA) Board for the last 20 years and was awarded a Lifetime membership in the (LAA) for his outstanding service in 2022. Stephen also served on the Pleasanton Art League and the Alamo/Danville Artist’s Society as Membership Chair, and chaired the “Art in the Park” program, helping raise money for the San Ramon School District’s Art Program, which the Town Council of Danville recognized him with the Volunteer of the Year Award.
Stephen’s non-scouting honors include: The George Meany Award in 1975, awarded by the Alameda Central Labor Council, and the Buddy Joe Bojack Award, which is awarded by the Buddy Joe Bojack Awards Committee for his work in support of Native Americans in finding employment with Lucky’s stores.
Frank Starn Eagle Class of 1976
- Served as a member of the Mount Diablo-Silverado Council Board 2015-2020
- Past President of the Mount Diablo Silverado Council 2016-2019
- Assistant Scoutmaster & Committee Member Troop 200 in Lafayette, CA 2005-2015
- Wood Badge Staff: 2020-2022
- Treasurer, Golden Gate Area Council 2020-2022
- Served in a critical role with the merger of the Mount Diablo Silverado, San Francisco Bay Area, and Alameda Council.
- BSA National Service Territory 3 Committee
- Current Vice President-International Scouting, Golden Gate Area Council
- Outside of scouting, Frank has served as Board Member for the California Shakespeare Theater, as well as contribute to the Cancer support Community
