First introduced at the 1981 National Order of the Arrow Conference, the Founder’s Award is presented to Arrowmen who have demonstrated a spirit of selfless service as advocated by the Order of the Arrow’s founder E. Urner Goodman and cofounder Carroll A. Edson. Undoubtedly, thousands of Arrowmen live by the Order of the Arrow Obligation, yet few can receive such an award. Based on the membership of a lodge, there can be between two and four awards given every year. Additionally, lodges are required to present at least one award to a youth lodge member, if the lodge is awarding multiple awards. Lodges are not required to present an award, and each Arrowman can receive the award only once. Featured on the award itself is the phrase, “For he who serves his fellows, is of all his fellows, greatest.” This was the phrase used by Dr. E. Urner Goodman when founding the Order of the Arrow. Typically, Arrowmen dedicated to service in roles at the chapter, lodge, and section level have received this award for their continued service and living by the OA Obligation.
When asked about their journey to the Founder’s Award, several Arrowmen had their own stories. One past chief of Kittan Lodge cited,
“I looked up to older Arrowmen who received the Founder’s Award and followed in their footsteps,” also quoting, “I strived to be unselfish and cheerful in service, giving back to my lodge in any way I was presented with.”
Another Arrowmen, chief of Section NE-3B said,
“The OA Founder’s Award is the greatest honor I have ever received. Being recognized as embracing the spirit of the founders of the OA really means a lot to me and encourages me to continue my service to the OA and Scouting.”
From a National Communications member and former lodge chief,
“The Founder’s Award was the biggest honor of my life, encouraging me to give back in service to my lodge, and the Order of the Arrow as a whole.”
The Founder’s Award has been a symbol of continual service, cheerfulness, and brotherhood, living daily by the values set forth by our founder, Dr. E. Urner Goodman. One Founder’s Award recipient accredited his success in these common, yet simple words,
“[...] and will seek to preserve a cheerful spirit even in the midst of irksome tasks and weighty responsibilities, and will endeavor, so far as in my power lies, to be unselfish in service and devotion to the welfare of others.”
As we all have seen this phrase, as part of the OA Obligation, Arrowmen are committed to living by this daily.
Many Founder’s Award recipients share one trait - their willingness and dedication to serving and living daily by the traditions of the Order of the Arrow. The makings of a Founder’s Award recipient, are laid out in simple terms, with each lodge in the Order of the Arrow, choosing members every year. Since its establishment in 1981, few Arrowmen have received the award, inciting many to ponder both its meaning and presentation.