Since 1911, the Eagle Scout has been the highest rank attainable within the Boy Scouting program of the Boy Scouts of America organization — one that estimates suggest a mere 4 percent of scouts achieve.
Clarkdale’s Dallin Gordon, a 15-year-old sophomore at Mingus Union High School, is about to enter that select group of scouts.
Like all scouts in his situation, to qualify for the rank Gordon had to develop and execute a final service project, something large-scale and worthwhile to his community. Having spent time at a scouting event in New Mexico at the age of 13 and grown to love the Israeli game of gaga — think of it as a cross between dodgeball and four square — he got an idea.
“I played it all day there,” Gordon recalled. “So I decided to bring one back to my school.”
Gordon attended CJS from kindergarten through eighth grade, and contacted school Principal Scott Jacobson. Plans went forward to locate a clear spot near the playground. Once found, Gordon consulted with his mentor, Paul Grasso, and began working on plans, collecting donations and putting a bit of his own elbow grease to the task of fabricating hardware.
Ultimately, several area businesses stepped up with donated material: ProBuild of Sedona, Barnwerks Fabrication and Welding, Hanson’s Aggregate and Gordon and Gordon Attorneys at Law. B.J. Shelton of Barnwerks watched over Gordon as he formed and cut steel brackets.
A total of $160 gathered by Gordon rounded out the total cost.
Having gathered the wood, gravel and hardware, it took a large crew of family, friends and other volunteers two four-hour days — a total of over 160 man hours — to complete the gaga pit. On the afternoon of Oct. 12, Gordon installed the final screw affixing the game’s rules in place.
Proud mentor Grasso stood by, grin fixed on his face.
“I don’t think I could even get close to doing this without him,” Gordon said of Grasso.
