Dabney Kennedy epitomizes the lifetime Scout and lifetime Arrowman. His life has been devoted to leading and serving the Order. Otena Lodge of Comanche Trail Council, Brownswood Texas, inducted Kennedy into the Order in 1950. He served as a youth officer in Otena, first as Lodge Secretary and then two terms as Lodge Chief. He then at age 18 became “Junior Lodge Advisor”. In 1952, a time when the Brotherhood Honor was treated by many lodges improperly as an award, Kennedy became the first Brotherhood Honor member in his lodge. In 1954 Kennedy became Otena Lodge’s first Vigil Honor member. The Vigil name selected for Dabney is a Sioux name Akikta, “One who works with determination”.

As an adult Dabney Kennedy served 20 years as Lodge Adviser, 22 years as Section Adviser and more than 40 years as part of the National OA Committee or its Founder’s Advisory Council. Kennedy is credited with creating and designing the Founder’s Award. He has participated in more the 35 national events including serving as Program Chairman for more than ten NOACs. It was Kennedy that recognized the need for one-year national officer terms and the benefits of national OA events every summer. Dabney received the OA Distinguished Service Award in 1969 and the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006.