Nine family members earned the rank of Eagle Scout | News, Sports, Jobs
Nine members of a family representing three generations have earned the rank of Eagle Scout. The first, Jamestown resident Jim Fincher, accomplished the feat in 1957. Photo submitted
Nine members of a family spanning three generations have now earned the rank of Eagle Scout.
For his project, Cole Barber built an indoor swing set at the north end of Werner Park in Russell, Pennsylvania. The achievement, celebrated May 8 at the park, was made more special in that Barber was the ninth in his extended family to become an Eagle Scout – the highest recognized achievement in the Boy Scouts.
Jamestown resident Jim Fincher was the first to achieve his rank of Eagle Scout, an achievement achieved in 1957. His brother, Richard, attained his rank in 1966. Fincher’s son, Erik, along with the three sons Erik’s – Alex, Zack and Logan – would also become Eagle Scouts.
Additionally, two grandsons of Fincher’s sister, Ethan Mitchell and Matthew Keller, earned their Eagle Scout rank.
And this month, Barber officially became the ninth member of the family to become an Eagle Scout. Barber, the son of Mike and Kim Fincher Barber of Jamestown, received the rank at Werner Park.
“Nine members of the same branch of the family tree earning the rank of Eagle is not an everyday occurrence,” said Fincher, who is no stranger to the outdoors as the recently retired president of Chautauqua Rails to Trails. “Congratulations to all Eagle Scouts.”
Barber represents the last eligible person of his generation and family to win the award, Fincher said.
To get their ranks, Erik Fincher built a hiking trail on the Chautauqua County Extension Service grounds near Jamestown Airport; Logan rehabilitated a trail that wound through the woods in Werner Park so people could use it easily; Zack reconstructed an entrance sign and flowerbed leading to the town of Pine Grove Park; Ethan Mitchell installed large raised vegetable beds in a community park in Rochester; and Matt Keller built a shed to protect and dry firewood that would be used to boil maple sap into maple syrup at the Genesee Country Museum in Mumford, NY
Jim Fincher and his brother did not complete a project as they received their Eagle rank before a project became a requirement.
According to the Boy Scouts of America, the Eagle Scout rank has been earned by more than 2.5 million young people.