Artist George Rodrigue to Receive Distinguished Eagle Scout Award on May 12

On May 12, 2011, the Boy Scouts of America will honor GoodBiz113 profilee George Rodrigue ["Louisiana Artist Brings Post-Katrina [Blue Dog] Relief to New Orleans"] with their highest honor: the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award.

Since established by the National Eagle Scout Association in 1969, just six Eagle Scouts from the New Orleans area have received this honor -- the last one 22 years ago, in 1989.

"It gave me a chance to meet professionals in various fields, because they had to sign off on my badges," said Rodrigue as he stood before the Blue Dog sculpture on New Orleans' Veterans Boulevard at the press conference this week, about the impact scouting made on his life from the beginning -- particularly the pursuit of merit badges.

"I spent hours with firefighters, police officers, and even the local funeral home director," Rodrigue recalled. "One expert was a published historian who asked me, 'Do you know where the name New Iberia comes from?' I had never thought about the Spanish heritage of my hometown. I retained more about local history in that one afternoon than in 12 years of study at Catholic High."

For an insightful, behind-the-scenes account of this momentous occasion, read "Musings of an Artist's Wife," Wendy Rodrigue's blog: http://bit.ly/EagleScout6.

Oh, and to catch up on the latest developments regarding the dynamic George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts: Youth Development Through Art in Education, go to: http://bit.ly/RodrigueFoundation.

SOURCES: Boy Scouts of America, Musings of An Artist's Wife, Rodrigue Studio, Wikipedia

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The Art of George Rodrigue ^AF