Four generations of honor

Becoming an Eagle Scout is an institution for young men in the Hall, Gamble family.Ken Hall followed in his father’s footsteps when he became an Eagle Scout in 1944 at age 16. His father, William McKinley Hall, was an Eagle Scout and a Scoutmaster of his son’s troop, No. 31 in Tatum, N.M.

Ken Hall had been in the Boy Scouts since he was 12; achieving the rank of Eagle Scout was a challenging and interesting experience, he said.

Now 77 years old, Hall and his wife, Nancy, traveled from New Mexico to watch their grandson, 17-year-old Matt Gamble, become a fourth generation Eagle Scout on Saturday.

What’s it like to watch another generation continue the family legacy?

“It’s like being a pleased grandpa,” Hall said.

Scouting runs in the family.

Matt Gamble’s brother, Brett Gamble, 19, became an Eagle Scout last year. His father, Rod Gamble, is also an Eagle Scout. Matt Gamble’s great-grandfather was there in spirit; his boy scout uniform was displayed at Matt Gamble’s Court of Honor ceremony, held Saturday at the Church of Christ in Costa Mesa.

“Just about every guy in our family has gotten their Eagle Scout, so its one of those things that’s almost a must,” Matt Gamble said.

Both Rod Gamble and his wife, Susan, are active volunteers in the Boy Scouts.

“It’s pretty rare, I think, to find four generations,” said Rod Gamble.Matt Gamble, a senior at Newport Harbor High School, has worked hard to get here.

He has been a member of Costa Mesa Troop 711 since the sixth grade. Eagle Scout is the highest rank in the Boy Scouts; to earn this honor Gamble completed 21 merit badges plus his Eagle Scout project.

A Scout’s Eagle project must be something that benefits the community, not the scout, Rod Gamble said. Matt Gamble chose to build an information kiosk outside the Christ Lutheran Church and School in Costa Mesa. During the project he supervised 18 people during 197 hours of planning and labor.

“He has given our troop strength, devotion, dedication; he’s just a super young man,” said Scoutmaster Rob Rice.

Matt Gamble’s brother, father and grandfather joined him on stage to recite the Eagle oath, making his award official. Susan Gamble pinned the Eagle medal on her son and Rod Gamble presented his son with the Eagle Scout neckerchief.

Only 4% of all Boy Scouts earn their Eagle Scout ranking, Rod Gamble said. Many high-ranking business executives and others in powerful positions are Eagle Scouts, Gamble said.

“It definitely builds a strong leadership quality,” Rod Gamble said.20051204iqyd09knMARK DUSTIN / DAILY PILOT(LA)Matt Gamble, left, his father, Rod Gamble, and Ken Hall, Matt’s grandfather, recite the Eagle Scout oath Saturday.